Trysa Shulman & Associates

03/16/2026

I don’t think the general therapy-seeking public has a clear enough framework for knowing what the advantages and disadvantages of different types of therapy are. Why would they? Especially if every school of therapy claims to be “the best.”

Instead of trying to figure out which therapy type is “best,” let’s consider which therapy type or types are “better” for which types of problems and stages of healing.

A quick-and-dirty directory of different therapy modalities and their relative strengths and weaknesses, so we can stop competing and start differentiating for greater efficacy.

03/16/2026

I had the pleasure of interviewing Grief & Loss specialist, Lara Krawchuck, LCSW as part of the research I’m conducting for my book project. She shared how she approaches loss through an IFS (and narrative) lens, and how she modifies IFS when working with people in active loss situations.

Krawchuck's model for making meaning through loss, modifying IFS for loss that is current and ongoing, preventing depression through making room for all part...

03/02/2026

It’s time. I’m leaving FB soon. I’ll be sharing what I’m up to, my writing, and what I find interesting in the world of psychology on Substack. I’m and my blog/newsletter is called: What’s Getting You Down? I have a piece coming out soon about what each kind of psychotherapy is good (and bad) at helping with. Subscribe to be notified when it gets posted, or have it come to your inbox.

Psychologist thinking about what works in psychotherapy and life

01/24/2026

What is a therapist responsible for when people come to therapy in a similar way that they might have gone to church?
https://open.substack.com/pub/trysashulman/p/untrustworthy-therapy?r=3npuwx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

01/14/2026

Books I’m ordering from the library to prepare for the New Orleans Book Festival 📖🥳🤓📖
Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath by Heather Clark
Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly
We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For by Eddie Glaude Jr.
To Shake the Sleeping Self by Jedediah Jenkins
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
Are You Mad at Me? by Meg Josephson
Chain of Ideas: The Origins of our Authoritarian Age by Ibram Ibram X. Kendi
Audition by Katie Kitamura
The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb
The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis
What Are You Going Through by Sigred Nunez
How The Word is Passed by Clint Smith

EEEK! It’s in March, I can probably only read ONE of these by then!

01/14/2026

When a teen presents to a health care professional with symptoms that meet clinical criteria for depression, the provider usually recommends that they “take medication and start psychotherapy.” But a critical step gets skipped: to do an evaluation to try to determine what factors are causing the disorder. If the underlying causes are identified first, that can and should inform the treatment plan. Depression is not single-cause determined, and there is no one treatment that is necessary and useful for every type of depression. Treating depression effectively to the point of returning the teen to the tasks of healthy development requires understanding what has gone off track and the reasons. Why do we so often rush to treatment without first determining causes?

read more in my response to Daniel Bergner’s NY Times article on SSRIs and sexual development in teens

How do we decide if SSRIs are worth their risks to teens' sexual selves?

12/21/2025

Pain Modulation and Sensory Reweighting

Why the Most Adaptable Brains Train in More Than One Way

12/04/2025

Djapo is such a precious resource in our community! Get dancing!

✨ FREE TAP DANCE CLASS! ✨
Kick off December with rhythm, history, and community!

Join Djapo Cultural Arts Institute and RhythmiCLE Sound Tap Project and Kandee Hogan of The Cleveland Tap Dance Conservatory for a dynamic family-friendly tap workshop.

📅 Dec 6, 2025
⏰ 12–1:30 PM
📍 Djapo Cultural Arts Institute
2937 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113

🔥 Open to all ages & all experience levels
You’ll explore:
✔️ Basic tap steps
✔️ Tap dance history
✔️ African diasporic roots of tap
✔️ Tap as an American cultural art form

📧 Register now: rstc216@gmail.com

Let’s make some music together! 🥁👞

12/04/2025

Here's a new resource for teens!

Adolescent Anxiety & Depression Coping Skills Group Begins THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, from 5-6:30 PM!
Upcoming session:
Walking the Middle Path (Dec 18–Jan 20)

WHO: Adolescents (ages 13–17) Open to the Community
WHEN: Thursdays, 5–6:30 PM, Starting December 18, 2025
WHERE: Senders Pediatrics, 2054 S. Green Rd., South Euclid, OH 44121
LED BY: Cecilia McKenzie, LPC (supervised by Kristen Horvath-Broda, LPCC-S & Dr. Sharon Bursky, IMFT-S)

TO REGISTER: Call 216-230-2154 or bh@senderspediatrics.com

What Teens Will Learn:
• How the nervous system affects emotions & behavior
• Mindfulness & awareness of feelings
• Advanced CBT & DBT strategies to manage stress & emotions

There are four 6-Week Modules (Participants are encouraged to attend all four modules, but that is not required.) Orientation & mindfulness skills included in every module.
These sessions offer a safe, supportive space to build coping skills and resilience.

To register or for questions: 216-230-2154 or bh@senderspediatrics.com
For more information: https://sendersbehavioralhealth.com/Programs-and-Groups/Adolescent-Anxiety-Depression-Coping-Skills-Gr-(1)

12/04/2025

an incredible opportunity for free support:


If you know of someone with depression or anxiety who isn’t doing well and could use more support around diet & lifestyle treatments but can’t afford personalized care, you may want to let them know about this unique pilot study opportunity.

Meru Health, an innovative U.S.-based virtual mental health care service that operates in all 50 states, is seeking to expand its offerings to include a nutritional and metabolic pathway. They are offering participation in their new pilot treatment program free of charge for a small number of volunteers.

"We are seeking volunteers to participate in a free of charge research pilot study. This is for people who are struggling with depression, anxiety or other persistent mental health challenges, and are not getting better with more traditional means (medication & therapy)."

We are seeking volunteers to participate in a free of charge research pilot study. This is for people who are struggling with depression, anxiety or other persistent mental health challenges, and are not getting better with more traditional means (medication & therapy).

"By participating, you’ll get deep insight into biological drivers of mood and wellbeing, and we’ll ask for feedback and outcome data (confidentially). We are aiming to publish the research pilot study results with a university research partner in a peer-review journal."

If you’re interested in, please reach out to Meru's Care Navigation: 833-940-1385 / support@meruhealth.com

11/30/2025

Treating depression effectively to the point of returning to healthy development requires understanding what has gone off track and the reasons. Why do we so often rush to treatment without first determining causes?
https://open.substack.com/pub/trysashulman/p/response-to-daniel-bergners-article?r=3npuwx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

11/12/2025

for all psych professionals! join us!
https://clevelandpsychology.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=69&ts=1762967889