by Susan Smith | Apr 19, 2026 | All Posts, Demystifying Therapy, Susan Smith, Trauma Recovery
When Therapy Feels Like It’s Making Things Worse Susan Smith There are moments in therapy that don’t feel like healing.Often, many of them. They can feel like: more anxiety, not less old memories getting louder emotions stirred up that don’t settle as quickly a sense...
by Susan Smith | Feb 22, 2026 | All Posts, Couples Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Susan Smith, Trauma Recovery
How Trauma Impacts Intimacy and Emotional Closeness Susan Smith “I got so pissed off, angry at him!” Her tone supported every word. I listened quietly while she ranted, grounding myself as the intensity rose. Soon, she shifted to another relationship—her mother’s...
by Susan Smith | Feb 5, 2026 | All Posts, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Susan Smith
Coping With Social Rejection and Relationship Wounding Susan Smith Healing Social Rejection Through IFS Therapy Why is rejection so painful? Research shows that the psychological experience of social rejection activates pain networks in the brain. This may be because,...
by Susan Smith | Jan 20, 2026 | All Posts, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Personal Growth, Susan Smith
Letting Go to Begin Again: IFS Therapy and the New Year Susan Smith When the New Year Feels Heavy Instead of Hopeful It’s been a tough year for many, and perhaps it has been for you too. After the holidays, weariness often sets in. Nights remain long, days stay short,...
by Susan Smith | Dec 19, 2025 | All Posts, Anxiety & Depression, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Spiritual Exploration, Susan Smith
Holidays, Depression, and Sacred Presence Susan Smith The holidays often arrive with a particular kind of weight. For many of us, holiday stress and depression live quietly beneath the lights, gatherings, and expectations. What if this season is not asking us to fix...
