The Therapy Group

01/19/2026

Ever have seasons where you’re doing all the things - showing up to work, taking care of everyone, staying “on top of it” - but internally you feel… muted?

Not sad exactly. Not falling apart. Just kind of numb. Like you’re moving through your day on autopilot.

That can be a sign of something many people don’t have language for: a functional freeze state.

It’s not laziness. It’s not a character flaw. And it isn’t always “burnout” or “depression,” either. It’s often your nervous system doing what it’s designed to do when stress has been running too long with no real relief: protect you by shutting down what feels too much.

A few signs that can show up:
▪️ You’re productive, but disconnected
▪️ Brain fog / decision fatigue
▪️ Low emotional range (even good things don’t really land)
▪️ Chronic tension, fatigue, shallow breathing
▪️ “Avoidance” disguised as staying busy

And here’s the part people rarely hear: trying harder usually makes it worse.

What helps is small, safe, body-based support that tells your system, “You’re not in danger anymore.”

If this hits close to home, we wrote a deeper breakdown on:

✅ how functional freeze differs from burnout + depression
✅ what causes it
✅ what doesn’t help (and why)
✅ gentle steps that actually support healing

Being in a functional freeze state is not a failure—it's a natural nervous system response to prolonged stress. Learn how to overcome it.

01/18/2026

Hard seasons still come.
The cold still settles in.
The days still get shorter.
Life still asks more than you feel ready to give.

But now, you don’t brace the same way.
You don’t panic at the first sign of heaviness.
You don’t assume this feeling will last forever.

You’ve learned how to notice instead of numb.
How to slow down instead of disappear.
How to meet yourself with steadiness when things feel uncertain.

Nothing about the season magically changed.
Winter still does what winter does.
But you’re different inside it.

You trust yourself more now.
You know what helps.
You know when to rest, when to reach out, when to keep going gently.

Hard seasons still come.
You just manage them differently now.

And you don’t have to do them alone.

01/12/2026

We’re excited to share that The Therapy Group now offers Discernment Counseling for couples who are considering divorce - or simply feeling unsure about what comes next.

If you’re in that painful “in-between” place, you’re not alone. Many couples reach a point where one person feels ready to leave, the other wants to keep trying, or both partners feel stuck and exhausted. And it can be hard to even know what kind of help is appropriate.

Discernment Counseling isn’t traditional couples therapy. It’s a short-term, structured process designed to help you slow things down and find clarity — without pressure, blame, or rushing into a decision.

The goal is to help you move from “We’re spinning” to “We have a clearer path.” That path might be:

🔸 working toward repair and reconnection
🔸 separating thoughtfully
🔸 or taking more time to understand what you need before deciding

If this resonates for you (or someone you care about), we’re here — and you don’t have to sort it out alone.

Torn between divorce and trying again? Discernment Counseling in Philadelphia helps couples slow down, understand what happened, and choose next steps.

12/28/2025

Therapists, they’re just like us

12/12/2025

If you’re newly sober, holiday season can light up the mind fast:

“I don’t know how I’ll get through all these parties without drinking.”
“I’m scared I won’t have as much fun.”
“I’m worried people won’t think I’m fun.”
“I won’t be able to socialize without drinking.”
“What will I tell people if they notice I’m not drinking?”

Ryan Strathy MS, LPC uses ACT therapy to help clients notice these thoughts, create space from them, and choose value-driven steps - one event at a time.

Read Ryan's latest blog post where he breaks it down (with practical tips + what to say when people push):

Staying sober during the holidays, substance use recovery, substance use therapy in West Chester PA

11/19/2025

Some of our favorite quotes from this past week which remind us that letting grief into our lives is part of the healing process.
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If you’re looking for a therapist in Philadelphia, West Chester, or semi-nationally via virtual sessions, we’re here to support you. Head to thetherapygroup.com to meet our compassionate team of clinicians and start your therapy journey today.

11/12/2025

Numbing protects us when emotions feel too big, but over time, it also keeps us disconnected from what matters.

Small check-ins help your body feel safe enough to feel again. Healing isn’t about forcing emotion; it’s about creating the conditions for it to safely return.
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If you’re looking for a therapist in Philadelphia, West Chester, or semi-nationally via virtual sessions, we’re here to support you. Head to thetherapygroup.com to meet our compassionate team of clinicians and start your therapy journey today.

11/05/2025

When life feels chaotic, language can help ground you. Adding small reframes to your thoughts helps you separate what’s happening right now from what feels permanent.

These phrases can help regulate the nervous system by teaching your brain to create distance from distress instead of collapsing into it.
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If you’re looking for a therapist in Philadelphia, West Chester, or semi-nationally via virtual sessions, we’re here to support you. Head to thetherapygroup.com to meet our compassionate team of clinicians and start your therapy journey today.

10/31/2025

New on our blog by Fiona Molina, MFT, Couples & Family Therapist in Philadelphia:

If you watch Love Is Blind on Netflix and have wondered, “What would a couples therapist say about this?” We have your answer.

Check out What Love Is Blind gets right (and wrong) about love - and 7 things to explore before your next relationship.

Read Fiona’s take and reflection prompts 👉 https://www.thetherapygroup.com/the-therapy-group-blog/love-is-blind-therapist-takeaways-philadelphia

Fiona Molina, MFT, a Philadelphia couples therapist unpacks Love Is Blind—vulnerability, values, conflict, and healing—to help you build healthier relationships.

10/29/2025

Life can feel like too much at times.

But acceptance isn’t giving up. It’s finding steadiness in the storm
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Follow for more healing, growth & renewal.
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If you’re looking for a therapist in Philadelphia, West Chester, or semi-nationally via virtual sessions, we’re here to support you. Head to thetherapygroup.com to meet our compassionate team of clinicians and start your therapy journey today.

10/22/2025

Some of our favorite quotes from the past week. ❤️
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Follow for more healing, growth & renewal.
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If you’re looking for a therapist in Philadelphia, West Chester, or semi-nationally via virtual sessions, we’re here to support you. Head to thetherapygroup.com to meet our compassionate team of clinicians and start your therapy journey today.

10/20/2025

Remember, worrying about the worst outcome won't stop it from happening.
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Follow for more healing, growth & renewal.
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If you’re looking for a therapist in Philadelphia, West Chester, or semi-nationally via virtual sessions, we’re here to support you. Head to thetherapygroup.com to meet our compassionate team of clinicians and start your therapy journey today.