Posts by Keiko Chibana-Shinn

Q: How do I keep the holidays from completely overtaking me—the pressure, the family gatherings, the financial stress, the expectations of being a parent and a professional—and actually enjoy both the lead-up and the holidays themselves? Answer from a Therapist The holidays have a way of magnifying everything—stress, joy, expectations, old family roles, financial strain,…

“I’d like to try therapy again…” “I didn’t have the best experience with my last therapist. I didn’t feel heard and left sessions unsure if I was making progress. I wanted to feel lighter, but instead I felt confused and frustrated. Still, I’ve seen family and friends have really positive experiences in therapy—and maybe it’s…

Q: How can I help my 8-year-old learn to manage his emotions? He has some really BIG emotions for such a little guy. He gets tearful and anxious around thoughts of daddy “going away” (he catastrophizes). I suffer from really bad anxiety and I want to help him early on so he doesn’t have to…

I have PTSD from a dramatic childhood. Somehow I was able to manage life, get a degree, a career, and marriage and a child. What I didn’t know was how mentally messed up I was until I hit my 50’s. Then the depression and anxiety I had fought my whole life crashed. Ever since then…

I married young and had a horrible marriage. I am with a partner and he has cheated on me. My children do not like him and one daughter is constantly bringing it back to me and her and her siblings talk and judge me. They don’t mind getting a car payment or whatever they need…

I often struggle with my sense of self-worth. I find it difficult to connect with others because I’m afraid I’ll embarrass myself or that people won’t like me if I share what’s really on my mind. I wish I could think differently about myself and speak more freely. How can counseling help me build confidence…

A Holistic Approach to Connection, Healing, and Growth “I’m worried about my marriage. I love my spouse, but I don’t know if I can trust him to pull through for us. I want to be pursued. I want to see him intentionally building a life with me, but sometimes I wonder if he really wants…

I’m feeling overwhelmed by the rapid changes around me—from shifting political landscapes to an increasing fear of the unknown—which seem to threaten my sense of personal, emotional safety. I yearn to love and stay connected with others, yet I often feel misunderstood and pigeonholed into narrow political, cultural, or religious boxes. This has left me…

I constantly juggle work, family, and personal responsibilities, yet I struggle to feel fulfilled. At the end of the day, I question whether I’ve done enough, leading to guilt, exhaustion, and a sense of being stuck in a state of overwhelm. The constant pressure to meet everyone’s needs leaves me stifled and alone in it.…

Question: “Hello, my coworkers often tell me that I need to go out more, but I simply don’t want to. I prefer relaxing at home—scrolling on my phone, listening to quiet music, playing with my pet, and working on my projects. They frequently invite me to events on weekends or after work, but I’m usually…