Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that’s often misrepresented in everyday conversation. It’s not about being overly tidy or liking things a certain way—it’s a cycle of intrusive thoughts and anxiety-driven behaviors that can be deeply distressing.

The holidays can be joyful—but they can also bring stress, pressure, and emotional overwhelm. Taking care of your mental health helps you enjoy the season in a way that feels sustainable and genuine. 

For many people with ADHD, the hardest part of getting things done isn’t the task itself—it’s starting. Task paralysis happens when a to-do list feels so overwhelming that your brain freezes, making even simple steps feel impossible. The good news? There are ways to move through it with compassion and strategy.

Embodied therapy is an approach that combines traditional talk therapy with somatic practices. It might include breathwork, grounding exercises, guided movement, mindfulness, meditation, imagery, or even role-play. The aim is to bring awareness to physical sensations, helping clients notice how emotions “live” in the body. By tuning in, people often unlock insights and release long-held patterns.

Mainstream approaches to suicide prevention often rely on coercive and oppressive systems—calling the police, forced hospitalization, or surveillance under the guise of “safety.” While these interventions may be well-intentioned, they can be deeply harmful, especially for communities already targeted by policing and institutional violence, including Black, Indigenous, disabled, trans, queer, and poor people.

There are many well-intended and talented therapists who self-identify as “LGBTQ+ affirming” but are limited in the understanding and skills necessary to be a true ally to this community. Many times, therapists may feel competent enough to provide services to the LGBTQ+ community because they believe “we’re all equal!”, or they enjoy consuming “gay” media.

Want to avoid doing unintentional harm as an affirming therapist who really means well but doesn’t know the queer experience personally?

If you’ve ever been to therapy as a queer or trans person, you may know the feeling: sitting across from a well-meaning, “LGBTQ+ affirming” therapist—and still feeling completely misunderstood. Maybe they fumble your pronouns, offer awkward silence instead of solidarity, or treat your identity like a case study. Even with the best intentions, too many therapists outside of our communities miss the mark.