Embracing You Therapy

11/11/2025

3 Ways to Cope with Holiday Stress and Anxiety

The holiday season is supposed to be joyful—but for many, it brings stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm. From family expectations to financial pressure and perfectionism, this time of year can easily drain your energy and peace of mind. In this video, Clara Nuckols, AMFT at Embracing You Therapy in Woodland Hills, CA, shares three evidence-based ways to reduce holiday stress and reconnect with calm and meaning.

🎄 In this video, you’ll learn:
✔️ How to set healthy boundaries and practice realistic self-care during the holidays
✔️ Why managing expectations and embracing imperfection can ease anxiety
✔️ Simple mindfulness and gratitude practices to stay grounded and present

Whether you’re feeling pressure to create the “perfect” holiday or struggling with family dynamics, these tools will help you navigate the season with more balance, compassion, and joy.

✨ Remember: The holidays don’t have to be perfect to be peaceful.

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The holiday season is supposed to be joyful—but for many, it brings stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm. From family expectations to financial pressure ...

11/10/2025

From Isolation to Connection: Building Confidence in Social Settings as an Adult

From isolation to connection—it’s a journey many adults quietly long for, especially when moving to a fast-paced city like Los Angeles. If you’re new to Woodland Hills or just struggling to build meaningful relationships, you’re not alone. As a Young Adults Counselor in Woodland Hills, I know that making friends as an adult can feel intimidating, particularly in socially competitive or image-conscious environments. But with the right tools, you can move from loneliness to confidence—and create the connections you deserve.

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Struggling to connect with others? Learn how to build confidence in social situations as an adult with tips to reduce social anxiety!

11/07/2025

Rest isn’t laziness—it’s recovery. When your week has been draining, your body and mind need downtime to reset. You don’t have to “earn” rest by being productive first. If your nervous system says, “We’re sleeping today,” that is self-care.

Sometimes the best way to recharge is by doing absolutely nothing, guilt-free. So yeah, sleep on your day off—you’re not wasting time, you’re restoring energy. 🌙💛

*****This post is not meant to represent medical or psychological help. Instagram is not a replacement for mental health therapy*****

11/03/2025

Breaking the Cycle: Strategies to Manage and Reduce BFRBs

Breaking the cycle of BFRBs (Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors) is not just about willpower—it’s about learning how to work with your nervous system, your environment, and your emotions. For individuals living with behaviors like hair-pulling (trichotillomania), skin-picking (excoriation), or nail-biting, the urge to engage in these actions often comes automatically, especially during stress, boredom, or emotional overwhelm. But with the right tools, change is possible—starting with awareness and compassion.

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Learn how to manage and reduce Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) with practical strategies to break the cycle and regain control.

10/31/2025

Avoidance can feel easier in the moment—if you don’t look at it, you don’t have to feel it, right? But all those emotions you sidestep eventually start spinning back around, asking for your attention. Therapy helps you slow the spin, pause, and learn that facing your emotions doesn’t have to be scary—it can actually be freeing.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to start feeling. Just take one honest moment at a time. The goal isn’t to avoid the emotions—it’s to understand them. 🌱💛

*****This post is not meant to represent medical or psychological help. Instagram is not a replacement for mental health therapy*****

10/27/2025

Is Pre-Marital Counseling Right for Us? Signs You Should Consider It

“Is pre-marital counseling right for us?” It’s a question many engaged couples ask themselves as they prepare for marriage. While planning a wedding is exciting, planning for the marriage itself is even more important. Pre-marital counseling gives couples the opportunity to strengthen their foundation, address potential challenges, and build healthy habits that will support them for years to come. Sometimes, there is a fear that pre-marital counseling will uncover “reasons not to get married”. In reality, addressing potential hurdles before marriage can help to reduce their impact, or eliminate them altogether. Yes, there are some aspects of entering into a marriage that a couple can’t really compromise on. But avoiding those conversations won’t make those

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Is pre-marital counseling right for you? Learn signs that it may benefit your relationship and help build a stronger foundation for marriage.

10/22/2025

How to Communicate Effectively in Your Relationship: Tips for Healthy Dialogue

How to communicate effectively in your relationship is one of the most important skills you and your partner can develop. Clear communication builds trust, deepens emotional intimacy, and helps you work through conflict without damaging your connection. As a couples counselor in Woodland Hills, I see the impact of communication in relationships all the time. When dialogue breaks down, misunderstandings, resentment, and distance can grow. The good news? Healthy communication can be learned and practiced—together.

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Learn how to improve your relationship through effective communication. Discover practical tips for healthy dialogue in our latest blog!

10/20/2025

Why ADHD Can Be Misdiagnosed in Girls and How to Spot the Signs

Trying to determine why ADHD can be misdiagnosed in girls is a question that’s getting more attention in recent years. For decades, ADHD was thought of as a “boys’ disorder,” often associated with hyperactivity and disruptive behavior. But many girls go unnoticed or misdiagnosed because their symptoms present differently. The result? Countless girls grow up without the support they need—sometimes not getting diagnosed until adulthood. Many adults we see for ADHD therapy in Woodland Hills are recently diagnosed.

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ADHD in girls is often misdiagnosed due to less obvious symptoms. Discover why this happens and how to spot the signs early!

10/13/2025

Is It Me or the Relationship? Understanding Relationship Anxiety in Adulthood

Is it me or the relationship? If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, you’re not alone. Many adults experience relationship anxiety—uncertainty, fear, or self-doubt about their romantic connection. But how do you know if your anxiety is about you (internal fears, past wounds, insecurities) or if it’s about the relationship itself (communication breakdown, incompatibility, unmet needs)? As an anxiety counselor in Woodland Hills, I know that understanding the difference is key to finding clarity and peace.

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Struggling to tell if your worries are about you or the relationship? Learn how relationship anxiety shows up in our blog!

09/30/2025

What OCD Really Is: Beyond Cleanliness and Control

What OCD really is often gets lost in translation. While many people casually associate OCD with neatness or being “a little controlling”, the truth is far more serious—and far more misunderstood. As an OCD Counselor in Woodland Hills, I know that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is nothing to joke about or make light of. For those who live with OCD, it’s not about loving a clean house, or enjoying having an organized closet. OCD behaviors don’t make you happy or give you satisfaction. OCD involves battling intrusive thoughts and anxiety that feel impossible to ignore.

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In need of therapy in Woodland Hills? Contact Embracing You Therapy to see if we're the right fit for your therapy needs.

09/22/2025

Breaking the Stigma of ADHD: Myths vs. Facts

If you are an adult who has ADHD (whether diagnosed in childhood or recently), you may find yourself up against stereotypes and stigmas that don’t serve you. Breaking the stigma of ADHD starts with understanding the facts—and letting go of outdated, inaccurate beliefs. As an ADHD counselor in Woodland Hills, I know that ADHD is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. Despite growing awareness, many people still associate ADHD with laziness, poor parenting, or childhood misbehavior. The reality? ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects people of all ages, and it’s far more complex than the stereotypes suggest.

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If you are an adult who has ADHD, you may find yourself up against stereotypes. Breaking the stigma of ADHD starts with understanding the facts.

09/17/2025

The Role of Self-Care in a Healthy Relationship: Why Prioritizing Yourself Benefits Your Partner

The role of self-care in a healthy relationship is often underestimated. Many people believe that putting their partner first—always being available, compromising their own needs, or avoiding conflict—makes a relationship stronger. But the truth is, when you neglect your own well-being, your relationship often suffers too. Time on your own can refill your cup, and time apart gives you both something new to talk about, as well as giving space to miss one another and look forward to reconnecting. Over the years, this can help you feel fresh and keep the spark alive. Taking care of yourself is not selfish—it’s essential for long-term love and connection.

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The role of self-care in a healthy relationship is often underestimated. Many people believe that putting their partner first—always being available, comprom...