A Blog for Better Mental Health
THE HEARTSHIP BLOG
A space where we share practical strategies, research-backed insights, and compassionate perspectives on mental health and relationships.
Radical Acceptance: How to Heal Emotional Pain and Find Peace in Difficult Times
Written by Abigail McMillen, LMFT
Learn how radical acceptance can help you cope with emotional pain, reduce suffering, and foster healing through mindfulness, self-compassion, and DBT skills.
Cyberchondria: When Googling Symptoms Fuels Health Anxiety
Written by Dr. Lauren Cook, PsyD, MMFT, PMH-C
Learn how cyberchondria, or digital hypochondria, can worsen health anxiety, why it's becoming more common, and how to break the cycle of compulsive symptom checking.
Is Anxiety Normal During Pregnancy?
Guest Post Written by Dr. Carissa Gustafson, Psy.D., PMH-C
Many women notice themselves overthinking more during pregnancy. They may feel emotionally “on edge,” constantly worried, unable to relax, or consumed by worst-case scenarios. Sometimes the anxiety feels manageable. Sometimes it feels relentless. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.
7 Fun Activities to Do With Your Kids This Summer in Pasadena
Written by Lindsay Hafer, AMFT
Looking for simple, meaningful ways to spend time with your kids this summer? Whether you’re hoping to get outside, spark creativity, or just break up the long days at home, Pasadena offers so many family-friendly options!
Healing the Hard Drive: Understanding EMDR Therapy
Written by Heather DePinho, AMFT
Have you ever had a memory that felt stuck? Most of our experiences are processed by our brains like files being organized in a cabinet. But sometimes, a traumatic or highly stressful event is so overwhelming that the brain’s filing system crashes. That’s where EMDR comes in.
The Hidden Reasons Relationships and Dating Feel Harder Today
Written by Dr. Lauren Cook, PsyD, MMFT, PMH-C
If you’ve been feeling like relationships are harder than they used to be, you’re not alone. I definitely see it in my practice all the time with my client in their mid to late twenties. They want a relationship. They’re ready to date. But no one is landing.
The Village Effect: Mental Health for Moms from Pregnancy through Postpartum
Guest Post Written by Dr. Carissa Gustafson, Psy.D., PMH-C
In this post we discuss the essential role of social support in the prevention and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) including Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Anxiety.

