Robyn E Brickel MA, LMFT, LLC

03/06/2026

When life begins to feel like too much, emotionally, mentally, or physically, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Overwhelm often shows up quietly at first: trouble concentrating, constant fatigue, irritability, anxiety, or the sense that you’re always “on edge.” Your nervous system may be working overtime simply trying to keep up with the demands around you.

It’s important to remember that overwhelm is not a personal failure, it is often a signal that your mind and body are asking for care, support, and space to recalibrate. You do not have to carry everything alone. Therapy offers a place to slow down, gain clarity, strengthen coping skills, and feel supported by someone who is trained to help you navigate what feels heavy.

If you’re feeling stretched thin, consider this your permission to prioritize your well-being. If you’re in the Old Town Alexandria or greater DC area, we invite you to schedule an appointment with our team of therapists. Compassionate, trauma-informed support is closer than you think.

03/05/2026

After years of working closely with patients at the end of life, hospital chaplain J.S. Park says that facing death ultimately deepened his appreciation for living. While death is often avoided in conversation because it confronts our vulnerability, Park believes acknowledging it can help us become more present and intentional. He encourages honest discussions about end-of-life wishes, reminds families that meaningful final conversations may not always be possible, and suggests offering practical support rather than vague help when someone is grieving. Learn more,

J.S. Park helps patients and their families cope with death every day as a hospital chaplain. He explains what to expect as a person is dying, and how to reckon with uncomfortable feelings about death.

03/04/2026

At Brickel and Associates, a few of the models we practice are:

Trauma-informed therapy - This is an approach that guides us in creating a safe environment that empowers you to find healing. Trauma-informed care provides a foundation for the trust and resources that people need in order to work with emotional struggles and to change how those challenges impact them today. When you feel safe in therapy, you can begin to learn and grow from challenging and even painful experiences.

Strengths-based approach – this approach focuses on what is working. We look for the wisdom inside each individual as they make efforts to persevere, despite life’s challenges. Using a strengths-based approach helps us notice that individuals’ behaviors make sense due to what has happened in their life or what they have had to manage.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy – EMDR allows trauma survivors to develop new neural pathways or connections in the nervous system to reduce the intensity of the pain. EMDR is therapy and begins with the development of grounding into the present moment. Therefore, reducing the flooding of intense memories.

Learn more about us and our approaches to care and treatment modalities by visiting our website.

03/03/2026

NPR explores A kids’ guide to phone-free fun, which discusses the growing conversation around how smartphones and social media may be shaping young people’s mental health. Through storytelling and research-backed insights, the book suggests that while technology offers many benefits, excessive screen time can come with meaningful tradeoffs, making it more important than ever to help kids find balance and engage fully in offline experiences.

Jonathan Haidt's 2024 book made the case that screen time had "rewired" kids' brains. The Amazing Generation is a collab with science journalist Catherine Price and graphic novelist Cynthia Yuan Cheng.

03/02/2026

Allyship is more than support, it is a commitment to creating spaces where everyone feels seen, safe, and respected.

For many LGBTQ+ individuals, vulnerability in the therapy room is often layered with experiences of stigma, rejection, or discrimination. This reality contributes to significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, and suicidality within the LGBTQ+ community.

These are not just statistics; they reflect the profound impact that marginalization can have on mental health. Affirming, compassionate care has the power to interrupt these patterns and support meaningful healing.

Being an ally means actively advocating for and uplifting LGBTQ+ individuals while fostering environments rooted in dignity and understanding. In mental health care, allyship shows up through inclusive language, respecting pronouns, ongoing education, challenging bias, and intentionally creating welcoming spaces where clients can show up exactly as they are. Because when people feel truly affirmed, self-acceptance grows and resilience strengthens.

Allyship is not reserved for therapists alone, it is a shared responsibility. Listening without judgment, speaking up against harmful rhetoric, supporting LGBTQ+ rights, and celebrating LGBTQ+ joy are all powerful ways to contribute to a more compassionate world.

At Brickel and Associates, we are deeply committed to inclusive, trauma-informed care for LGBTQ+ individuals and families. Allyship is not a destination, but an ongoing practice grounded in humility, learning, and action. We see you, we support you, and we are honored to walk alongside you.

To learn more, visit our blog, Why Being an Ally to the LGBTQ+ Community Matters — Especially in Mental Health. https://ow.ly/Uv7n50Yo1j3

02/27/2026

As we recognize Black History Month, we are reminded that Black history is not separate from American history, it is an essential part of it. This month offers an opportunity not only to reflect but to deepen understanding, honor the contributions of Black individuals and communities, and recommit to ongoing learning and action.

Awareness begins with intention. We each have the ability to contribute to a more informed, compassionate, and equitable world by educating ourselves about the historical and present-day realities that continue to shape the experiences of Black communities. Meaningful change is sustained through everyday choices, conversations, and accountability.

Consider making it a personal goal to use your voice to promote education, justice, and equity; revisit the commitments you have made toward anti-racism; amplify Black-owned businesses in your community; and seek opportunities to support, collaborate, and build authentic relationships. Small, consistent actions can create lasting impact.

At Brickel and Associates, we believe that healing, growth, and community well-being are deeply connected to social awareness and collective care. Let this month serve as both a reflection and a call forward, to listen, to learn, and to participate in the kind of change that supports a more just and connected future for all.

02/25/2026

While motherhood is often portrayed as a time of pure joy, many new mothers find the reality to be far more layered. The transition after childbirth can bring exhaustion, uncertainty, emotional overwhelm, and even fear. For some women, these feelings develop into postpartum depression (PPD) or other perinatal mood disorders, reminding us just how important awareness and understanding truly are.

Postpartum depression is frequently misunderstood and sometimes mistaken for the short-lived “baby blues.” Unlike the temporary emotional shifts many experience, PPD involves persistent symptoms that can affect a mother’s well-being, her sense of self, and her ability to connect in the ways she hopes to with her baby. No mother should feel alone in this experience, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not failure.

Healing happens in environments where women feel seen, heard, and supported. Through compassionate, trauma-informed care and a strengths-based approach, therapy can provide the space new mothers need to process their emotions, build resilience, and reconnect with themselves during this profound life transition.

To learn more about the realities of postpartum depression and the support it takes to seek help, visit our blog, Facing Postpartum Depression: The Support It Takes to Seek Help. https://ow.ly/Ysfm50Ykh42

02/23/2026

Trauma can deeply impact a person’s sense of control, often leaving them feeling as though their voice, choices, and autonomy have been taken away. A core principle of trauma-informed care is empowerment, helping individuals reconnect with their inner strength and remember that they are the expert on their own life.

In therapy, empowerment means creating space for you - your thoughts, emotions, and experiences to be honored without judgment. It involves identifying the strengths that have carried you through difficult moments, building effective coping strategies, and fostering a stronger sense of agency in your healing process.

As you begin to recognize your resilience, healing becomes less about “fixing” what is broken and more about reclaiming what has always been yours, your voice, your needs, and your ability to make choices that support your well-being.

If you have been feeling disconnected from your sense of self or unsure how to move forward, you do not have to navigate it alone. Our therapists are here to support you.

02/14/2026

Valentine’s Day can bring up many different feelings.

For some, it’s a celebration of love and connection. For others, it can stir grief, loneliness, pressure, or reminders of relationships that felt unsafe or unfulfilling. All of these responses make sense.

At Brickel and Associates, we view love through a trauma-informed lens. Healthy love, romantic or otherwise, must be grounded in safety, mutual respect, choice, and emotional attunement. We also know that when those elements were missing in earlier relationships, this day can activate old wounds or longings.

Valentine’s Day can also be an invitation to widen the definition of love: caring for our nervous systems, honoring boundaries, practicing self-compassion, and nurturing relationships that feel steady and supportive.

Love is not meant to hurt, rush, or demand. It grows where safety and understanding exist.
However you experience today, your feelings are valid—and you don’t have to navigate them alone.

Love includes care, consent, and compassion – always!

Happy Valentine’s Day.

02/13/2026

Today has been referenced by some as Galentine’s Day - a reminder that love isn’t limited to romantic relationships.

Friendships, chosen family, community, and supportive connections play a powerful role in healing, especially for those with trauma histories. Safe relationships help regulate the nervous system, restore trust, and remind us that we don’t have to do life alone.

Trauma can make connections feel complicated. It may take time to feel safe relying on others, to ask for support, or to believe you’re worthy of care. Trauma-informed healing honors that pace while gently making room for relationships that feel reciprocal, affirming, and steady.

Today, we celebrate the friends who listen without fixing, show up consistently, respect boundaries, and offer care without conditions. These connections matter. They heal.

Here’s to chosen support, shared laughter, and the kind of love that feels safe.

Connection is a form of care.

02/12/2026

Intrusive or ruminative thoughts, replaying past events or worrying about the future, can leave us feeling stuck, stressed, and depleted. The article outlines practical strategies to break this cycle, including practicing mindfulness to observe and release thoughts, gaining perspective through self-compassion or self-distancing, moving the body (especially outdoors), redirecting attention away from negative stimuli, and seeking support from trusted friends or a therapist. While persistent thoughts can signal underlying issues that need attention, these tools help manage rumination, protect mental health, and foster clearer, calmer thinking. Read more, https://ow.ly/qluK50XX3Ka.

Stuck in rumination? Here are some ways to break the cycle and move forward.

02/12/2026

Boundaries are not just rules, they’re a form of self-care and a vital part of healing from trauma. For those whose boundaries were repeatedly crossed, learning to set and maintain them can feel challenging. Did you know it can also feel deeply empowering? Boundaries help restore safety, agency, and self-trust, creating a foundation for healthier relationships with ourselves and others.

In therapy, boundaries are explored not as walls that shut others out, but as tools that foster safety, connection, and respect. They allow clients to protect their energy while still engaging meaningfully with the people in their lives. When approached thoughtfully, boundaries support both personal well-being and relationship health.

Setting boundaries is an act of self-respect. It’s a way of saying, “I see my needs. I honor my limits. I deserve safety and care.” Healthy boundaries are not about pushing people away; they’re about creating space for authentic connection without compromising your own well-being.

At Brickel and Associates, we help clients explore boundaries as a form of healing, guiding them to reclaim safety, strengthen self-trust, and build relationships that honor their needs. You deserve to be both safe and connected, and healthy boundaries can help you achieve both.