Alisa Hafkin, LCSW

03/23/2026

Childhood trauma doesn’t just disappear once we reach adulthood. Many of our behaviors, thought patterns, and perspectives are shaped by childhood experiences. No matter how long ago the trauma occurred, therapy is essential to work toward healing and help you develop healthier coping strategies in adulthood.

Childhood trauma is a profound experience that can leave lasting scars, often manifesting in adulthood as mental health issues or addiction. Understanding the effects of childhood trauma and how to heal from it is crucial for recovery and personal growth. What is Childhood Trauma? Childhood trauma r...

03/16/2026

A sincere apology goes beyond simply saying, “I’m sorry.” To make an apology meaningful, you need to reflect on why you are apologizing and take responsibility for your actions. Owning up to mistakes can feel challenging, but it’s a crucial step toward earning forgiveness and rebuilding trust.

03/11/2026

Loving someone with a chronic illness can be emotionally exhausting. It’s incredibly hard to watch someone you care about struggle with daily life, especially when you’re the one helping them to manage their condition. It’s essential to remember that you must prioritize self-care, including therapy, to help you process your emotions and continue showing up with strength for your loved one.

When we think of chronic illnesses, we think of people going in and our of the hospital, taking medications, and working with doctors to manage their condition. What most people forget is that the chronically ill person has family members who often experience many feelings while caring for their lov...

03/03/2026

Infertility can take a profound emotional toll on anyone experiencing it, affecting both men and women. Feelings of frustration, helplessness, anger, and sadness are completely normal when dealing with infertility, but you don’t have to face them alone. Seeking help and talking openly about what you’re experiencing can help lighten the emotional burden and provide clarity on your path moving forward.

Infertility can be heartbreaking and emotionally exhausting. Although men and women cope differently with infertility, both feel the emotional impact. Couples should turn to each other for support in order to ease the emotional toll and maintain mental health as … Continue reading →

02/24/2026

It’s not uncommon to experience unhelpful or intrusive thoughts, but they don’t have to control you. Learning how to recognize and manage these thoughts is key to maintaining your mental well-being. By practicing techniques to reframe them, you can strengthen your resilience and support a healthier mindset.

Learn a technique to help you step back, assess the evidence for your negative thoughts and explore other ways of looking at the situation.

02/17/2026

New Year’s resolutions can be challenging, but there are ways to stay on track. Start by setting realistic, achievable goals, and focus on small, consistent steps each day. These daily actions can help you make lasting progress and reach your goals by year’s end.
https://alisahafkin.com/2026/01/making-new-years-resolutions-stick/

02/10/2026

As winter continues to drag on, it's important to keep focusing on your mental wellness. By practicing self-care, staying active, and using coping strategies, you can maintain your mood and energy until spring blooms again. Therapy can be a great way to learn new tools and work through the emotional drudgery that often comes with the winter months.

Learn how winter can impact mental wellness and discover practical strategies to enhance your mood and well-being during the season.

02/02/2026

Constant connectivity through smartphones, social media, and streaming can overstimulate the brain, making it harder to focus, relax, and process emotions. It can leave you feeling stressed, anxious, or alone, even though you’re “connecting” with friends and community members. Taking breaks from tech, setting limits, and practicing mindfulness can help you feel more grounded and in control.
https://alisahafkin.com/2026/01/technology-drain-how-to-combat-the-negative-effects-of-tech/

01/28/2026

When it comes to serious conversations, face-to-face or phone discussions are usually far more effective than texting. Text can strip away tone, emotion, and nuance, which can easily lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. I often work with clients on building better communication skills so they feel confident having important conversations in person.

Texting works well for logistics or light check-ins, but emotional or complex conversations often need a phone call.

01/20/2026

Co-dependency in a marriage can make one partner feel responsible for the other’s happiness, often at the cost of their own well-being. This pattern can create frustration, resentment, and a sense of inadequacy. Therapy helps couples see these patterns, explore where they come from, and find healthier ways to connect without overcompensating.

Often couples therapy starts with one spouse or partner coming to my office with a laundry list of complaints about the other.  They do not feel appreciated, they feel they do everything for the relationship and feel “less than” in … Continue reading →

01/12/2026

If you want your New Year’s resolutions to truly stick, it helps to focus on your overall health. By taking the time now to build healthy habits, you can create lasting change instead of relying on quick fixes that fade by February. I work with clients to set realistic goals and develop strategies that make meaningful improvements to daily routines and long-term wellness, and I would be happy to help you start the year on the path to a healthier, happier you.

This new year, look beyond diet and exercise and add health goals to your resolution list. AMA member physicians share health-related resolutions to add.

01/06/2026

Even though it’s chilly out, taking a quick break outdoors can have a big impact on your mental and physical health. Sunlight helps lift your mood and regulate sleep, while being in nature reduces stress and clears your mind. Just a few minutes outdoors can leave you feeling calmer, more energized, and ready to tackle the rest of your day.

Evidence shows that going outside, even if just for a short time, is tremendously beneficial to our mental health.