Both this month & last call our awareness to individuals with some form of neurodivergence. You may be seeing more of this discourse online and wondering what some of these phrases and acronyms means. Today we’re tackling RSD, or Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. What is this and what does it impact? Continue reading to find out!
WHAT IS RSD?
Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) is not a medical diagnosis but a way to understand a type of emotional dysregulation. As human beings we experience a myriad of emotions – joy, fear, worry, anger, frustration, etc. Regulation is how we manage those emotions – do we react intensely, immediately, not at all? Dysregulation is when an individual does not feel in control of emotional responses. People are labeled drama queens and kings, having anger issues, or being too sensitive. When, in fact, this is not a choice but linked to executive function or a sympathetic (fight/flight/freeze/fawn) nervous system response. Learn More...
Men in Therapy: An Opportunity for a New Path
/in Couples Therapy, Family Life, Individual Therapy, Partnership/by Zephan SchroederImagine that you are a child, and you are born into a family that does not make jokes. No humor allowed; if you hint at it, you are gawked at, punished, or belittled. Adults and peers alike push this idea, with bullies finding you weird or weak if they find you laughing. So you learn to bury your sense of humor. You do all that you can to not find humor in the little things or the big things; sometimes, when you’re confident you’re all alone, you let yourself laugh a little. Maybe you watch comedies on TV and wonder what it would be like to laugh like they did, but you quickly burrow those thoughts away and move on. But then you graduate from school and enter the adult world, and suddenly your adult friends are sharing jokes with you. You meet a romantic partner and all they want to do with you is laugh. You have a child, and you’re dying to just fall to the ground in giggles with them. But you’re reminded, yet again, that laughter is weak. So you don’t. You put up your walls, you refuse to engage with anyone that is laughing, because you don’t know how and you’re scared of what would happen if you did. Even as all those around you beg and beg for you to feel safe to laugh with them, you just can’t allow yourself to. And it hurts so deeply. Learn More...
Does Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria Affect Your Family?
/in Family Life, Individual Therapy, Therapy for Kids, Therapy for Teens/by Melanie Summers, LPCCBoth this month & last call our awareness to individuals with some form of neurodivergence. You may be seeing more of this discourse online and wondering what some of these phrases and acronyms means. Today we’re tackling RSD, or Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. What is this and what does it impact? Continue reading to find out!
WHAT IS RSD?
Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) is not a medical diagnosis but a way to understand a type of emotional dysregulation. As human beings we experience a myriad of emotions – joy, fear, worry, anger, frustration, etc. Regulation is how we manage those emotions – do we react intensely, immediately, not at all? Dysregulation is when an individual does not feel in control of emotional responses. People are labeled drama queens and kings, having anger issues, or being too sensitive. When, in fact, this is not a choice but linked to executive function or a sympathetic (fight/flight/freeze/fawn) nervous system response. Learn More...
Trans Day of Visibility
/in Couples Therapy, Family Life, Individual Therapy, Partnership, Therapy for Kids, Therapy for Teens/by Nora Gardner, LCSW-SToday, March 31st, is International Trans Day of Visibility.
What is Trans Day of Visibility? This is a day when we celebrate the lives of transgender folks around the world and their important contributions. This day can be a meaningful (and fun!) opportunity to celebrate the lives of our transgender neighbors and create homes and communities that are safe and welcoming.
Why does Trans Day of Visibility matter? All of us have needs for safety, significance, and belonging- we need to know that we are important to the people around us and that we have a safe place in our families and communities. Representation helps to reinforce these needs and increase self-esteem, especially for people with identities that are marginalized in our society. In addition to the recent increase in legislation aimed at denying gender-affirming care to transgender individuals (something that goes against the ethics and standard of care of all licensed mental health professions), the American Medical Association declared in 2019 that violence against transgender individuals is an ongoing epidemic. We know that LGBTQ young people who receive support from their families around their queer identities report higher self-esteem, social support, and overall health, as well as a 50% reduction in thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts. We can make our communities more safe and accepting for our transgender neighbors by familiarizing ourselves with the stories and experiences of transgender people. We can also be inspired by the joy, creativity, and brilliance of transgender leaders whose stories are not always shared! Learn More...
Neurodiversity Week
/in Creative Family Counseling, Family Life, Individual Therapy, Therapy for Kids, Therapy for Teens/by Jess Miller, M.Ed., LPATA, ATRCelebrating Neurodiversity Week March 16-20, 2026!
March 16th through the 20th marks Neurodiversity Week! Neurodiversity Week is an initiative started in 2018 by Siena Castellon, an autistic teen who, at the time, wanted to challenge the stereotypes around neurological differences. The goals of Neurodiversity Week were to continue breaking down those misconceptions and recognize the many skills, talents, and abilities within the neurodivergent community. Learn More...
PTSD Awareness Day
/in Creative Family Counseling/by Erica Adams, LPCC-S, LPAT, ATR-BCJune 27 is PTSD Awareness Day! Understanding the aspects of PTSD can help us to feel more in control in navigating its challenges. A key concept within the understanding of PTSD is the “Window of Tolerance”. This idea contextualizes some experiences within PTSD and gives us a helpful visual to work with in treatment. The short of it is this – how much can we tolerate within this window before our symptoms are activated, we’re emotionally flooded, and we feel disregulated. Learn More...
What to Expect When You Start Counseling for Trauma
/in Creative Family Counseling, EMDR, Individual Therapy, Therapy for Kids, Therapy for Teens/by Erica Adams, LPCC-S, LPAT, ATR-BCReaching out for help following a traumatic experience is tough. There seems to be so much to consider when finding a therapist. Here are some things to focus on as you begin that search:
Creative Family Counseling offers several evidence-based trauma treatments at our practice. Being an “evidence based” approach means that the theory, protocol, or method of the counseling model used has been proven through research studies to reduce the symptoms associated with the trauma. Learn More...
What’s the Difference Between Divorce Counseling Co-Parenting Counseling
/in Couples Therapy, Creative Family Counseling, Family Life/by Lacey Ryan, LMFT, RPT-SCreative Family Counseling is excited to announce two new specialties for clients: Divorce Counseling and Co-Parenting Counseling. Oftentimes there can be an overlap for these two services as couples navigate divorce and co-parenting dynamics at the same time but there is a clearly defined difference between these two services.
What is Divorce Counseling?
There are fewer family decisions that have such a monumental impact than deciding to divorce. This is especially so when children are included in the picture. For couples who are navigating a revision to their relationship, there are many factors involved. This can be overwhelming and difficult to discuss in a neutral and positive way with the partner in which you are un-coupling. Learn More...
How to Talk to Your Teen about Suicide
/in Creative Family Counseling, Family Life, Therapy for Teens/by Lacey Ryan, LMFT, RPT-SI recently published some articles about Depression in the Spring and How Play Therapy Helps With Depression in Children Clients. In those articles, I shared warning signs or symptoms of Depression. Urges to self harm or use self injurious behaviors and suicidal thoughts are both symptoms of severe depression.
When you notice a difference in your teen’s mood and behaviors, it can be a warning sign that emotionally they are struggling. By familiarizing yourself with the symptoms and signs of depression in teens can give parents guidance on how to support their child. Learn More...
How does Play Therapy Help Young Clients Experiencing Depression?
/in Creative Family Counseling, Play Therapy, Therapy for Kids/by Lacey Ryan, LMFT, RPT-SWhen parents ask for support in how to tell their child they will be visiting a therapist, my easy explanation typically works: “A Play Therapist helps kids when their feelings get too big. Sometimes kid’s mad gets too big and it causes problems for the kid and the people around them. Sometimes a kid’s sad gets too big and it feels too hard for the kid to move around with all that sadness. And sometimes a kid’s scared gets too big and the kid needs help feeling safe. Therapists help kids shrink big feelings so they can get back to being a kid.” Learn More...
Looking for Spring in the Darkness of Winter
/in Creative Family Counseling/by Lacey Ryan, LMFT, RPT-SComing out of a cool and dark February, March seems to be a transitionary month between winter and spring. Still gloomy outside, it can be hard to notice the perennials are starting to emerge from the soil and will soon bloom into a colorful spring bouquet. The dogwoods and redbuds will soon bloom too. During gloomy seasons, looking ahead to the lighter and more bright periods can be difficult to muster. Learn More...