https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/ Plain-language clinical writing from My Mental Climb on couples therapy, sex therapy, EMDR, trauma, attachment, ADHD, and mental health. Written by Christina Mathieson, LMFT, and team. en-us Copyright My Mental Climb Marriage & Family Therapy Inc. Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT 1440 https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-is-codependency/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-is-codependency/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT Codependency is a pattern where your sense of being okay depends on managing someone else's feelings, choices, or addiction. A family therapist on what it looks like, where it comes from, and how to start changing it. Angelique St. Jean, AMFT, APCC codependency addiction family systems boundaries people pleasing relationships recovery https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-is-stonewalling/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-is-stonewalling/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT Stonewalling is when one partner shuts down in the middle of conflict, and it usually starts in the body. Two couples therapists on what flooding does, how the 20-minute rule works, and what is often underneath the silence. Christina Mathieson, LMFT, and Michelle Cortez, AMFT gottman stonewalling four-horsemen conflict couples flooding eft https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/4-attachment-styles-anxious-avoidant-secure-disorganized/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/4-attachment-styles-anxious-avoidant-secure-disorganized/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT A couples therapist on the four adult attachment styles, side by side. What anxious, avoidant, secure, and disorganized attachment look like in adult relationships, how the pairings interact, and what the research says about whether attachment can change. Michelle Cortez, AMFT attachment couples relationships trauma https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/can-anxious-and-avoidant-attachment-work-together/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/can-anxious-and-avoidant-attachment-work-together/ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT Yes, anxious and avoidant attachment can work together, and it's a pairing couples therapists see all the time. A couples therapist on what separates the pairings that thrive from the ones that grind to a halt. Michelle Cortez, AMFT attachment couples anxious avoidant EFT https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-is-the-window-of-tolerance/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-is-the-window-of-tolerance/ Sun, 27 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT The window of tolerance is the range where you can feel stress and still think, stay connected, and choose your response. A trauma therapist on what pushes people out of it, why trauma narrows it, and how trauma-focused CBT is paced to widen it. Angelique St. Jean, AMFT, APCC trauma window of tolerance nervous system trauma-focused cbt emotion regulation family systems https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/medical-trauma-birth-diagnosis-partners/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/medical-trauma-birth-diagnosis-partners/ Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT Trauma from a birth, a diagnosis, or a hospital counts, and so does watching someone you love go through it. A therapist on medical trauma and the partner's side of it. Christina Mathieson, LMFT, and Angelique St. Jean, AMFT, APCC medical trauma birth trauma postpartum PTSD miscarriage IVF secondary traumatic stress trauma-focused CBT https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/infertility-grief-losses-nobody-sends-cards-for/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/infertility-grief-losses-nobody-sends-cards-for/ Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT Infertility and pregnancy loss are grief, even when the people around you don't treat them as a loss. A therapist on what makes reproductive grief different, and how it's treated. Angelique St. Jean, AMFT, APCC infertility reproductive grief miscarriage IVF grief womens therapy trauma-focused CBT https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/divorce-and-co-parenting-major-life-transition/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/divorce-and-co-parenting-major-life-transition/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT Divorce reorganizes far more than a marriage. A therapist on why it takes such a toll, what protects your kids most, and how to find your footing while everything changes at once. Angelique St. Jean, AMFT, APCC divorce co-parenting parallel parenting telling kids about divorce life transitions coping with divorce family systems https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/autism-therapy-for-adults/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/autism-therapy-for-adults/ Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT What autism therapy for adults involves, how autism shows up in relationships, and how to explore "am I autistic?" with our neurodiversity-affirming associate Angelique St. Jean. Christina Mathieson, LMFT, and Angelique St. Jean, AMFT, APCC autism neurodiversity autistic adults late diagnosis https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/september-theory-relationships-turning-point/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/september-theory-relationships-turning-point/ Sat, 12 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT September Theory is the idea that relationships reach a reckoning when summer ends. A couples therapist on why fall surfaces these questions, and what to do before you make a decision you can't take back. Christina Mathieson, LMFT dating september theory cuffing season couples therapy breakups relationship check-in https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-is-trauma-focused-cbt/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-is-trauma-focused-cbt/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT Trauma-focused CBT is a first-line, evidence-based approach that reworks the beliefs, reactions, and avoidance a trauma leaves behind. What it is, what a course looks like, and who it tends to help. Angelique St. Jean, AMFT, APCC trauma cbt ptsd trauma-focused cbt https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/gottman-method-vs-eft/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/gottman-method-vs-eft/ Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT The Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy are two of the best-known, research-based couples therapies, and they work differently. A therapist's guide to what each does and which fits where you are. Christina Mathieson, LMFT couples therapy gottman method eft marriage counseling https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/demon-dialogues-negative-cycles-couples/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/demon-dialogues-negative-cycles-couples/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT Couples therapist Sue Johnson coined 'demon dialogues' to describe the three negative cycles couples keep getting stuck in. Here is what they are, what drives them, and the move that changes the fight. Michelle Cortez, AMFT couples-therapy eft communication attachment https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/adhd-emotional-dysregulation/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/adhd-emotional-dysregulation/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT ADHD does not just affect focus. It affects how you feel emotions: how fast they arrive, how strong they are, and how long they take to settle. Here is what emotional dysregulation looks like in ADHD, why it is not a willpower problem, and what helps. Michelle Cortez, AMFT adhd emotional-regulation adult-adhd women-and-adhd https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/bids-for-connection/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/bids-for-connection/ Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT The Gottmans found that how partners respond to small everyday bids for attention predicts whether a relationship lasts. A therapist on what a bid is, the three ways we answer them, and how to turn toward more often. Christina Mathieson, LMFT couples gottman communication connection https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/is-it-selfish-to-want-your-own-happiness/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/is-it-selfish-to-want-your-own-happiness/ Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT What Ted Lasso Season 4 gets right about the false choice between your family and yourself. A therapist on parental guilt, and why tending your own well-being is part of good parenting. Christina Mathieson, LMFT parenting parental-guilt mens-mental-health pop-culture individual-therapy mental-health-stigma https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/act-for-relationships/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/act-for-relationships/ Sat, 22 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT Acceptance and Commitment Therapy reframes love as something you do, not a feeling you wait for. A therapist on values, acceptance, and Russ Harris's DRAIN and LOVE model for couples. Christina Mathieson, LMFT act couples values relationships acceptance-commitment-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-in-men/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-in-men/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT In men, rejection sensitive dysphoria usually shows up as anger or withdrawal rather than obvious hurt, which is why it gets missed. Here is what RSD is, why it looks different in men, and what helps. Christina Mathieson, LMFT, and Michelle Cortez, AMFT adhd rejection-sensitive-dysphoria mens-mental-health emotional-regulation https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/relationship-ocd-rocd/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/relationship-ocd-rocd/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT Relationship OCD (ROCD) is a recognized form of OCD where intrusive doubts about your relationship or your partner won't settle. How to tell it apart from ordinary doubt, why reassurance backfires, and what treatment helps. Michelle Cortez, AMFT ocd relationship-ocd anxiety erp relationships https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-vs-somatic-therapy/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-vs-somatic-therapy/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT EMDR and somatic therapy both treat trauma as something the body holds, but they start from opposite ends. A therapist's guide to how they differ, what the research shows, and how to choose. Christina Mathieson, LMFT, and Jalyse Stewart, AMFT emdr somatic-therapy somatic-experiencing trauma comparison https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/contempt-relationship-red-flag-predicts-breakup/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/contempt-relationship-red-flag-predicts-breakup/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT Of the four behaviors that predict divorce, contempt is the single strongest. A couples therapist on what it looks like, why it is so corrosive, and how to reverse it. Christina Mathieson, LMFT couples gottman conflict https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/the-ick-decoded-attachment-or-dealbreaker/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/the-ick-decoded-attachment-or-dealbreaker/ Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT A couples therapist on why the ick tends to hit right as things get close, how it ties to perfectionism and attachment styles, and how to tell a real dealbreaker from your own exit strategy. Christina Mathieson, LMFT couples attachment dating https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/why-you-keep-having-the-same-fight/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/why-you-keep-having-the-same-fight/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT The same fight keeps coming back because of the cycle underneath it. Spot which of the three couples cycles is yours, and how EFT helps you step out of it. Michelle Cortez, AMFT couples eft communication attachment conflict https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-to-use-out-of-network-benefits-for-therapy/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-to-use-out-of-network-benefits-for-therapy/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT If your therapist is private-pay and you have a PPO, you can often still use your insurance through out-of-network benefits: you pay up front, submit a superbill, and your plan reimburses part of the fee after your deductible. Here is exactly how it works and what to ask. Christina Mathieson, LMFT insurance out-of-network cost california superbills https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-to-find-a-therapist-when-therapist-near-me-doesnt-work/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-to-find-a-therapist-when-therapist-near-me-doesnt-work/ Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT Most California therapists worth seeing are not in your local Google Maps results. Here is why 'therapist near me' is a worse filter than people realize, and how to find a clinician who fits. Christina Mathieson, LMFT finding-a-therapist telehealth california access online-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-to-expect-first-emdr-session/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-to-expect-first-emdr-session/ Sun, 26 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT You will not reprocess your trauma on day one. What happens in a first EMDR session, how the eight phases work, and what bilateral stimulation looks like over telehealth. Christina Mathieson, LMFT emdr trauma-therapy telehealth what-to-expect https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/disenfranchised-grief-lgbtq/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/disenfranchised-grief-lgbtq/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT Some of the heaviest grief queer people carry is invisible: a partner grieved as a 'friend,' a chosen-family death no one counts, or the ache of family who are still right there and still don't see you. A therapist on disenfranchised grief, and what helps. Christina Mathieson, LMFT lgbtq grief disenfranchised-grief chosen-family queer-mental-health https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-to-recover-after-being-ghosted/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-to-recover-after-being-ghosted/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT Being ghosted hurts because social rejection registers like physical pain and leaves you with no closure. A therapist on why the self-blame is misplaced, and what helps you recover. Christina Mathieson, LMFT ghosting dating breakups rejection attachment individual-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/adhd-paralysis-why-you-cant-start/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/adhd-paralysis-why-you-cant-start/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT ADHD paralysis is the frozen feeling of being unable to start a task even when you want to and know how. A therapist on why it happens, why it isn't laziness, and what helps you get moving. Christina Mathieson, LMFT adhd executive-function neurodiversity productivity shame https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/why-you-cant-stop-thinking-about-your-ex/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/why-you-cant-stop-thinking-about-your-ex/ Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT Intrusive post-breakup thoughts have a neurochemical mechanism. What Helen Fisher's MRI research shows about breakup withdrawal, and what helps. Christina Mathieson, LMFT breakups heartbreak neuroscience individual-therapy attachment grief https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-telehealth-does-it-work/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-telehealth-does-it-work/ Sat, 11 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT EMDR via telehealth uses the same eight-phase protocol as in-person work. What the research shows, what a session looks like online, and when in-person is still the better fit. Christina Mathieson, LMFT emdr telehealth trauma ptsd online-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/rebuilding-trust-after-an-affair/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/rebuilding-trust-after-an-affair/ Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT Many relationships survive infidelity, and some rebuild something steadier, but recovery is slow and conditional. A Gottman-trained couples therapist on what affair recovery takes: ending it, telling the truth, and the three phases of rebuilding trust. Christina Mathieson, LMFT infidelity affair-recovery couples-therapy trust gottman betrayal https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-for-breakup/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-for-breakup/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT Some breakups leave a trauma layer talk therapy alone doesn't move. When EMDR is the right tool for post-breakup pain, and what a session looks like. Christina Mathieson, LMFT emdr breakups heartbreak trauma attachment https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/cbt-for-sexual-anxiety/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/cbt-for-sexual-anxiety/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT Sexual anxiety often responds to CBT faster than clients expect, especially when the pattern is performance pressure, avoidance, or the cognitive spiral that shows up mid-encounter. Here is what CBT for sexual anxiety actually looks like. Christina Mathieson, LMFT cbt sex-therapy sexual-anxiety performance-anxiety arousal avoidance https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-vs-brainspotting/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-vs-brainspotting/ Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT Brainspotting grew out of EMDR and shares its bottom-up approach, but the two work through different mechanisms and suit different clients. A clinical comparison. Christina Mathieson, LMFT emdr brainspotting trauma ptsd comparison https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/love-island-sex-code-words-why-we-cant-say-sex/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/love-island-sex-code-words-why-we-cant-say-sex/ Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT 'French fries sex' is Love Island's code word for sex this season. What it points at: why so many long-term couples talk around sex instead of about it. Christina Mathieson, LMFT sex therapy communication love island relationships intimacy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/therapy-speak-in-relationships/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/therapy-speak-in-relationships/ Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT Therapy-speak (boundaries, gaslighting, attachment styles) can deepen a relationship or shut it down. A couples therapist on telling the two apart. Christina Mathieson, LMFT therapy-speak communication boundaries gaslighting couples attachment https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/adhd-in-relationships-six-patterns/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/adhd-in-relationships-six-patterns/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT ADHD in a relationship is rarely 'they don't pay attention.' It's six specific patterns couples blame on each other instead of the wiring — and what helps. Christina Mathieson, LMFT adhd relationships neurodiversity couples rsd https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-a-boundary-actually-is/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-a-boundary-actually-is/ Sun, 21 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT Most boundary advice on social media has it backward. A boundary is a limit on YOUR behavior, not a demand on someone else's. The difference is the point. Christina Mathieson, LMFT boundaries relationships communication mental-health individual-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-to-find-polyamory-affirming-therapist-walnut-creek/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-to-find-polyamory-affirming-therapist-walnut-creek/ Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT What 'polyamory-affirming' actually means clinically, where to find ENM specialists in Walnut Creek and the East Bay, and the red and green flags to weigh. Michelle Cortez, AMFT, and Christina Mathieson, LMFT polyamory ENM open-relationships finding-a-therapist walnut-creek https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/sliding-scale-therapy-california/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/sliding-scale-therapy-california/ Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT Sliding scale therapy is not a discount you ask for at the register. Here is what it is, how California therapists structure it, and how to ask. Christina Mathieson, LMFT cost sliding-scale access insurance california https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/considering-opening-your-relationship-the-first-therapy-conversation/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/considering-opening-your-relationship-the-first-therapy-conversation/ Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT What an ENM-affirming therapist covers in the first conversation with a couple considering opening their relationship. Michelle Cortez, AMFT polyamory ENM open-relationships couples-therapy walnut-creek https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/why-therapy-didnt-work-last-time/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/why-therapy-didnt-work-last-time/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT Therapy not working last time usually means one of six fixable things went wrong: fit, approach, length, timing, diagnosis, or rupture. How to tell which. Christina Mathieson, LMFT therapy finding-a-therapist mental-health EMDR https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/seven-stages-of-grief-25-minutes-love-island-cortisol-rsd/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/seven-stages-of-grief-25-minutes-love-island-cortisol-rsd/ Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT When Sincere said he went through 'seven stages of grief in 25 minutes' on Love Island, the timeline lined up with stress neuroscience. What's happening. Christina Mathieson, LMFT love-island ADHD RSD rejection-sensitive-dysphoria reality-tv cortisol neuroscience attachment dating pop-culture individual-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/so-what-are-we-off-campus-situationship/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/so-what-are-we-off-campus-situationship/ Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT Off Campus captures why the situationship 'in-between' is neurologically addictive — intermittent reinforcement and how to have the talk. Christina Mathieson, LMFT situationship dating attachment BookTok slow-burn hookup-culture off-campus pop-culture individual-therapy relationships https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/why-your-partner-doesnt-listen-to-you/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/why-your-partner-doesnt-listen-to-you/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT A couples therapist on why partners stop listening, the difference between not listening and listening-but-not-agreeing, and how to communicate when unheard. Christina Mathieson, LMFT couples communication relationships conflict https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/the-parent-child-dynamic-in-adhd-relationships/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/the-parent-child-dynamic-in-adhd-relationships/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT In ADHD relationships, one partner often becomes the manager and the other the managed. How the parent-child dynamic builds — and what actually shifts it. Christina Mathieson, LMFT adhd couples mental-load neurodivergent parent-child-dynamic couples-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/neurodivergent-masking-and-burnout/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/neurodivergent-masking-and-burnout/ Fri, 29 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT Masking keeps a lot of neurodivergent people functional and slowly empties them out. What it is, how it leads to burnout — and what recovery looks like. Christina Mathieson, LMFT neurodivergent masking autistic-burnout adhd trauma neurodiversity-affirming https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-off-campus-gets-right-about-modern-romance/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-off-campus-gets-right-about-modern-romance/ Wed, 27 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT Off Campus, the Prime Video Elle Kennedy hockey romance, became a BookTok phenomenon. What it gets right about ghosting, attachment, and the slow-burn. Christina Mathieson, LMFT dating attachment modern-romance ghosting hookup-culture off-campus pop-culture https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/responsive-vs-spontaneous-desire/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/responsive-vs-spontaneous-desire/ Sun, 24 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT Most couples who think one partner has low desire are navigating a difference in desire style. Responsive vs spontaneous — and what shifts in sex therapy. Christina Mathieson, LMFT desire sex therapy intimacy Nagoski couples https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/gottman-four-horsemen/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/gottman-four-horsemen/ Thu, 21 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT Gottman's Four Horsemen — criticism, contempt, defensiveness, stonewalling — predict divorce with about 90% accuracy. What each looks like, and the antidote to each. Christina Mathieson, LMFT gottman communication conflict couples four-horsemen divorce https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/nre-and-the-existing-partner/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/nre-and-the-existing-partner/ Mon, 18 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT NRE (new relationship energy) is the honeymoon-phase intensity that lights up a new poly relationship. The existing partner has their own underwritten story. Michelle Cortez, AMFT, and Christina Mathieson, LMFT polyamory ENM NRE non-monogamy attachment https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/matrescence-becoming-a-mother/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/matrescence-becoming-a-mother/ Fri, 15 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT Matrescence is the developmental transition into motherhood, and it's as significant as adolescence. From a therapist three months into her own matrescence. Christina Mathieson, LMFT new mom matrescence postpartum identity motherhood womens therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/loving-someone-with-adhd-the-supporting-partner/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/loving-someone-with-adhd-the-supporting-partner/ Wed, 13 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT Most ADHD content is written from the ADHD person's perspective. The supporting partner has their own story — patterns therapists name and work with directly. Christina Mathieson, LMFT ADHD couples neurodiversity supporting-partner mental-load https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/dead-bedrooms-and-the-roommate-phase/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/dead-bedrooms-and-the-roommate-phase/ Mon, 11 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT Dead bedroom, roommate phase, sexless marriage: a sex therapist on why desire fades in a long-term relationship, why 'just have more sex' backfires, and what actually brings it back. Christina Mathieson, LMFT dead bedroom sexless marriage low desire couples therapy sex therapy intimacy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/neuroscience-of-heartbreak/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/neuroscience-of-heartbreak/ Sun, 10 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT Heartbreak is a nervous-system event with a clear neurobiological footprint. What the brain scans show, and what the body needs to recover. Christina Mathieson, LMFT heartbreak neuroscience trauma breakup nervous-system https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/glimmers-and-the-nervous-system/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/glimmers-and-the-nervous-system/ Fri, 08 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT Glimmers are everywhere on TikTok, often framed as moments of joy. That isn't quite what the term means clinically. What it does in the body. Christina Mathieson, LMFT nervous system polyvagal trauma EMDR glimmers triggers https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-to-set-boundaries-in-relationships-without-ultimatums/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-to-set-boundaries-in-relationships-without-ultimatums/ Fri, 01 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT What therapists actually mean by a boundary, the common mistake that turns boundary-setting into a power struggle, and what makes the work land or go sideways. Christina Mathieson, LMFT boundaries communication couples relationships individual-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/rejection-sensitivity-in-adhd-relationships/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/rejection-sensitivity-in-adhd-relationships/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT In ADHD couples, rejection-sensitive dysphoria plays out as a cycle between both partners. What the pattern looks like from each side, and what shifts it. Christina Mathieson, LMFT adhd rejection-sensitivity rsd couples neurodivergent couples-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-ted-lasso-and-shrinking-got-right-about-therapy/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-ted-lasso-and-shrinking-got-right-about-therapy/ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT Two prestige shows did more for the normalization of therapy than a decade of campaigns. What Ted Lasso and Shrinking got right — and where they take license. Christina Mathieson, LMFT mental-health-stigma pop-culture individual-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/discernment-counseling-when-one-partner-wants-out/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/discernment-counseling-when-one-partner-wants-out/ Sat, 25 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT When one partner is leaning out and the other wants to stay, standard couples therapy often widens the gap. Discernment counseling is the short, structured alternative built for this bind. Christina Mathieson, LMFT couples-therapy discernment-counseling separation divorce ambivalence https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/chatgpt-isnt-your-therapist/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/chatgpt-isnt-your-therapist/ Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT AI chatbots help you prep questions and reflect between sessions. They can't challenge you, hold relationship, or regulate your nervous system. Use both. Christina Mathieson, LMFT ai-and-therapy chatgpt mental-health technology therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-vs-cbt-for-trauma-which-is-right-for-you/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-vs-cbt-for-trauma-which-is-right-for-you/ Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT EMDR and trauma-focused CBT are both first-line PTSD treatments. They work through different mechanisms and suit different clients. A therapist's decision framework. Christina Mathieson, LMFT emdr cbt trauma ptsd comparison https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/fawning-isnt-kindness-the-fourth-trauma-response/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/fawning-isnt-kindness-the-fourth-trauma-response/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT Fawning, the fourth trauma response after fight, flight, freeze, looks like kindness but comes from threat. Understanding the mechanism is the first step out. Christina Mathieson, LMFT trauma fawn-response nervous-system cptsd people-pleasing https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-is-high-functioning-anxiety/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-is-high-functioning-anxiety/ Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT High-functioning anxiety isn't a diagnosis, but it names a real pattern: chronic anxiety hiding behind achievement and the appearance of having it all together. Christina Mathieson, LMFT anxiety high-functioning-anxiety perfectionism burnout https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/adult-adhd-what-late-diagnosis-actually-looks-like/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/adult-adhd-what-late-diagnosis-actually-looks-like/ Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT Late ADHD diagnosis, especially in women, has become a cultural phenomenon. What it actually looks like, and how to tell recognition from self-diagnosis. Christina Mathieson, LMFT adhd adult-adhd late-diagnosis neurodivergent women https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/understanding-trauma-how-the-nervous-system-responds-and-why-healing-begins-with-safety/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/understanding-trauma-how-the-nervous-system-responds-and-why-healing-begins-with-safety/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT Trauma is less about what happened than about how your nervous system responded. How that shapes daily life, and why healing begins with safety. Jalyse Stewart, A.M.F.T. trauma nervous-system emdr healing https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/the-season-of-giving-navigating-holiday-gifting-stress/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/the-season-of-giving-navigating-holiday-gifting-stress/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:00:00 GMT Holidays trigger anxiety, overwhelm, and inadequacy, especially around gifting. A therapist on setting boundaries, reframing expectations, and connection. Christina Mathieson, LMFT holidays anxiety stress boundaries https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/one-hour-a-week-can-save-your-relationship-heres-how/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/one-hour-a-week-can-save-your-relationship-heres-how/ Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:00:00 GMT The Gottmans' Weekly State of the Union Meeting gives couples a structured hour to check in and repair before problems pile up. A therapist on how to run one. Christina Mathieson, LMFT gottman couples communication relationships https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/conflict-isnt-the-problem-communication-is-tips-for-conflict-resolution-from-a-therapist/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/conflict-isnt-the-problem-communication-is-tips-for-conflict-resolution-from-a-therapist/ Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:00:00 GMT Conflict isn't failure; it's part of any relationship. A therapist's three-step framework for moving from 'Me vs. You' to 'Us vs. the Problem.' Michelle A. Cortez, MA, A.M.F.T. communication couples conflict relationships https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/exploring-the-idea-of-separate-bedrooms-in-relationships/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/exploring-the-idea-of-separate-bedrooms-in-relationships/ Fri, 21 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMT Separate bedrooms can be healthy for some couples and a warning sign for others. A therapist on when it works, when it masks deeper issues, and how to tell. Christina Mathieson, LMFT couples intimacy sleep relationships https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/navigating-relationships-with-avoidant-partners-insights-from-a-therapist/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/navigating-relationships-with-avoidant-partners-insights-from-a-therapist/ Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMT If your partner has an avoidant attachment style, understanding the pattern changes what you try. A therapist's guide to the dynamic and what helps close the gap. Michelle Cortez, AMFT attachment couples relationships communication https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/breaking-the-stigma-how-therapy-empowers-your-mental-climb/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/breaking-the-stigma-how-therapy-empowers-your-mental-climb/ Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMT Cultural and family narratives keep many people out of therapy long past the point it would have helped. A clinician's read on the actual barriers. Christina Mathieson, LMFT therapy mental-health stigma https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/understanding-emotional-trauma-and-its-impact-on-relationships/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/understanding-emotional-trauma-and-its-impact-on-relationships/ Mon, 03 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMT Emotional trauma shapes how we connect and trust long after the event. A therapist on recognizing trauma responses in relationships, and how they change with treatment. Christina Mathieson, LMFT trauma relationships healing couples https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/cognitive-behavior-therapy-for-sexual-concerns/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/cognitive-behavior-therapy-for-sexual-concerns/ Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT CBT is known for depression and anxiety. Its clinical use for sexual anxiety, arousal difficulty, and performance concerns is often faster and more direct than clients expect. Christina Mathieson, LMFT sex-therapy cbt sexual-anxiety intimacy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-even-is-eft/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/what-even-is-eft/ Tue, 14 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT Emotion-Focused Therapy puts feelings front and center. How EFT works, what a session looks like, and why it's powerful for individuals, couples, and families. Michelle Cortez, AMFT eft couples emotions therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/who-can-benefit-from-emdr-therapy/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/who-can-benefit-from-emdr-therapy/ Sun, 12 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT EMDR therapy helps people process traumatic experiences, but who is it for? A look at the groups who benefit most. Christina Mathieson, LMFT emdr trauma anxiety ptsd https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-the-gottman-method-can-help-increase-intimacy-respect-and-affection-in-your-relationships/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-the-gottman-method-can-help-increase-intimacy-respect-and-affection-in-your-relationships/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT The Gottman Method draws on 40+ years of research on what predicts whether relationships strengthen or break down. The specific tools couples use in session and at home. Christina Mathieson, LMFT gottman couples intimacy communication https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/it-ends-with-us-domestic-violence-and-emdr-healing/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/it-ends-with-us-domestic-violence-and-emdr-healing/ Sun, 05 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT After watching Colleen Hoover's adapted novel, a therapist reflects on how the film portrays domestic violence dynamics while omitting therapeutic intervention. Michelle Payton, LCSW emdr trauma domestic-violence intimate-partner-violence https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/juggling-holiday-dynamics/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/juggling-holiday-dynamics/ Sun, 22 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT Holidays bring the challenge of balancing new traditions with cherished ones. A therapist on juggling traditions, family time, grief, and being alone during it. Christina Mathieson, LMFT holiday-stress family-dynamics grief traditions https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/unwrapping-holiday-anxiety-a-therapists-perspective-on-navigating-festive-stress/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/unwrapping-holiday-anxiety-a-therapists-perspective-on-navigating-festive-stress/ Sat, 21 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT Holiday anxiety is a stack of specific pressures (financial, social, family-of-origin) hitting at once. What's actually driving it — and what helps. Christina Mathieson, LMFT holiday-stress anxiety boundaries mental-health https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/mindfulness-for-sex-therapy/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/mindfulness-for-sex-therapy/ Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT Mindfulness is a powerful tool in sex therapy — helping couples become more present, reduce performance anxiety, and experience greater pleasure. Christina Mathieson, LMFT sex-therapy mindfulness intimacy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/finding-the-right-therapist-key-considerations-and-warning-signs/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/finding-the-right-therapist-key-considerations-and-warning-signs/ Sat, 07 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT Therapists are human, and not every human is a fit for every other human. What to look for in a therapist, and the signs it might be time to find someone new. Christina Mathieson, LMFT therapy mental-health finding-a-therapist https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/navigating-sociopolitical-tension-during-the-holidays/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/navigating-sociopolitical-tension-during-the-holidays/ Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT Political tension has reshaped family gatherings. A clinician on tense conversations, knowing when to disengage, and protecting your mental health. Christina Mathieson, LMFT holiday-stress family-dynamics sociopolitical-tension boundaries https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/8-steps-to-emotional-healing-after-a-breakup/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/8-steps-to-emotional-healing-after-a-breakup/ Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT A therapist's 8-step framework for emotional healing and recovery after a breakup: the timeline the research supports, and how to tell normal grief from something more. Christina Mathieson, LMFT breakups individual-therapy grief relationships https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/rekindling-the-spark-the-role-of-couples-therapy-in-revitalizing-your-relationship/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/rekindling-the-spark-the-role-of-couples-therapy-in-revitalizing-your-relationship/ Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT When connection dims, the issue is rarely a missing 'spark.' A therapist on what fading usually means, and what couples therapy does about it. Christina Mathieson, LMFT couples intimacy communication relationships https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/the-role-of-narrative-therapy-in-overcoming-lifes-challenges/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/the-role-of-narrative-therapy-in-overcoming-lifes-challenges/ Sat, 13 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT Narrative therapy is one of the most useful but underexplained modern approaches. What it does, when it fits, and how it differs from talk therapy. Christina Mathieson, LMFT narrative-therapy individual-therapy modalities https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-sex-therapy-can-enhance-your-relationship/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-sex-therapy-can-enhance-your-relationship/ Wed, 03 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT What surprises most couples in sex therapy isn't what they learn about sex — it's how much else changes that has nothing to do with sex at all. Christina Mathieson, LMFT sex-therapy couples intimacy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/sex-therapy-101/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/sex-therapy-101/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:00:00 GMT What sex therapy actually is, and what it isn't. A plain-language intro to who it's for, what happens in session, and how to know if it's the right next step. Christina Mathieson, LMFT sex-therapy intro https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/beyond-boundaries-emdrs-transformative-reach-in-mental-health-recovery/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/beyond-boundaries-emdrs-transformative-reach-in-mental-health-recovery/ Tue, 28 May 2024 16:00:00 GMT EMDR is best known for PTSD, but research shows it helps several other conditions where unprocessed memory drives the symptoms. Where it fits, where it doesn't. Christina Mathieson, LMFT emdr anxiety depression addiction chronic-pain https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/celebrity-endorsements-shine-light-on-emdr-therapys-healing-potential/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/celebrity-endorsements-shine-light-on-emdr-therapys-healing-potential/ Tue, 28 May 2024 16:00:00 GMT Prince Harry, Sandra Bullock, and Jameela Jamil have publicly credited EMDR for their trauma recovery. What the wave signals about how trauma therapy is shifting. Christina Mathieson, LMFT emdr trauma mental-health-stigma https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/why-exercise-should-be-prescribed-for-mental-health/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/why-exercise-should-be-prescribed-for-mental-health/ Sun, 14 Apr 2024 16:00:00 GMT The physical benefits of exercise are well-documented; its effect on mental health gets far less attention. What recent research shows about exercise, depression, anxiety, and mood. Michelle Payton, LCSW exercise mental-health depression anxiety https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-unveiled-a-guided-journey-through-healing/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/emdr-unveiled-a-guided-journey-through-healing/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:00:00 GMT Michelle Payton, LCSW and EMDR Therapist, explores how Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing facilitates healing from various forms of trauma. Michelle Payton, LCSW emdr trauma healing https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/prioritizing-mental-health-in-the-workplace-strategies-for-success/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/prioritizing-mental-health-in-the-workplace-strategies-for-success/ Sun, 10 Mar 2024 16:00:00 GMT Most workplace mental health advice is too generic to move the needle. What burnout looks like in high-functioning professionals, and what tends to help. Christina Mathieson, LMFT workplace-mental-health burnout high-functioning-anxiety individual-therapy https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/embracing-your-authentic-self-the-importance-of-counseling-for-lgbtq-individuals/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/embracing-your-authentic-self-the-importance-of-counseling-for-lgbtq-individuals/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 16:00:00 GMT Most therapists list themselves as LGBTQ+ affirming. Far fewer have done the training. What it actually looks like — and how to spot the real thing. Christina Mathieson, LMFT lgbtq affirming-therapy identity https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-therapy-can-strengthen-your-relationships/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/how-therapy-can-strengthen-your-relationships/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:00:00 GMT Working on your relationships often means starting with how you relate to yourself. A therapist on why, and what changes when you do. Christina Mathieson, LMFT individual-therapy couples relationships https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/communication-sex-therapy/ https://www.mymentalclimb.com/blog/communication-sex-therapy/ Sun, 07 Jan 2024 16:00:00 GMT The communication challenges in sex therapy aren't the same as in couples therapy. They're specific, and most couples have never had a chance to practice them. Christina Mathieson, LMFT, and Michelle Cortez, AMFT sex-therapy couples communication