Blog

From haunted houses to video games to horror movies, people will pay good money to be creeped out, spooked, or generally have the crap scared out of them. We often go to great lengths to avoid scary situations in real life, and for good reason—it’s an evolutionary survival mechanism. So what accounts for the lasting popularity of horror?

EMDR and somatic therapy are two of the buzziest and most-requested therapies for people seeking trauma treatment today. But did you know that they can be integrated to provide an even more holistic and effective approach? Stella Nova therapist Sage Swiatek, LCSW, breaks down what you need to know about Somatic EMDR Therapy.

As a psychologist who often works with trauma, I enjoy looking to pop culture for stories of resilience and healing.
The Thunderbolts’ display many of the hallmark symptoms of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD). I invite you to learn about what cPTSD looks like using examples from this film. (Spoilers ahead!)

Are you feeling stuck in life? Maybe you have a sense that something is off. Or you’re moving through your days on autopilot, craving change but unsure of what the next step is. Slowing down and engaging in honest self-reflection can offer just enough clarity or momentum to take steps towards getting unstuck. Here are some reflection questions that I find helpful when I’m stuck in my own life.

Meet Harley Quinzel, LCSW | LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy | Therapy for Women of Color Harley Quinzel, LCSW, is the newest member of the Stella Nova team. As a licensed clinical social worker, she specializes in online therapy for Black women, women of color, and members...

While sleep is essential for everyone, women face distinct challenges that can impact both the quality and quantity of their rest. It’s our hope that understanding these unique influences can help women prioritize rest in a way that truly supports their mental health. With World Sleep Day approaching on March 15th, it’s the perfect time to highlight the unique factors that affect women’s sleep—and their mental health.

Between work, relationships, and everyday responsibilities, it can be overwhelming to know how to support your mental health. Many of us are coping with distractions or things that don’t feel like the best for us. Consider this a gentle checkpoint—a way to see where you’re at mentally and gauge if support is needed!

January is quickly coming to an end, and many of us may have participated in the popular annual trend known as Dry January. While motivations may vary, there are some valuable lessons we can learn from Dry January to help us to create lasting change in our drinking and in other areas of our lives, all year long.

Bishop Mariann Budde’s sermon at the inaugural prayer service on Tuesday morning was a powerful speech, in which she used her platform to directly address the president. She implored him to have mercy on communities who are scared right now.

If you listen carefully you can hear her voice shake as she begins to address the president. She’s scared, and she was there doing this anyway. Beautifully, gracefully, eloquently. The truth is that doing things in spite of fear is the heart of bravery. It emphasizes strength in acting despite it.