Robyn E Brickel MA, LMFT, LLC

11/25/2025

A recent Psychology Today article touches on the topic of parenting. It discusses how parenting is hard, and unrealistic expectations can leave parents feeling like they’re failing. Developmental psychology reminds us that it’s okay not to be perfect: bonding takes time, secure attachment develops gradually, and children reach milestones at different rates. Learn more, https://ow.ly/m6PX50XxiC7.

A perfect parent is not a normal parent. Please, give yourself a break.

11/25/2025

Wishing You a Warm Thanksgiving -

Some worry is normal; but when you can't function, you may be experiencing too much worry. Healthy ways to address worry allow you to hold whatever you are feeling with compassion, so you can take care of what is bothering you. These skills are learnable...

11/25/2025

As we head into the busiest travel day of the year, it’s a good moment to pause and check in with yourself. Whether you’re traveling to see loved ones, hosting, spending the holiday alone, or with friends, the holiday season can bring a mix of emotions, stress, exhaustion, excitement, and sometimes even anxiety.

So many feel a swirl of emotions during this time. In a world full of constant news, differing opinions, and holiday pressures, it’s easy to get caught up in tension and overwhelm. Acknowledging and noticing how you truly feel is the first step toward managing it. Your feelings are valid, and you deserve the space to process them.

Think about what you need to care for yourself today. Can you take moments to breathe, engage in mindfulness, limit exposure to news, or connect with supportive friends? Small practices like these can help create calm amidst the holiday chaos and give you a sense of grounding.

Be gentle with yourself. Prioritizing your mental health doesn’t mean you’re not enjoying the holidays, it means you’re showing up for yourself in a sustainable way. If you’re looking for support, our trauma-informed therapists in Old Town Alexandria, VA, are here to help. You deserve care, connection, and space to feel seen.

11/23/2025

For many trauma survivors, rest doesn’t always feel safe, even when the body is exhausted and the mind longs for stillness. The very idea of slowing down can trigger unease or guilt. Rest means letting your guard down, releasing control, or allowing vulnerability, things that may have once felt dangerous. When the nervous system has lived in survival mode for so long, constant alertness can feel like the only way to stay safe.

Trauma-informed care recognizes that rest isn’t simply a lifestyle choice, it’s a nervous system state. The ability to rest, relax, and feel safe doing so requires the body to believe it’s not under threat. For survivors, this trust takes time to rebuild. Healing involves gently teaching the body that it’s okay to pause, that safety doesn’t depend on constant vigilance, and that rest is a right, not a reward.

Rest might begin in small ways, noticing your breath, spending a few minutes in quiet, or allowing yourself to feel supported by a safe person or space. Over time, these moments of safety can grow, helping you reconnect with your body’s natural rhythms of work, play, and rest.

Our trauma-informed therapists support clients in learning how to feel “safe enough” to rest, recover, and restore. If you’re ready to begin building that sense of safety within yourself, we’re currently accepting new clients for in-person therapy in Old Town Alexandria, VA.

11/21/2025

Today marks National Survivors of Su***de Loss Day. We take this time to honor those who have lost someone to su***de – also known as someone who died from depression.

We know those loved ones left behind are navigating the complex layers of grief, possibly also including love, guilt, confusion, and pain, all that follow such profound loss.

Grieving a loss from su***de (or depression) may carry questions that may never be answered and emotions that can shift moment to moment, from sorrow to anger, from disbelief to longing. Healing doesn’t mean “getting over” the loss; it means finding ways to carry it while continuing to live, love, and connect. There is no timeline, no right way, and no single path through this kind of pain.

We approach this day (and every day) with compassion for the complexity of trauma and loss. If you are a survivor of loss from su***de (or depression), know that your feelings are valid. Reaching out for support is not a sign of weakness, it’s a profound act of care for yourself and those you love.

If you’re seeking a safe, trauma-informed space to process loss, grief, and the many emotions that accompany them, our therapists in Old Town Alexandria, VA, are here to help. https://ow.ly/7Quv50Xt7QF

11/20/2025

Someone can look like they have it all together, a successful career, strong relationships, and a full calendar, and still be struggling with depression. On the outside, things may seem fine. But inside, it can feel like constant exhaustion, emptiness, or the quiet weight of trying to hold everything together.

Depression doesn’t always look like sadness. It can look like smiling through pain, striving for perfection, or staying busy to avoid slowing down. For trauma survivors, this pattern often develops as a form of protection, a way to stay in control, keep others comfortable, and hide what feels too heavy to show. But appearing “okay” and being okay are not the same thing.

If this sounds familiar, please know that you don’t have to carry it alone. Healing begins when you allow yourself to be seen, supported, and cared for, even when it feels uncomfortable at first. You deserve space to rest, feel, and begin to heal.

Our trauma-informed therapists in Old Town Alexandria, VA, are currently accepting new clients. If you’re ready to take that first step, we’re here to walk with you.

11/19/2025

As we head into the holiday season, many find themselves slipping into old habits of trying to please everyone, saying “yes” when really they mean “no,” prioritizing others’ comfort over their own, and carrying the weight of keeping the peace. While these behaviors can look like kindness or generosity on the surface, they often come from a deeper place — from learned patterns of survival.

People-pleasing isn’t a form of love; it’s a response to fear. It’s what happens when, at some point in life, safety, belonging, or self-worth became tied to others’ approval. For many who’ve experienced trauma, this instinct to appease or accommodate isn’t about being “too nice”, it’s about protection. It’s how the nervous system learned to stay safe in unpredictable or overwhelming environments.

Genuine connection and love don’t require self-abandonment. Healing involves recognizing these patterns with compassion, setting boundaries without guilt, and remembering that your worth isn’t measured by how much you do for others. You are allowed to take up space, say “no,” and rest.

If you notice people-pleasing showing up more as the holidays approach, you’re not alone, and therapy can help you begin to understand and gently shift those patterns. Our trauma-informed team in Old Town Alexandria, VA, is currently accepting new clients. Visit our website to learn more about how we can support you on your path toward healing and self-trust. https://ow.ly/ugW450Xt7o5

11/18/2025

Nervous systems remember everything we’ve lived through, not just what felt good, also what felt familiar. When love or safety were inconsistent growing up, our bodies learned to find stability in unpredictability. Many are drawn to people or situations that echo the old wounds, allowing the nervous system to try and finish an unfinished story. Learn more, https://ow.ly/urcI50Xt7cx.

We repeat what feels familiar, not what feels good. Healing begins when we help the nervous system relearn what safety actually feels like.

11/18/2025

With the constant news headlines, feeling grounded, safe, and connected can be harder than ever. Constant change, uncertainty, and stress can leave us feeling anxious, numb, or overwhelmed. You are not alone, and you don’t have to face it by yourself. Our team knows that people are in pain, and we also know that connection is the way forward.

Trauma-informed therapy creates a safe, welcoming space where your experiences are met with respect and support. Connection is at the heart of healing.

Even small steps toward connection can make a difference. Building supportive relationships, talking with someone you trust, or engaging in therapy can help you feel safer, more grounded, and less isolated. Healing is a process, and you don’t have to do it alone.

For a full list of the ways healthy connection supports your well-being—and resources to help you take the next step, visit our blog, Are You Finding It Difficult to Feel Safe and Connected in Today’s World? If you’re in the Old Town Alexandria, VA area, schedule an appointment with our trauma-informed team today. https://ow.ly/eWmy50Xt760

11/17/2025

As we kick off the week, this is your reminder that you are worthy of love, rest, and care exactly as you are. Your value isn’t defined by how much you accomplish or how productive you are. It’s easy to fall into the belief that you must earn your worth through constant doing, but your being is already enough.

Many have learned to equate productivity with purpose, or to see rest as something that must be earned. Over time, that belief can leave you feeling exhausted, disconnected, and unsure of when it’s okay to pause. The truth is - you don’t have to prove your worth by pushing yourself past your limits.

Rest, joy, and gentleness are not luxuries, they’re essential parts of being human. Allowing yourself to slow down, to breathe, and to receive love without condition is not selfish. It’s an act of healing.

You are enough.

11/16/2025

Do you feel judged?
Do you judge others?
Want to think about judgment from a trauma-informed lens with me?

Through a trauma-informed lens, we can begin to understand judgment differently. Instead of asking, what’s wrong with me (or them), we can ask, what happened in my life, how does this make sense? Was this reaction once necessary? This shift from criticism to curiosity opens the door to empathy and understanding. It allows us to soften, to notice the stories behind behaviors, and to move toward compassion instead of control.

When we bring curiosity to our judgments, we might learn something meaningful about ourselves. Maybe we judge because we feel unsafe, insecure, or unseen. Maybe our inner child still believes vigilance equals safety. By gently exploring these patterns, we can begin to feel safe enough not to judge, to let compassion take its place.

Our trauma-informed therapists in Old Town Alexandria, VA, help clients move from self-criticism toward curiosity, compassion, and healing. Learn more by visiting our blog, Where did all this judgment come from? Why are we such harsh critics? https://ow.ly/lafB50XqLvz

11/14/2025

Who is your chosen family?

Chosen family can offer what biological families sometimes cannot: safety, connection, and a sense of belonging built on mutual care and respect.

Being around people who honor your boundaries, validate your emotions, and allow you to show up authentically is important. Those relationships can help regulate the nervous system and reinforce that safety is possible. These bonds remind us that healing often happens in connection, not necessarily with the people we grew up with. Family are those who make us feel secure, valued, and seen.

Whether your chosen family gathers around a table, a phone call, or a shared memory, your connections matter. You deserve relationships that feel safe and supportive all year round.

If this time of year feels heavy – remember your chosen family. And if you want more, we’re here to support you in creating the safety and connection you deserve, visit our website to learn more and schedule an appointment with one of our therapists.