Shame is a learned response, not a personal flaw. Many LGBTQIA+ people grow up receiving clear messages about who is acceptable and who is not. Shame often sounds like self-doubt. It can show up as overthinking, people-pleasing, emotional shutdown, or avoiding relationships.

Coming out is not a single moment. It is a process that unfolds over time and often repeats in different settings. People come out to family, friends, partners, coworkers, and sometimes to themselves more than once. For some, the process feels empowering. For others, it brings fear, grief, or confusion. Often, it is a mix of all of these emotions. Therapy can play a steady, grounding role throughout this journey.

Undiagnosed ADHD often plays a quiet but powerful role in shaping mood, motivation, and self-worth. When ADHD goes unrecognized, it can create patterns that slowly wear a person down. Over time, this can lead to the development of mental health issues like depression. This connection affects children, teens, and adults alike. It also shows up differently across generations, especially for those who grew up when ADHD was poorly understood or narrowly defined.

Intersectionality is a practical framework. It recognizes that people live at the intersection of multiple identities, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, race, disability, religion, age, and socioeconomic status. These identities do not exist in isolation. They shape how someone moves through the world and how stress, safety, discrimination, and support show up in daily life. For LGBTQIA+ individuals, mental health experiences often look different depending on these

The OCD cycle is driven by fear and relief. When an intrusive thought appears, the brain interprets it as a threat. This triggers an anxious response, prompting the person to perform a compulsion to make the anxiety go away. Although the behavior brings short-term relief, it teaches the brain that the only way to feel safe is through that ritual. Breaking this pattern requires unlearning the connection between fear and relief.

You've probably googled 'how to find a therapist' or 'how much does therapy cost.' But there are other questions... ones that don't make it into search bars or first sessions, that matter just as much. What if you move? Can you refer a friend? What happens when your therapist makes a mistake? Here are the things we wish more people knew to ask.

Attachment trauma shapes how people trust others, manage emotions, and build relationships. Many adults live with its effects without knowing the cause. They often blame themselves for feeling guarded, needy, avoidant, or disconnected. The truth is simpler. Their nervous system learned survival before it learned connection.

Bailey is a counselor in our Austin, TX office. She provides therapy in person as well as online to residents of Texas.

Procrastination often connects to discomfort, not disinterest. When a task feels overwhelming, confusing, or tied to pressure, your brain tries to protect you by avoiding it. This can look like putting it off, staying busy with unrelated tasks, or convincing yourself that you work better at the last minute.