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When Success Feels Empty: The Psychology of Achievement Without Fulfillment

When Success Feels Empty: The Psychology of Achievement Without Fulfillment

Clients who “have it all” often whisper the same confession: “Why doesn’t it feel like enough?” The Achievement Trap Society rewards

From Triggers to Tools: Turning Overwhelm Into Information

From Triggers to Tools: Turning Overwhelm Into Information

Triggers often feel like enemies, but they can be powerful teachers. The Message Beneath the Trigger A trigger is not

Distress Tolerance: Learning to Stay Present When Everything Feels Too Much

Distress Tolerance: Learning to Stay Present When Everything Feels Too Much

Some moments feel unbearable: panic rising in the chest, racing thoughts, the urge to escape at any cost. This is

Why Emotional Pain Can Hurt Like Physical Pain

Why Emotional Pain Can Hurt Like Physical Pain

Clients often say, “It feels like a punch in the gut” or “like my chest is breaking.” These aren’t just

The Fawn Response: Why Saying Yes Feels Safer Than Saying No

The Fawn Response: Why Saying Yes Feels Safer Than Saying No

Most people are familiar with “fight or flight,” but fewer know the third survival response: fawning. This is the instinct to

The Fire That Makes Us: Finding Meaning in Struggle

The Fire That Makes Us: Finding Meaning in Struggle

There’s a paradox at the heart of healing: the very thing that breaks us can also shape us. The Alchemy

Burnout vs. Trauma Fatigue: Knowing the Difference Matters

Burnout vs. Trauma Fatigue: Knowing the Difference Matters

Burnout and trauma fatigue can look almost identical — but they are not the same. What Burnout Looks Like Burnout

Gaslighting in Healthcare: When Your Pain Is Dismissed

Gaslighting in Healthcare: When Your Pain Is Dismissed

One of the deepest wounds many clients carry is not just the original pain — but the dismissal of it.

The Nervous System Is Not the Enemy: How to Befriend Your Triggers

The Nervous System Is Not the Enemy: How to Befriend Your Triggers

When most people talk about triggers, they describe them as enemies — something they want to erase. But triggers are

Why Feeling Stuck Isn’t Failure — It’s Part of Healing

Why Feeling Stuck Isn’t Failure — It’s Part of Healing

We expect healing to be a straight line: progress that moves forward and never back. But the truth is, healing
Rise: A Practical Guide to Emotion Regulation

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Dr. Shahrzad Jalali