Lupe Rodriguez, M.A., MFT - Psychologist

11/29/2025

La salud mental durante la Navidad puede verse afectada por el estrés, la ansiedad y la tristeza, debido a presiones como las económicas, las expectativas de perfección, la sobrecarga de actividades, la nostalgia por seres queridos ausentes o el aislamiento social. Es importante cuidar la salud mental estableciendo expectativas realistas, priorizando compromisos, manteniendo rutinas, conectando con seres queridos, dedicando tiempo a la relajación y, si es necesario, buscando ayuda profesional.

11/29/2025

Mental health can be challenging during the holidays due to stress from financial pressure, social obligations, and complex family dynamics. It can also be a time of heightened loneliness or grief, especially for those with a history of mental health conditions or recent loss. To cope, prioritize self-care, set realistic expectations and boundaries, connect with your support system, and consider professional help if needed.

11/26/2025

This Thanksgiving, we’re sending love to everyone who may find the holidays difficult. Whether you’re experiencing mental illness, loneliness, grief, burnout, or challenges with loved ones or finances, please know you are not alone.
Take a moment to care for yourself and remember that it’s okay to set boundaries and prioritize your well-being.
From all of us at Rodriguez Counseling Center, we’re thankful for the strength and resilience of our community. Wishing you peace and comfort this holiday season.
YouAreNotAlone

11/20/2025

11/20/2025

🧡 A Mindful Thanksgiving: Tips for Mental Wellness During the Break 🦃

As we gather to celebrate the season of gratitude, let’s also take care of our mental well-being. Here are a few tips to make this Thanksgiving a mindful and balanced one:

🍂 Practice gratitude: Start a daily gratitude ritual with loved ones.
🍂 Manage stress: Prioritize self-care with breaks and realistic expectations.
🍂 Stay connected but balance alone time: Recharge with moments of quiet.
🍂 Create safe spaces for conversations: Check in with loved ones about their feelings.
🍂 Limit digital overload: Unplug and focus on in-person connections.
🍂 Promote healthy sleep habits: Rest is key for mental wellness.

If you or someone you love needs support, at #988

11/11/2025

The Veterans Crisis Line’s new number—988 then Press 1—helps make it easier to remember and share the number to access help in times of need. Signed into law in 2020, the National Su***de Hotline Designation Act authorized 988 as the new three-digit number for the National Su***de Prevention Lifeline.

10/11/2025

Why do I always overreact?”
“Why can’t I say no?”
“Why do I keep pushing people away?”

As a therapist, I want you to know:
These aren’t character flaws.
They’re trauma responses.

Behaviors like indecision, shutting down, or needing reassurance aren’t signs of immaturity—they’re survival strategies your body once needed.

💛 Healing begins when you stop judging yourself—and start understanding your nervous system.

09/19/2025

(Disclaimer: This post is also not a replacement for therapy and is only meant for educational purposes.) 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, most often emerging in the fall and winter months. Symptoms can include low mood, changes in sleep, loss of interest, and fatigue. Awareness and treatment such as light therapy, counseling, and lifestyle support can make a meaningful difference.
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(Descargo de responsabilidad: Esto no subestima la terapia y solo está destinada a fines educativos.)

El trastorno afectivo estacional (SAD) es una forma de depresión que sigue un patrón estacional, que suele surgir en los meses de otoño e invierno. Los síntomas pueden incluir mal humor, cambios en el sueño, pérdida de interés y fatiga. La conciencia y el tratamiento, como la terapia de luz, el asesoramiento y el apoyo al estilo de vida, pueden marcar una diferencia significativa.

09/16/2025

We often think of bullying as something that begins in schoolyards or among peers, but sometimes it starts much closer to home. A child’s first experience with criticism, comparison, neglect, or harsh words can come from an unhealed parent - one carrying their own wounds, projecting pain they never had the chance to process.
This isn’t about blame, but about awareness. Hurt that goes unhealed doesn’t disappear; it transfers.
Children don’t just inherit their parents’ eyes or smiles
- they often inherit their unspoken battles too. And when love is filtered through unresolved trauma, it can feel like judgment, control, or rejection.
The lesson here isn’t to shame parents, but to remind us all: healing ourselves is one of the greatest gifts we can give the next generation. When we choose to break cycles instead of passing them down, we create space for children to grow up knowing love without conditions, guidance without fear, and discipline without shame.
+* Heal yourself, so your children don’t have to recover from their childhood.

09/14/2025

There’s an extra layer to burnout when you have ADHD. But understanding why it happens can help you stop the cycle and take back control. Check out the link to better understand ADHD burnout and learn strategies for combating it: