Psychotherapy Services of Alabama Blog

Written by: Alabama, Georgia, and PSYPACT Psychologist Dr. Caitlin Clevenger

Mom Burnout: Is this Normal? What Can We Do About It?

The moms are not okay. Scores of articles have emerged on "depleted mother syndrome," highlighting that moms are struggling to do it all. Even with increasing awareness about maternal mental health, research is showing that mothers' health (physical and mental) is declining across all social groups, with single and low SES mothers experiencing the hardest hits (1). Mothers are experiencing constant pressure from competing values. We want to be good mothers--raising our childr

caitlinwclevenger

Sep 109 min read

Why Teen Therapy Matters More Than Ever

Guest Blog written by Lindsey Murphy, LICSW, and edited by Caitlin Clevenger, PhD Adolescence has always been a time of growth, change, and self-discovery, but today’s teens are navigating a world that feels more overwhelming than ever before. Between academic pressure, social media, extracurricular demands, sports performance expectations, and the challenges of figuring out who they are, many teens are carrying stress they don’t fully know how to express. As therapists, one

caitlinwclevenger

May 214 min read

Dry(ish) January: Setting Realistic Goals for Reducing Drinking in the New Year

I collaborated with UAB"s Office of Wellness on this blog. Click here for the original article and to subscribe to their newsletter. January represents a time when many people set intentions for the new year and how to better their lives. Many people take this opportunity to reflect on how alcohol fits into their lives, which has led to an increase in popularity of "Dry January," where a person completely abstains from alcohol use. While complete abstinence is an achievable a

caitlinwclevenger

Jan 144 min read

Coping with Grief and Anxiety while Pregnant or Trying to Conceive after Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy loss occurs in as many as 10-20% of pregnancies each year. No matter the week of the loss, how long it has been since the loss, or whether the pregnancy was planned or not, one can experience overwhelming grief. Grief is such a small word for the intensity it can bring, making itself known both in our bodies and our minds. Grief is surprising and creative. It can create thoughts and feelings that you never thought you would have, which can make experiencing grief do

caitlinwclevenger

Mar 28, 20256 min read

How Behavioral Activation Can Help with Depression and Help You Reach Your Goals

Evidence-Based Therapy for Depression and Goal-Setting You've been feeling down, depressed, or not motivated for a while. Everything feels like a drag. There's a little thought floating around in your head saying, "I don't want to...what's the point?" You want to feel joy and be productive again, but the effort to get there feels like it's just too much. Your depression may feel even more intense than this. You may struggle to get out of bed, struggle to care for yourself or

caitlinwclevenger

Feb 24, 20258 min read

Coping with Legislation that Hurts LGBTQ+ People and Women

Just in 2024, there have been 530 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in the United States (ACLU.org). In 2024 in Alabama, there were four. Two attempted to limit the definition of sex in a way that is harmful to transgender and nonbinary people, and one attempted to censor education on sexual orientation and gender diversity in public K-12 schools. One devastating bill was passed this year (SB129), which prevents state agencies, boards of education, and institutions of higher educa

caitlinwclevenger

Oct 15, 20249 min read

A Simple Way to Build Connection in Your Relationship: Respond to Bids

Improve your relationship by noticing and responding to bids. Read more in the blog post.

caitlinwclevenger

Jun 28, 20246 min read

It’s a Process: Stages of Gender and Sexual Identity Development

This blog is about understanding stages of gender and sexual identity development. Research shows that these stages are nonlinear and common

caitlinwclevenger

May 18, 20249 min read

Postpartum Tips for the Non-Birthing Parent

When a child is born, so is a parent. It's not difficult to imagine that the process of childbirth is life-changing. Of course, the birthing parent has undergone significant transformation (physically and psychologically) and needs all of the support they can get. However, many times the experiences of the non-birthing parent (e.g., a father, another mother, a nonbinary parent, or an adoptive parent) are overlooked. Although I agree that the birthing partner does need immense

caitlinwclevenger

Jan 30, 20248 min read

Feeling Scattered? Is it ADHD?

Losing your keys/phone constantly? Can't remember if you paid that bill? Are your loved ones complaining that you never listen to them or...

caitlinwclevenger

Dec 11, 20232 min read

Understanding the Impact of your Menstrual Cycle

Let's be honest. A lot of us were not educated very well on our bodies and the reproductive system. More specifically, women and those assigned female sex at birth are often left in the dark about the impact of their menstrual cycle on their well-being. I want to cover this so that you'll be armed with some knowledge about where you are in your cycle and how it might impact you emotionally and physically. Something I want to talk about today is the effects of each phase of th

caitlinwclevenger

Aug 6, 20234 min read

Five Ways to Make the Most of a Therapy Hour

When you think about it, 45-60 minute sessions every week or so, can seem like a drop in the bucket of your life. How do you make lasting...

caitlinwclevenger

May 9, 20235 min read

Anxiety and The Transition into Parenthood: Rite of Passage or Preventable?

Anxiety in parenthood is neither avoidable nor is it something we must fully accept as "normal." The goal is to use anxiety to our advantage and mitigate it such that it doesn't begin to cause us problems. Expecting and postpartum parents oftentimes find themsleves in unique state of anxiety. Pregnancy and postpartum experience brings about an enormous amount of changes, and all mothers as well as fathers and other non-birthing partners experience a range of reactions. Here

caitlinwclevenger

May 3, 20232 min read

Four Reasons to try a Nature Therapy Session

When you think of therapy, what do you imagine? Many people imagine lying on a couch, sitting opposite to the therapist in a chair, or seeing their therapist through video. Of course each of these settings is just fine for participating in therapy. However, have you ever imagined taking part in a nature walk therapy session? Instead of sitting in an office or across from your therapist via video, imagine instead moving or sitting with your therapist in a beautiful green space

caitlinwclevenger

Feb 3, 20233 min read

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The therapy hour is so short. There is so much that therapists and clients think and wonder about outside of the session. This blog is a collection of topics that will help our clients learn more about certain topics or coping skills. We encourage you to read these topics, think about them, and write down your thoughts or questions. Therapy is most beneficial when it's treated similarly to a class. The more time you spend applying skills and reading outside of sessions, the faster you will experience improvements in symptoms. If you are interested in learning about a topic, and we have not written about it yet--let us know! This blog is for you!