Thrive Psychology Group

Please don't kill me.- Angelo Quinto. Angelo Quinto was a Filipino navy veteran with a history of anxiety, depression and paranoia. On December 23, 2020 in Antioch, CA the 30 year veteran suffered a mental health crisis leading his family to call 911 for help. One of the responding officers knelt on Quinto’s neck for nearly 5 minutes until he lost consciousness while the other restrained him. Quinto stopped breathing and was taken to a hospital where he died days later. Tim...e and time again we are seeing injustices like this take place against marginalized populations especially those experiencing a mental health crisis. Instead of receiving help and compassion they are met with hostility and an abuse of power. This is just one of many who have had their lives end far too early and we must continue to demand change to prevent the same fate from happening to other minorities and folks who simply need help. Therefore, lets advocate to end police brutality and increase mental health crisis response teams. -Jaleesa Black LMFT

We are fluid, growing, imperfect creatures. We try, we fail, we feel, and we learn. Might we grant ourselves permission to lean into our failures and move through them. Could we allow failure to be transformative instead of definitive? Some prompts to guide you through your own relationship with failure when you feel ready. My relationship with failure has been _____________. I talk to _____________ when I fail.... I chose this person(s) because _____________. I don’t talk to _____________ when I fail. I chose this person because _____________. When I fail I feel _____________. I felt this way about failure because _____________. I learned to feel this way because of _____________. To protect myself from failure, I _____________. That protective measure helped me _____________. That protective measure no longer serves me because _____________. If I could reimagine my relationship with failure it would look like _____________. _____________ helps me feel ready to talk about my failure(s). -Nina Gonzaga, LMFT

Never settle for less than you deserve. Sometimes it is easy for us to love our partner and be more concerned with their needs rather than our own. In a relationship it is important that you are investing time in someone who wants to and WILL reciprocate the same energy. Healthy partnerships are hard to come by if you don't know what to look for. Here is a list of some healthy partner signs to look for: A partner who respects personal boundaries A partner who is self sufficie...nt A partner who honors a moral code, are trustworthy and show compassion A partner who is even tempered A partner who has a sense of humor A partner who is reliable A partner who is emotionally intelligent and exhibits social empathy -Jaleesa Black, LMFT

True belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance. - Dr. Brené Brown Friends. You are worth secure attachment. You are worth connections that feel safe and supportive. You are worth being seen. Your imperfections are worth being seen. You are worth being known.You have enough. You are enough. You are loved. You are important. You are capable. You are learnin...g. You are leaning into hard things and figuring out how to walk the line of showing up, even when you feel the familiar pangs of abandonment or rejection. Don’t retreat and sabotage good connections because you expect people not to show up. Stay because you want to, even if it is so vulnerable and terrifying. Stay because intimacy and connection are worth it. Stay because you’re worth having all the good and hard parts of belonging. -Nina Gonzaga, LMFT

Setting boundaries is REALLY hard, especially as women. Women are socialized not to speak up and assert our needs, we are taught to be people pleasers and that boundaries are rude, and often when we do try to set boundaries, they are not respected. Certainly trauma is the biggest boundary violation there is and it can really make setting boundaries scary. And, at their core, boundaries are about love.... Boundaries RESPECT and CARE for the other person by being honest and straightforward, helping the relationship to be healthy, not enabling unhealthy behavior, giving the other person a chance to correct or support you (they aren't mind readers!), and being authentically you. Boundaries also show love to yourself by honoring your feelings and needs, helping you to act in your best interest (even when hard), and perhaps most importantly, communicating to the other person AND YOURSELF that you deserve to be treated with respect and that your feelings and needs are valid and important. Sometimes the person you need to set boundaries with is yourself. My hope is that shifting the way you think about boundaries and viewing it as an act of love helps them be just a bit easier to implement. -Dr. Linda Baggett

When we are not in touch with our inner voice, or we are suppressing it in some way, it can feel as if we are not truly living, nor are we sharing our gifts with the world. We may have received messages from people close to us, from society, or as a result of certain life experiences that suggest we should tone down, modify, or even ignore our own inner voice. We may have unknowingly internalized the voices of others and developed faulty or limiting beliefs. How do we brea...k out of the cage? Perhaps it starts with self-observation and developing an awareness of when we are holding back, putting the needs of others before our own, or making choices based on what we have been told to do when it does not actually feel authentic to us. Then, we can start to identify the limiting thoughts and faulty beliefs we have formed over time, and reflect on where they may have come from. As we become more aware, we can begin to challenge and break down old structures in order to release our inner voice and finally live the life we have dreamed. Dr. Sarika Seth

It’s never too late to start going to therapynor too early. The decisions you make are what make the difference. Don’t rush into things, just take the right direction. We’ll be here for you throughout the whole process. #mentalhealthawareness #anxietyhelp #depressionhelp #journals #introspection #therapy #mentalhealthmatters #thrivepsychology #thrivepsych #thrivepsychologygroup #selfreflection #journey #wellness I

Replacing I’m sorry for Thank you can be a life-changing thing. Replacing the language you use will shift the way you think, not only about yourself, but your relationships as well. #ChallengeAccepted Incorporate this to your new year’s resolutions and tell us how it goes! #newyearnewme #newyearsresolutions #myresolutions #grateful #dontapologize #sorrynotsorry #therapy #psychology #therapyiscool #thrivepsych #thrivepsychologygroup #selfcare

We wish you an excellent Christmas accompanied by your loved ones! Remember that if this is a hard time for you, you are not alone. It’s okay to acknowledge it and reach out. We are always here to help you through it. #christmas2020 #merrychristmas #holidays #therapyiscool #thrivepsych #thrivepsychologygroup

This new year, remember to never neglect your mental health! We all go through mental health slumps from time to time, and just like physical ailments, they need early attention so they don't get worse. That's why practicing regular mental-health maintenance is vital. If you decide to start a recovery journey on 2021, remember that we are here for you. Taking the first step is always the hardest part. ... #mentalhealthawareness #anxietyhelp #depressionhelp #therapyiscool #thrivepsych #thrivepsychologygroup #newyears #resolution #newyearnewme #2021

Breathing is a physical function that is both involuntary and voluntary, which means that we breathe continually without our conscious control of it and at the same time, we have the capacity to consciously control our respiration. It appears that intense emotional states are associated with changes in breathing. For example, when we are highly anxious our breathing tends to become more shallow and we may experience shortness of breath. Therefore, becoming aware of our brea...th and practicing mindful breathing can be a powerful tool in helping us change our emotional state to one that is relatively relaxed, content, and focused. In other words, because emotions are closely related to the breath, when we consciously change our respiratory rhythm we are likely to see a shift in our emotional experience. Try practicing deep breathing and see how it feels! #mentalhealthmatters #therapistlife #thrivepsychology #thrivepsych #thrivepsychologygroup #selfcare #psychology #anxiety #therapist #healing #wellness #mentalhealthawareness #boundaries #justbreathe #deepbreathes

2021 is finally here. We are leaving behind a year that was tough for all of us. While you might be eager for your life to get back to how it was before the virus changed things, remember that change takes time. Don’t put pressure on yourself or on things you can’t control. Let’s stop focusing on the things that we lack or wished we had, and start being grateful for everything we are starting this year with. Cheers to the new year! We hope to see you in our office soon. #mentalhealth #newyearnewme #newyearseve #january #therapist #positivepsychology #psychotherapy #therapyiscool #thrivepsych #myresolutions

Uncertainty can trigger anxiety. And given that we have been confronted with a multitude of situations that are unpredictable during this year, like when we will no longer have to engage in social distancing and what the outcome of the upcoming election will be, it is no wonder that anxiety is on the rise. One way to cope with uncertainty is by expanding our imaginations around what is attainable. What if we could embrace the many possibilities and options that open up dur...ing times of uncertainty? Allow yourself to imagine your world widening beyond what you are familiar with. You may just find yourself uncovering new aspects of yourself, new ways of living, and new ways of being. If each one of us found ourselves embracing uncertainty in this fashion, imagine the enormous potential we would create as a collective to change the world that we inhabit -Dr. Sarika Seth, Thrive Therapist. #uncertainty #hardtimes #mentalhealthawareness #anxietyhelp #depressionhelp #therapyiscool #thrivepsych #thrivepsychologygroup

At first, writing about difficult experiences can seem scary, but over time it can bring a sense of relief and deepen self-reflection. Remind yourself that you have control over when you write, how much you write, what you write, if you keep the writing or not, and if you need to stop writing because you are feeling overwhelmed. If you want to start a journaling practice, make it fun by finding or creating a journal that expresses your personality. Place your journal somewh...ere that is easily accessible to you and carve out a regular time each day or week to write. If committing to journaling sounds like too much, try free writing on a piece of paper whenever you’re feeling anxious or stressed out and see how you feel afterwards! #journaling #mentalhealthawareness #anxietyhelp #depressionhelp #journals #introspection #therapy #mentalhealthmatters #thrivepsychology #thrivepsych #thrivepsychologygroup #selfreflection

Here is our quote of the day! Remember, everyone’s journey is different. If you’re going through a tough time or a healing process, remember it’s different for everyone. Recognize your progress and feel proud of yourself #mentalhealthawareness #anxietyhelp #depressionhelp #journals #introspection #therapy #mentalhealthmatters #thrivepsychology #thrivepsych #thrivepsychologygroup #selfreflection #journey #wellness

The holiday season is often one of excitement, happiness, and love for some people, but for others, it often brings unwelcome guests stress and depression. And it's no wonder. When stress is at its peak, it's hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if the holidays have taken an emotional toll on you in the past. - Acknowledge your feelings. It's OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to... be happy just because it's the holiday season. - Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, -Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. -Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all of your expectations. See more