East Dallas Therapy

01/30/2026

If you’ve been telling yourself you should be further along by now, you’re not alone. That feeling isn’t a personal failure, it’s a very human response to comparison, pressure, and unrealistic timelines.

Growth isn’t linear. Healing isn’t efficient. Creativity, careers, relationships, and self-trust don’t move on a neat schedule.

*You’re not behind.
*You’re responding to what life has asked of you.
*You’re learning at the pace your nervous system can hold.
*You’re building something real, not rushed.

Sometimes “behind” just means you paused to survive, rest, grieve, learn, or recalibrate.

Be gentle with yourself.
You’re still on your way.

01/27/2026

"I’m getting everything done, so why do I feel so empty?"

If you’ve asked yourself this lately, you might be experiencing a "Functional Freeze." Unlike a total shutdown, functional freeze allows you to keep going—but at a high internal cost. It’s like driving with the emergency brake on.

We were recently reading an insightful article by Julia Malacoff for Parents Magazine about this exact state. Common signs include feeling emotionally flat, experiencing brain fog that won't quit, and feeling like you're watching your life from the sidelines rather than living it.

The good news? You can move through this. It starts with understanding your nervous system and giving yourself the grace to heal.

Our very own Margaret Barrett specializes in helping clients navigate anxiety and trauma responses just like this one. Read our latest blog post to see the full list of signs and how to start "thawing" out.

Check out our recent blog about the Functional Freeze here: https://eastdallastherapy.com/stuck-in-functional-freeze/

01/22/2026

You can register for dishes, appliances, and home essentials but one of the most meaningful gifts you can give yourselves isn’t something you unwrap.

Premarital counseling is an investment in long-term emotional health, trust, and teamwork. It creates space to talk openly about communication, conflict, expectations, and the ways you’ll support each other when life gets hard.

Rather than waiting for challenges to arise, premarital counseling helps couples build skills early—learning how to listen, repair, and grow together. It’s not about predicting problems; it’s about preparing for real life.

Long after the thank-you notes are written and the wedding day has passed, this is the gift that continues to give.

Because a strong marriage isn’t built on perfection, it’s built on connection, care, and shared effort.

01/20/2026

Join us for a monthly group designed for artists and creatives who want space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with their creative identity. This group is less about producing and more about listening, noticing, and tending to the inner landscapes that shape your work.

Common concerns are
- vulnerability as an artist
- the looming "audience"
- making money without losing oneself
- what nourishes or depletes your creative energy
- commitment and its role in the work

Facilitated by Margaret Barrett, this circle invites writers, musicians, visual artists, and creatives of all kinds to explore the interior spaces of their artistic life in a supportive, therapeutic environment.

When: 6–8pm
Where: Rachel Larlee Studios
10118 Cayuga Dr., Dallas, TX 75228

Attend one session or join all four:
Unfinished Business – February 10, 2026
Slow Is Fast – March 10, 2026
The Embodied Spark – April 14, 2026
Refusal and Commitment – May 12, 2026

Cost: $45 per session

Whether you’re feeling stuck, curious, burnt out, or quietly called back to your art, this circle offers a place to be held in that process.

📩 RSVP: margaret@eastdallastherapy.com

Come as you are. Bring your questions, your resistance, your spark, or simply yourself.

01/19/2026

Winter can feel heavy. Shorter days, less sunlight, disrupted routines, and the pressure to “power through” can quietly impact mood and energy. If you’ve been feeling more tired, unmotivated, or emotionally flat—you’re not alone.

The good news? Small, consistent shifts can make a real difference. You don’t need a full life overhaul to support your mental health this season.

Gentle mood boosters to try this winter:
*Open the blinds and step into natural light as early as possible
*Get outside daily, even for a 5–10 minute walk
*Keep a consistent sleep and wake routine
*Move your body in ways that feel supportive, not punishing
*Add warmth and comfort (cozy blankets, warm drinks, soft lighting)
*Stay socially connected—even brief check-ins matter
*Practice self-compassion on low-energy days

If winter feels harder than expected, it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It may simply mean your nervous system is asking for more care.

Support, connection, and gentleness go a long way during this season.

01/16/2026

Premarital counseling isn’t about fixing problems, it’s about building skills.

It’s a proactive space for couples to slow down and have meaningful conversations before life adds pressure. Conversations about communication, conflict, expectations, finances, intimacy, and shared values aren’t signs that something is wrong, they’re signs of intention.

Rather than waiting for stress points to surface, premarital counseling helps couples develop tools to navigate them together. You learn how to listen more deeply, repair after disagreements, and understand each other’s needs in a way that strengthens connection.

Think of premarital counseling as laying a foundation, not raising a red flag. A strong start matters and investing in your relationship early can set the tone for years to come.

01/13/2026

Planning a wedding is full of decisions, details, and lists. Planning a marriage is a bit more abstract.

For those who want a successful marriage, not just a successful wedding, premarital counseling could be something to consider. Premarital counseling can help you and your partner build a strong foundation for your marriage, have the important conversations, and learn to navigate common issues that show up in marriage. Wedding planning comes with so much stress, so the good news about premarital counseling is that you don’t have to figure it out all alone!

To read more, check out Kate's new blog here: https://eastdallastherapy.com/premarital-counseling/

01/08/2026

Consistency matters.

In our work, we’ve noticed that clients often feel the most supported and grounded when they have regular touchpoints in therapy, even if that looks like meeting once a month. Winter has a way of speeding life up while draining our energy at the same time, which can make scheduling feel harder than it needs to be.

Booking your sessions ahead of time creates a built-in pause for yourself. It’s one small way to stay connected to your care and your growth, even when everything else feels busy.

Now is a great time to get your winter sessions on the calendar and give your future self a little breathing room.

Schedule online or call/text our wonderful assistant, Ally, at 469-290-2883 to book your next appointment.

01/05/2026

When the holidays end, many people expect to feel relief but instead feel exhausted, unmotivated, or emotionally flat. Post-holiday burnout is real. The weeks of planning, socializing, spending, hosting, traveling, and holding everything together can leave your nervous system depleted.

If you’re feeling behind, foggy, or disconnected right now, it doesn’t mean you’re failing, it means you’ve been carrying a lot.

Gentle ways to support yourself after the holidays:
*Lower expectations and give yourself permission to move slower
*Re-establish simple routines before trying to “catch up”
*Prioritize rest without needing to earn it
*Create small moments of joy or comfort in your day
*Reconnect with boundaries around time, energy, and commitments
*Name what you’re feeling instead of pushing it away

Burnout doesn’t resolve through pressure—it resolves through care. This season isn’t about bouncing back quickly; it’s about allowing your body and mind to reset.

You’re allowed to take your time. Healing happens in small, compassionate steps.

01/02/2026

As we step into a new year, you don’t need a “new you.” You don’t need to overhaul your life, chase perfection, or pressure yourself into rigid resolutions. What you can do and what your nervous system will thank you for, is choose gentler goals that support your well-being from the inside out.

Here are a few compassionate intentions to carry with you into 2026:
✨ Choose rest without guilt. Productivity is not your worth. Rest is a legitimate need, not a reward.
✨ Practice daily self-kindness. Talk to yourself the way you’d talk to someone you love. Small moments of compassion add up.
✨ Set (and honor) boundaries. Your time and energy matter. Saying “no” is an act of self-respect.
✨ Prioritize what nourishes you. Less forcing, more listening. Lean toward what brings you steadiness, peace, and connection.
✨ Let go of unrealistic expectations. Perfection is not the goal—being human is. Slow, sustainable growth is enough.
✨ Ask for help when you need it. Reaching out is not a weakness. It’s a sign of courage and clarity.
✨ Celebrate small wins. Progress often looks subtle: taking a breath, pausing before reacting, recognizing a pattern, showing up for yourself.

As you move into the year ahead, may you allow space for gentleness, permission to go at your own pace, and trust that meaningful change grows from compassion, not pressure.

Here’s to a softer, steadier 2026. 💛

12/31/2025

If you’re heading into the new year with mixed emotions you’re not alone.

Not everyone ends the year celebrating. Not everyone feels refreshed. Not everyone is ready for resolutions. And that’s okay.

You’re allowed to enter the new year with:
🌿 goals you didn’t finish
🌿 habits that slipped
🌿 grief that still hurts
🌿 burnout you haven’t recovered from
🌿 emotions you can’t fully name yet

Life doesn’t reset on January 1st. Your healing doesn’t run on a calendar. And you’re not behind, you’re human.

If the new year feels heavy, try offering yourself a little gentleness:
• Acknowledge what you carried, not just what you accomplished.
• Release the pressure to start strong. You can start slow.
• Choose one small thing that supports your wellbeing, and let that be enough for now.
• Give yourself permission to simply arrive—without fixing, forcing, or performing.

The truth is, beginnings can be quiet. They can be messy. They can be tender. And they can still be meaningful.

However you're entering the new year, you’re doing it with the strength of every moment you’ve survived.
You’re not behind. You’re right where you are and that’s a perfectly valid place to begin. 💛

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas and I hope your life is full of meaning and you move through anxiety with grace and self compassion!

If you want nothing, you’ll feel nothing. But the moment you decide to care deeply, anxiety is going to knock on your door. That’s not failure—that’s the cost of being alive to what matters. Anxiety means you’re in the arena.