Burd Psychotherapy and Education

12/15/2025

Holiday calming tea from . Sending virtual calm and healing to you all this holiday season. ❤️‍🩹 🌱 🌹 🌼 🫖

12/10/2025

I was asked for an autograph today…

A super sweet colleague asked to consult about one of her clients who is postpartum and uncertain about going on an antidepressant. I pulled up the page from The Postpartum Depression Workbook on medication myths and the worksheet for pros and cons and told her to make a copy for her client.

(Notes for those that like sources: The medication section was reviewed by reproductive psychiatrist, Dr Alison Reminick, Medical Director of Women’s Mental Health at UCSD. And the decisional balance is from Motivational Interviewing.)

Anyway, I happened to have books in the trunk of my car when she asked how to buy her own copy…

12/06/2025

Back from the Student Senate for Advocacy Academy feeling inspired by our state’s students.

First, I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout for my breakout, “Sustainability as a Student Leader: How to Balance Self-Care, Your Studies, Advocacy, and Leadership Without Burning Out.” Imagine a room full with over-achieving, smart, caring and hungry to learn students. A teacher’s dream! And 💯 my people, trying to make a difference and juggling it all. I loved the energy shift in the room after they all participated in somatic exercises to regulate their nervous system.

Next, I joined the meeting, led by Yonatan Hernandez and was blown away by the resolutions San Diego and Imperial County students are moving forward. Didi from Cuyamaca College put forward such a strong resolution through their student government, their Academic Senate and now Classified are following suit! Across the county, our student leaders have a good handle on the issues students are facing, from crossing the border, to trans safety, housing instability and military-adjacent life.

Grateful to catch up with Terrence Shaw and other familiar faces from and appreciate the lights of downtown .

11/15/2025

Today’s Ted Talk on chronic illness is inspired by an amazing young woman, . We met awhile back when I was on a medical advisory panel and filmed content for a postpartum company. Michaela was the brand’s social media wizard.

She recently reached out to me to help her with images for her own company, . Long story short, Micaela struggled her whole life with misdiagnoses, ultimately realizing she had Lyme’s disease and likely contracted mold in utero. Her chronic illness including debilitating skin conditions that led her, with her mom, Dawn, to start their own skin care line.
Core among their products is a natural tick and mosquito repellent, called Woods Nature Spray. Today, they launched Woods Dog Spray.

Isn’t Leo, the Golden Doodle, distractingly sweet? Anyway... so why am I posting this story here?

There are two big themes in her story I want to share.

Often, people with chronic health issues spend years - sometimes decades - feeling dismissed, confused, or outright blamed for their symptoms. And while I’m not Micaela’s therapist, her story highlights two psychological themes I see all the time in my work.

1. The impact of not being seen or heard by medical providers

Living with chronic illness affects far more than the body. There’s the exhaustion, the pain, the disruption to daily life… but there is also the psychological toll of constantly having your reality questioned.

And within chronic illness, there are layers:
• Chronic illness
A long-term condition reshapes your identity, your routines, and your sense of safety in your own body. Many of my clients describe feeling like they’re living a “double life” trying to function externally while managing symptoms internally.
• Invisible illness
When you “look fine,” people assume you are fine. Partners, coworkers, friends, even doctors may unintentionally minimize what they cannot see. The disconnect between appearance and lived experience can lead to shame, self-doubt, and deep loneliness.
• Functional illness (continued in comments…)

11/07/2025

Part two of a meaningful day: meeting up with some lovely therapists for coffee and community.

11/07/2025

So I did a thing… ever since I started working in community colleges in 2007, we’ve talked about how there wasn’t a job description for mental health counselors, nor minimum qualifications.

Today, as president of the Mental Health and Wellness Association of the California Community Colleges, I spoke to the statewide Academic Senate (ASCCC) about why it’s time to finally make it happen.

It was such a delight to connect with our board and so many supporters and stakeholders working behind the scenes.

11/06/2025

I finally found time to scatter some sea glass in memory of Elyse, a beautiful soul. Perhaps if you are wondering near Windandsea beach you will see an extra glimmer of beauty. She brought a lot of light and love and I hope we can continue to see that in each other.

11/05/2025

Grateful for for bringing together an intentional gathering of women in community. Thank you for including me in your gratitude brunch and for all the thoughtful questions. I will always pick real talk over small talk! Making friends as an adult and finding your people is often hard. Thank you for being a light!

10/26/2025

We are mental health heroes. Celebrating 15 years of the MHWA, the Mental Health and Wellness Association of the California Community Colleges.

So honored to work with this board and of this week’s conference. This was our biggest yet with over 60 attending today at the College of San Mateo. Thank you to our speakers, members and attendees!

10/26/2025

We are mental health heroes. Celebrating 15 years of MHWA, the Mental Health and Wellness Association of the California Community Colleges.

So honored to work with this board and of this week’s conference. This was our biggest yet with over 60 attending at the College of San Mateo.

09/30/2025

Officially official!

09/28/2025

💔

The Florence + the Machine singer talks about life after devastating loss