Relationships can feel deeply connecting—and at times, confusing, painful, or exhausting. Struggles in relationships don’t mean you’re failing; they often reflect unmet needs, stress, or patterns learned over time.

You may notice:

• Repeated arguments or feeling misunderstood

• Difficulty expressing needs or emotions

• Feeling distant, disconnected, or lonely in relationship

• Fear of conflict, abandonment, or rejection

In your body, relationship stress can show up as:

• Tension, tightness, or anxiety around interactions

• Emotional shutdown or feeling overwhelmed

• Fatigue or heightened stress before or after conflict

In daily life, it might look like:

• Avoiding difficult conversations

• People-pleasing or over-functioning

• Pulling away, shutting down, or becoming reactive

• Repeating the same painful patterns despite wanting change

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not broken—and your relationship isn’t beyond help.

Many relationship challenges are rooted in attachment, past experiences, and unspoken needs.

Therapy offers a supportive space to slow down, improve communication, and create healthier, more connected ways of relating—to others and to yourself.

Anxiety doesn’t always look like panic.

It can quietly shape how you think, feel, and move through your day.

You may notice:

• Constant worry or overthinking

• Feeling tense, on edge, or overwhelmed

• Difficulty focusing or making decisions

• Irritability or a sense of dread

In your body, anxiety can show up as:

• Tight chest, racing heart, or shortness of breath

• Muscle tension, headaches, or stomach discomfort

• Fatigue, shakiness, or restlessness

In daily life, it might look like:

• Avoiding certain situations or conversations

• Trouble sleeping or relaxing

• Procrastination, over-preparing, or perfectionism

• Difficulty saying no or setting boundaries

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not broken—and you’re not alone.

Anxiety is a common response to stress, life transitions, and past experiences. With support, it can soften.

Depression doesn’t always look like sadness.

Sometimes it shows up as numbness, exhaustion, or a quiet loss of interest in things that once mattered.

You may notice:

• Feeling down, empty, or emotionally flat

• Loss of motivation or pleasure

• Ongoing self-criticism or feelings of guilt

• Hopelessness or feeling stuck

In your body, depression can show up as:

• Low energy or constant fatigue

• Changes in sleep (too much or too little)

• Changes in appetite or weight

• Feeling slowed down or heavy

In daily life, it might look like:

• Pulling away from others or isolating

• Difficulty keeping up with responsibilities

• Trouble concentrating or making decisions

• Letting go of routines or self-care

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not weak—and you’re not alone.

Depression is a real and human response to loss, stress, and overwhelm. With support, it can ease.

Therapy can help you reconnect, find steadier ground, and begin to feel like yourself again.

Grief is not something to “get over.”

It’s a natural response to loss—and it can show up in many ways, often when you least expect it.

You may notice:

• Waves of sadness, longing, or emptiness

• Feeling numb, disconnected, or emotionally overwhelmed

• Guilt, anger, or “what if” thoughts

• A sense that life feels different or unfamiliar

In your body, grief can show up as:

• Fatigue or low energy

• Tightness in the chest or throat

• Changes in sleep or appetite

• Aches, heaviness, or restlessness

In daily life, it might look like:

• Difficulty concentrating or remembering things

• Withdrawing from others or feeling isolated

• Struggling to return to routines or responsibilities

• Feeling pressure to “move on” before you’re ready

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not doing grief wrong—and you’re not alone.

There is no timeline for grief, and no single way to mourn.

Therapy offers a supportive space to honor your loss, make sense of your experience, and gently find your way forward—at your own pace.

Complex trauma often comes from repeated or long-term experiences of feeling unsafe, unseen, or overwhelmed—especially in relationships. It’s not always about one event, and it’s not a sign of weakness.

You may notice:

• Strong emotional reactions that feel hard to control

• Shame, self-blame, or a harsh inner critic

• Difficulty trusting others or feeling close

• Feeling stuck, numb, or disconnected from yourself

In your body, complex trauma can show up as:

• Chronic tension, pain, or fatigue

• Feeling constantly on edge or easily startled

• Trouble sleeping or calming your nervous system

• Feeling shut down, frozen, or overwhelmed

In daily life, it might look like:

• People-pleasing or fear of conflict

• Difficulty setting boundaries or asking for help

• Repeating painful relationship patterns

• Feeling like you’re always “too much” or “not enough”

If any of this resonates, nothing is wrong with you.

These responses often developed to help you survive difficult experiences.

Trauma-informed therapy offers a compassionate space to build safety, understand your patterns, and reconnect with yourself—at a pace that feels right for you.

Caring deeply about others is not the problem.

When your needs consistently come last, or your sense of self feels tied to others’ moods or approval, it may be a sign that boundaries are hard to hold.

You may notice:

• Difficulty saying no or feeling guilty when you do

• A strong need to please others or keep the peace

• Fear of disappointing others or being rejected

• Losing touch with your own needs, wants, or feelings

In your body, boundary stress can show up as:

• Chronic tension, fatigue, or burnout

• Anxiety before or after interactions

• A feeling of heaviness, resentment, or emotional overload

In daily life, it might look like:

• Taking responsibility for others’ emotions or problems

• Over-giving while feeling unappreciated

• Staying in relationships that feel one-sided or draining

• Feeling responsible for fixing or rescuing others

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not weak—and you’re not doing relationships wrong.

These patterns often develop as ways to stay connected or safe in important relationships.

Therapy can help you reconnect with yourself, clarify your needs, and build boundaries that support both closeness and self-respect.

Being motivated and capable doesn’t protect you from stress.

For many students, (especially Cal students), the pressure to succeed can quietly turn into anxiety, burnout, or self-doubt.

You may notice:

• Constant pressure to perform or fear of falling behind

• Harsh self-criticism or feeling like you’re never doing enough

• Difficulty resting without guilt

• Comparing yourself to others or feeling like an impostor

In your body, academic stress can show up as:

• Exhaustion or burnout

• Trouble sleeping or racing thoughts at night

• Headaches, stomach issues, or tension

• Feeling on edge or overwhelmed

In daily life, it might look like:

• Overworking, perfectionism, or procrastination

• Difficulty balancing academics with relationships or self-care

• Avoiding breaks or feeling disconnected from enjoyment

• Losing motivation despite high effort

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not failing—you’re under pressure.

These struggles are common in high-achieving environments and don’t reflect your worth or potential.

Therapy offers a supportive space to manage stress, quiet the inner critic, and build a more sustainable, compassionate relationship with achievement.