Mental Health Blog
Welcome to TCC’s Blog! We believe that knowledge is power, especially when it comes to understanding and managing your mental health. Our posts are split up into 4 categories: "Psych Simplified", to break down psychology concepts into digestible pieces; "Connection Chronicles", to explore all things relationships - intimate and platonic; "Inner Insights" to assist you on your journey of self-awareness, and "Resilience Roadmap", a place solely for providing and explaining tools to cope.
Our Blog
Am I Just Tired or Is My Mental Health Getting Worse?
It is normal to have ups and downs within your mental health — that’s simply part of being human. But sometimes, mental health decline can start quietly. You may feel “off,” not quite yourself, or unsure whether what you’re experiencing is serious. This blog is for you if you're wondering whether your mental health — or someone else's — is getting worse, what signs to look for, and why they matter.
Hyper-independence in the Black Community: When Asking for Help Feels Unsafe
You’ve learned to rely on yourself because, somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling safe to rely on anyone else. Have you ever caught yourself carrying way too much - both physically and emotionally - because the thought of asking for help makes you want to crawl into a deep, dark hole? That might be hyper-independence.
For many Black people, that pressure isn’t random — it’s shaped by survival. Learn more about the signs of hyper-independence, its roots and causes, and how to break the cycle in this blog post. Easy to read and digestible, as always!
#CutOffCulture Is Trending - But Is It Actually Healthy?
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or your IG feed lately, you’ve probably seen phrases like “cut them off” or “protect your peace.” These are apart of a bigger trend called cut-off culture, where people are encouraged to walk away from relationships that feel toxic or emotionally exhausting. And yes, there’s truth in protecting your peace, but cutting someone off isn’t always as healing as it seems. So how do you know when cutting ties is a healthy boundary, and when it might be emotional avoidance in disguise? This blog breaks down the difference, and offers tools for navigating tough relationships without just going ghost mode.
Over-Intellectualizing: Thinking vs Feeling in Therapy
Do you ever catch yourself in your head about literally everything instead of just feeling your feelings? You might be overintellectualizing! Aka turning emotions into a mental problem instead of just letting yourself feel. Intellectualizing, can be useful for things like problem solving, however, too much isn’t great either! It can become a habit, and tbh bottling up your emotions could be holding you back. So now you're probably like, “Okay... what does that even mean? Or how do I know if I’m doing it?”. Well, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading to get more info on what it looks like, signs to watch for, and how to go from emotional shutdown to actually feeling your feelings (yes, all of them).
Why Making Friends as an Adult Is So Hard — And What to Do About It
Making friends as an adult is hard — like, dating-level hard. You put all this energy into a new connection, cross your fingers, and hope it doesn’t end in ghosting (which, honestly, happens on both sides).
In this blog post, we’re talking about why connection matters so much, why making friends in your 20s and 30s feels so awkward, and of course — we’re sharing some solid tips to help you find your people. Keep reading, because we dug through social media and real-life advice to bring you the good stuff.
So, what’s it Really Like to Go to Therapy for the First Time?
You’re about to start therapy but have zero clue what it’s gonna be like. Does this sound familiar? Even if that’s not you, we totally get how nerve-wracking it can be—so many questions, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this post, we’re breaking down what to expect, how to get prepped, TCC team member tips, and more—everything you need to know to feel confident and ready to kick start your mental health journey!
The Window of Tolerance: How to stay emotionally balanced?
Ever feel yourself about to crash out? Like everything is happening all at once, you feel overstimulated, emotional, and overwhelmed? That may be because you are outside of your window of tolerance. Think of it as a very special margin where you are able to think clearly and self-regulate. When you are out of that margin, things can get crazy. But don’t worry — there are ways to work around it!
Your Cycle 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Your Period
Ever notice how your mood, mental health, and emotions are on a rollercoaster every month? Well, for women, that’s your menstrual cycle doing its thing! Whether you’re still waiting for your first period, have been riding the hormonal wave for years, or just want to understand your cycle better, there’s a lot to unpack. Keep reading for a quick breakdown of your cycle and how it impacts your mental health!
Help! I Have No Idea What to Talk About in Therapy
Have you ever found yourself in therapy—whether it's your first session or you've been attending for a while—and suddenly you draw a blank? You might not know what to say or where to take the conversation. It happens to the best of us, and we're here to help! Keep reading and we’ll cover why this happens, ideas for what to talk about in therapy, tools to help, and more to ensure you are feeling back on track.
The Hidden Layers of Grief: Understanding Different Types of Grief
Grief is a complex, non-linear process that looks different for everyone. While we typically associate grief with the loss of a loved one, it can include many forms. Each form carries its own unique challenges, timelines, and emotional impacts.
Despite the type of grief you are experiencing, it is personal to you and each person reacts differently. Exploring these layers can help us navigate the healing journey with compassion and resilience.
Limerence: Understanding Romantic Obsession and How Therapy Can Help
Ever found yourself obsessively daydreaming about someone, replaying every interaction, or feeling like your mood is completely tied to their attention? You might be experiencing something deeper than just a crush—it's called limerence.
Limerence is that intense, almost all-consuming infatuation that can feel exhilarating yet emotionally exhausting. It’s like living in a daydream but with a side of anxiety. You’re constantly craving their reciprocation, idealizing them to perfection, and struggling to focus on anything else. Sound familiar?
But wait—how is this different from love? And more importantly, how do you break free from this emotional roller coaster? Let’s break it down in this blog post.
Somatic Therapy Explained: Benefits, Techniques, and How It Works
Somatic psychotherapy is a body-based therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between the mind and body. It recognizes that trauma, stress, and emotions are not just processed cognitively but are also stored physically. By integrating body awareness techniques with psychotherapy, this approach to therapy helps individuals regulate emotions, release stored tension, and promote overall healing. Keep reading to learn about what this is, how it works, the benefits, and more!
Culturally Responsive Therapy – Bridging the Gap in Mental Health Care
Ensuring mental health care is high-quality and accessible is very important! A big part of this is Culturally Responsive Care. Cultural background, identity, and lived experiences have a huge impact on individuals and ensuring care aligns with this is key. You’ve probably heard this term over the last few years and might wonder what exactly this means? Well, keep reading to learn more about culture’s impact, what it is, why it is important, and more!
You’re Not Ugly – It’s Just Your Luteal Phase!
You know those few weeks of the month where you’re tired, hungry, emotional and you’re about 5 seconds from having a menty-b every single day? Welcome to the luteal phase—the part of your cycle where the world feels like it’s on the verge of ending. This phase kicks in right after ovulation and lasts until your period starts, typically around 10 to 14 days. And trust me, it can feel like a rollercoaster you didn't sign up for.
How to Manage Anxiety Around New Year’s Resolutions?
The start of the new year brings a sense of excitement and possibilities. It can also be overwhelming. The pressure to set and achieve bigger, better goals can feel like a weight on our shoulders, making it hard to enjoy the things we’ve already accomplished. Finding a good balance is crucial to encourage growth and improve our resilience when things don’t go as planned.
Navigating Yourself Through Grief: Self-Care Strategies to Support Your Well-Being
It’s important to remember that grief is a natural, personal, and nonlinear journey. Sometimes we feel different emotions at different times, all at various intensities, which is okay. These unpredictable instances can be overwhelming, making it difficult to navigate our emotions. Self-care can help regulate our emotions, reduce stress and increase resilience during challenging times. It may not always be easy to prioritize self-care especially when we are coping with some form of loss. In this post, we cover how grief affects well-being, how self-care can help, and more.
Start Setting Boundaries: A “How -to” Guide on Boundaries with Family, Friends and Beyond!
We’ve established that boundaries are essential to many aspects of our well-being. Without them, we run the risk of being hurt, overwhelmed or stressed.
You may be wondering how to set these limits with loved ones, colleagues, classmates etc – we’ll discuss this in today’s post!
The Power of Emotional Intelligence: How it Can Help You Thrive
With the rise of social media and the constant sharing of new pieces of information, you may have heard people mentioning emotional intelligence – but what is it exactly? Keep reading and we’ll discuss what it is, the key pillars, why it is so important, and more!
Exploring Jealousy: Understanding, Managing, and Healthy Coping Techniques
Have you ever felt the sting of jealousy and wondered how to handle it? In this post, we’ll explore what jealousy is, how it affects our lives, and share practical tips to help you manage this complex emotion. Keep reading to learn more!
Caring for yourself in Winter: Self-care strategies for Mental Health
While the winter months can bring excitement for some, it also comes with challenges. Implementing self-care strategies helps you to ensure you take care of your well-being this season! Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start, so continue reading to better understand what these challenges might look like and strategies to support!