Westport Family Counseling

11/07/2025

When thoughts get loud, our first instinct is often to fix, fight, or figure it out immediately. But urgency can amplify anxiety and make everything feel more critical than it is.

What if instead, you responded with curiosity?
"What's this thought trying to tell me?"
"Is this a real threat, or an old pattern showing up?"
"What do I actually need right now?"

Curiosity creates space between the alarm and your reaction. It lets you assess what's actually happening instead of being swept up in the urgency of it. This doesn't mean ignoring what comes up. It means learning to listen without treating every spike like a crisis.

10/20/2025

OCD is more than washing your hands or liking things to be orderly. It is disruptive and distressing.

The good news is, there is help. Evidence-based therapies and—when appropriate—medication can be very effective in treating OCD. Finding a trusted provider is the first step towards healing.

10/13/2025

Let’s clear up the fog around OCD, because pop culture has done an impressive job of getting it wrong. Movies and TV often reduce it to “being super neat” or “liking things a certain way.” In reality, obsessive-compulsive disorder is far more complex, and understanding the truths versus the myths is key to real empathy and awareness.

Let’s cut through the stereotypes and explore what OCD really is, why it’s so often misunderstood, and how treatment can make recovery possible.

10/01/2025

A common misconception is that grief is something we eventually “get over.” In reality, grief is not about leaving the loss behind, it’s about learning how to carry it differently. Over time, we don’t forget what or who we’ve lost, but we slowly find ways to weave meaning, connection, and even joy back into our lives.

Read more in the WFC blog...

Grief is one of those experiences that touches every single one of us, yet it can feel so isolating when we’re in the middle of it. Learn More.

09/12/2025

Grief can reshape how we see the world, and how we feel in it. Support doesn’t fix it, but it can help you carry it.
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08/29/2025

Sometimes the buildup of small, everyday stressors can make anxiety feel more intense. Pausing to notice patterns—like sleep, caffeine, screen time, or overcommitment—can help us understand what adds to the load and what lightens it.

08/14/2025

When you're feeling tired, overwhelmed, or unable to manage simple tasks, ask yourself: Am I having a bad day, or is this burnout?

07/28/2025

Healthy boundaries in real life means staying balanced and respected, rather than feeling overwhelmed or resentful.

Family: “I need some quiet time after work before we talk.”

Work: “I’m not able to respond to emails after 7pm.”

Dating: “I want to take things slow and get to know each other before meeting friends.”

Boundaries help us let in love, respect, and support, and keep out guilt, manipulation, and burnout. They protect your energy, prevent overextending, and show others how to treat you. Each one is a quiet reminder that your time and space matter.

07/10/2025

We tend to idolize dramatic changes: quitting the job, moving across the country, starting from scratch. But the most profound new beginnings often happen in silence, not in the noise of action, but in the stillness of recognition. It’s choosing therapy after years of internalizing pain. It’s cooking your first solo dinner after leaving someone who always handled it. It’s writing an apology you’ll never send, not for closure, but for your own peace.

We spend so much time healing from trauma that we rarely ask: Who am I without it?Not despite it. Not because of it. But truly—without it.

07/05/2025

Summer can bring longer days and more light, but that doesn’t always mean relief. For some, mood shifts, irritability, and restlessness grow in the heat. You’re not alone, and it’s not just “summer blues.”

07/02/2025

There comes a time in every adult’s life when they realize that “No” is not only a complete sentence, but possibly the most liberating word in the English language. Whether it’s your boss asking for “just one more thing,” a friend inviting you to a weekend getaway you don’t have the bandwidth for, or your mom wondering (again) why you’re still single, boundaries are your quiet anchors.

But let’s get one thing straight: boundaries aren’t walls. They’re not emotional moats filled with alligators and passive-aggressive drawbridges. Healthy boundaries are more like fences with gates—you choose who gets in, when, and under what conditions. And yes, you can absolutely hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on that gate when needed.

It’s very common to feel like setting boundaries means you’re being mean or selfish, but actually, boundaries are a healthy way to care for yourself and your relationships.