Rachel Saenger Taylor, LPC-S, LMFT-S

Every relationship, whether it’s romantic, familial, friendly, or professional, comes with conflict. It’s inevitable. When two people with their own histories, personalities, and needs share space, disagreements will happen. But here’s something that surprises many people: conflict isn’t always bad. In fact, healthy conflict can actually strengthen relationships by deepening trust and understanding. The problem arises when conflict turns toxic, when it stops being about solvi

Grief has a way of changing everything: your routines, your relationships, even how you move through the world. And yet, it often arrives with no instruction manual. One day you’re functioning, the next you’re undone by a song, a smell, or a random Tuesday afternoon. If you’re living with grief, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re responding to loss in a deeply human way. This article isn’t about “moving on” or tying grief up neatly. Instead, it offers gentle, realistic strateg

When you’re in the early stages of a new relationship, everything can feel both exhilarating and delicate. There’s this underlying worry that saying the wrong thing or expressing a need might somehow disturb the magic you’re feeling. But boundaries aren’t the thing that threatens a new relationship. They’re actually what helps it thrive. What Boundaries Really Mean Let’s start by reframing what boundaries really are. They’re not rules you impose on someone else, and they’re n

Your relationship with your parent or caregiver can significantly dictate how you develop relationships and interact with your environment as an adult. If you grow up in a household where your parents are loving, provide for your basic needs, and offer support and encouragement, you are likely to develop a healthy attachment style.  But when you are brought up in a household where you did not receive this type of care, it can lead to attachment trauma . Here are some common s

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, 5th Edition (or DSM-5) is the main reference tool used by mental health professionals. The DSM-5 does not specifically list anxiety attacks as a formal diagnosis. Instead, they’re considered to be more of a subjective feeling than a formal condition.  Often confused with panic attacks, anxiety attacks share similar symptoms reported by those who struggle with them. While they may overlap some, they’re not actua

The human body is resilient. It can adapt to the environment, recover from injury, weather the storm of stress, and heal from any damages.  The brain can be even more fascinating. Much like the body, it is able to react and adapt to stress, different areas of the brain operate in a carefully balanced song and dance to meet needs in the blink of an eye, and it manages emotions and memories. When a trauma occurs, both your body and mind can be significantly impacted in the time

Mental health conditions are very individualized and can affect everyone differently, regardless of gender. There are, however, different trends and patterns that can be seen in women compared to men. It’s important to understand that there are a variety of symptoms for each disorder and women may need to look a little deeper to uncover what’s really going on. ADHD in Women Getting an ADHD diagnosis as a woman can be a bit more complicated. ADHD is most commonly diagnosed dur

As the flowers bloom and the birds chirp, it's time to do some spring cleaning for your mind. Just as we clean out our closets and dust...

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression or winter depression, is a type of depression that occurs in the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight. It is believed that the lack of sunlight exposure can disrupt the body's internal clock (circadian rhythm) and affect the production of certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and melatonin, which play a role in mood regulation and sleep-wake cycles. Here are some strategies that may help

Welcome to the season of gratitude! While Thanksgiving is often associated with a single day in November, it's time we break free from...