Somatic Psychology

Burnout

When You Say Yes but Need to Say No

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on June 16, 2025

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s a sign you’re neglecting your own needs. Learn how setting boundaries can help you reconnect with yourself and regain your energy.

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s a sign you’re neglecting your own needs. Learn how setting boundaries can help you reconnect with yourself and regain your energy.

Stress

The Body's Role in Emotional Healing

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on May 25, 2025

Feeling off? Your body holds clues to your emotional and physical health—learn how to listen and heal.

Feeling off? Your body holds clues to your emotional and physical health—learn how to listen and heal.

Authenticity

When Life Feels Off, You May Be Losing Your True Self

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on May 14, 2025

Losing touch with our feelings means losing ourselves.

Losing touch with our feelings means losing ourselves.

Trauma

Healing From the Flames: Rebuilding Hope and Recovery After Fire

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on January 21, 2025

The wildfires have left devastation in their wake. But recovery goes beyond rebuilding homes. Explore how community, compassion, and trauma-informed tools can rebuild hope.

The wildfires have left devastation in their wake. But recovery goes beyond rebuilding homes. Explore how community, compassion, and trauma-informed tools can rebuild hope.

Relationships

Choosing Connection Over Division

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on December 2, 2024

Allowing division to deepen can lead to emotional isolation, eroding community and support. Building connection through dialogue and empathy helps us strengthen bonds.

Allowing division to deepen can lead to emotional isolation, eroding community and support. Building connection through dialogue and empathy helps us strengthen bonds.

Forgiveness

Letting Go of Hurt

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on August 16, 2022

Would you rather forget than forgive? Letting go can allow you to enter and inhabit the present moment, relieve stress created by negative thoughts, and access newly freed energy.

Would you rather forget than forgive? Letting go can allow you to enter and inhabit the present moment, relieve stress created by negative thoughts, and access newly freed energy.

Trauma

Is COVID-19 Killing Kindness?

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on October 25, 2020

Have you noticed that people are more aggressive since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Have you noticed that people are more aggressive since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Trauma

Why Face Masks Can Trigger Unpleasant Emotions

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on May 13, 2020

Traumatic memories can be linked to face masks. But even if you have never experienced major trauma, the sight of a mask can make you feel uncomfortable.

Traumatic memories can be linked to face masks. But even if you have never experienced major trauma, the sight of a mask can make you feel uncomfortable.

Trauma

Why You Might Have Intimacy Issues After Trauma

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on February 27, 2019

It is a myth that only sexual-abuse survivors suffer from intimacy issues.

It is a myth that only sexual-abuse survivors suffer from intimacy issues.

Neuroscience

What Makes One Person a Bystander and Another a Hero?

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on May 1, 2018

We don’t have to risk our lives to make a difference in someone else's. How to move from being the bystander to becoming an active “helper.”

We don’t have to risk our lives to make a difference in someone else's. How to move from being the bystander to becoming an active “helper.”

Anxiety

Rejection Hangover: Abandonment Anxiety

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on March 11, 2016

Feeling nervous while dating is normal but when the experience feels like a psychological hangover, you may be dealing with abandonment anxiety caused childhood trauma.

Feeling nervous while dating is normal but when the experience feels like a psychological hangover, you may be dealing with abandonment anxiety caused childhood trauma.

Forgiveness

Why Apologizing Can Be So Good (for You)

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on April 15, 2015

Apologizing is difficult for many of us...No one wants to be seen as a bad person, and we usually want to protect our image.

Apologizing is difficult for many of us...No one wants to be seen as a bad person, and we usually want to protect our image.

Sexual Abuse

Was I Molested Even Though My Clothes Never Came Off?

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on August 29, 2014

Responding to a reader who was confused about her experience and trying to put the puzzle pieces together.

Responding to a reader who was confused about her experience and trying to put the puzzle pieces together.

Trauma

Typhoon Haiyan: What Can We Do?

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on November 18, 2013

Perceived support, providing long-term and local community support, taking care of your nervous system, donating blood, volunteering or helping volunteers, and not sending hand me downs can all be additional ways to help the survivors of the Philippine disaster.

Perceived support, providing long-term and local community support, taking care of your nervous system, donating blood, volunteering or helping volunteers, and not sending hand me downs can all be additional ways to help the survivors of the Philippine disaster.

Anxiety

What’s Wrong with Negative Emotions?

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on June 21, 2013

Sometimes emotions don’t tell us the truth. However, you might not know how to change the beliefs.

Sometimes emotions don’t tell us the truth. However, you might not know how to change the beliefs.

Sexual Abuse

Trauma: Childhood Sexual Abuse

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on March 12, 2013

Sexual abuse is a sinister type of trauma because of the shame it instills in victims. When not properly treated, this can result in a lifetime of PTSD and depression.

Sexual abuse is a sinister type of trauma because of the shame it instills in victims. When not properly treated, this can result in a lifetime of PTSD and depression.

Incest is a form of sexual abuse. As a form of abuse, it is highly damaging to a child’s psyche and most often results in prolonged PTSD.

Child Development

A Child Within Us Wants to Talk

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on November 14, 2012

Memories of unresolved feelings from childhood are carried into our adult life and often become buried in the subconscious.

Memories of unresolved feelings from childhood are carried into our adult life and often become buried in the subconscious.

Attention

The Power of Being You

Susanne Babbel MFT, PhD on September 20, 2012

There’s a distinction between giving of yourself and giving up yourself.

There’s a distinction between giving of yourself and giving up yourself.

Recognize and understand how PTSD can affect you as a student. Receive support by knowing your resources.