Nicole: What inspired you to become a therapist, and how did your experience working in ICU and cancer settings shape your approach to care?

Emily: I was inspired to become a therapist while working as a resident assistant in college, where I enjoyed supporting students as they adjusted to a new environment. As a social worker, I focused on medical settings, helping individuals and families navigate chronic illness and cancer. Through that work, I discovered a passion for helping people adjust to a “new normal” and build the skills they need to support themselves, even when they’re not sure where to start.

Nicole: You’ve worked closely with individuals navigating serious medical conditions- how does that influence the way you support clients in therapy today?

Emily: One of my biggest takeaways is that the most obvious issue isn’t always the most impactful. While many clients face serious medical conditions, what often matters most is how those experiences affect their relationships, careers, and sense of self. In my work now, I focus on helping clients process those deeper impacts and identify what feels most meaningful to them.

Nicole: What draws you to working with clients going through major life transitions, such as illness, caregiving, or changes in identity?

Emily: I think the resilience that I have seen in individuals is the most compelling thing. There are so many life changes that we all go through and even when the change is something unexpected or unwelcome, people want to get through it and are doing the best they can. My role then becomes to be the person to support on the path to feeling the best they can while navigating this. 

Nicole: How do you support caregivers who may be feeling overwhelmed or balancing their own needs with caring for a loved one?

Emily: Boundary setting and balance. I often find that caregivers make sacrifices in the effort of taking care of a loved one but then find themselves burning out or feeling overwhelmed. I work with caregivers to try to identify the areas where they need more support and how we navigate by setting boundaries both with themselves and others to try to find a better balance.

Nicole: You’re trained in EMDR, CBT, and narrative therapy- how do you decide which approach to use with each client?

Emily: I listen to what each client is bringing forward and what they want to work on most. Some people come in with clear goals that they want to work on, and we decide on an approach that will best meet those goals. Others come in less sure of what they need, but know that they want to feel better, and we use our sessions to parse out what would feel most helpful for them. I don't believe there's a one-size-fits-all, so I work with each client to figure out what would fit best for them. 

Nicole: For clients new to therapy, how would you describe your style and what they can expect in sessions with you?

Emily: I would describe my style as inquisitive and supportive. I am someone who works to help folks challenge the areas that they feel stuck in, which can be really difficult work, so I also aim to bring warmth and humor into sessions as well. 

Nicole: What are some common themes you see when working with individuals facing chronic illness or palliative care, and how do you help them cope?

Emily: Common themes I see include identity changes, loss of control, and balancing hope with realism. These experiences can shift over time, so I help clients connect with their values, find small ways to regain a sense of control, and create space to process what they’re going through.

Nicole: You work with both adolescents and adults-how do you tailor your approach across different age groups?

Emily: I think with every client I work with, I aim to meet people where they are. My approach is very individualistic across all ages and stages of life.

Nicole: For college-aged clients or those navigating early adulthood, what kinds of challenges do you often help them work through?

Emily: Some common challenges I see are adjusting to independence, finding community, trying to understand purpose and goals, and financial insecurity as they navigate all these stressors. 

Nicole: What would you say to someone who is considering therapy but feels unsure about getting started?
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Emily: I would say that I think most people feel unsure about getting started, but you don't have to know exactly what you need to start. It's okay to be nervous and not know what you want to talk about yet; your therapist is there to help guide you through the process.

April is National Stress Awareness Month, which feels fitting given that most of us spend this time of year juggling competing demands, navigating uncertain news cycles, and running on a kind of tired that a good night's sleep doesn't seem to fully fix. Stress is one of those words we use constantly, but we don't always stop to ask what it actually means for us personally, or what to do when it starts to feel like too much.

So let's talk about it.

What Stress Actually Looks Like
Stress shows up differently for different people, which is part of why it can be so easy to dismiss or minimize. Here are some of the most common signs that your mind and body are telling you they're under pressure:

• Difficulty falling or staying asleep, or waking up feeling like you never really rested
• Irritability or a shorter fuse than usual with the people you care about
• Trouble concentrating, making decisions, or completing tasks you normally handle easily
• Physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, stomach upset, or chronic fatigue
• Withdrawing from activities or people that usually bring you comfort
• A low-level sense of anxiety, dread, or sadness that doesn't seem tied to anything specific

If any of those feel familiar, you're not alone. And they're worth taking seriously.

The Difference Between Stress and Overwhelm
People often use "stressed" and "overwhelmed" interchangeably, but they describe two different experiences, and understanding the difference matters.

Stress is usually tied to something specific. A deadline, a difficult conversation, a financial worry, a schedule that has more in it than it should. It's uncomfortable, but it often feels like something you can eventually move through.

Overwhelm is what happens when stress accumulates faster than you can process it. It's the feeling that there is simply too much, that you don't know where to start, that no matter what you do you can't get ahead of it. Overwhelm tends to shut people down rather than mobilize them. It can look like paralysis, emotional flooding, difficulty making even small decisions, or a numbness that feels unsettling.

Both are real. Both deserve attention. And when either one starts to affect how you function day to day, that's important information.

Self-Care Strategies That Are Actually Grounded in How Stress Works
Self-care gets a lot of eye rolls, and sometimes for good reason. Here are strategies rooted in how stress actually affects the nervous system, rather than just things that sound nice:

1. Regulate your body first. Stress activates your nervous system. Before you can think clearly or feel better emotionally, your body needs to shift out of that activated state. Slow, intentional breathing, a short walk, or gentle movement can all help.
2. Protect your sleep. Sleep is when the brain processes, consolidates, and recovers. Even small changes, like keeping a consistent wake time or stepping away from screens before bed, can meaningfully improve your resilience during the day.
3. Narrow your focus. Overwhelm thrives on the belief that everything needs to happen at once. Choosing one thing, just one, and giving it your full attention for even 20 minutes can interrupt that cycle and restore a sense of agency.
4. Stay connected. Stress is isolating by nature. A genuine conversation with someone you trust can regulate your nervous system in ways solo coping strategies simply cannot.
5. Notice your inner voice. Much of what we experience as stress is shaped not just by circumstances, but by how we interpret them. Learning to observe your thoughts rather than automatically accept them as facts is one of the most practical and lasting skills therapy can offer.

You Don't Have to Wait for a Crisis
If stress, anxiety, or a persistent low mood have become your baseline rather than something that comes and goes, that is worth paying attention to. Individual therapy is not reserved for the most difficult moments in life. It is for exactly this: the slow accumulation of hard things, the patterns that keep repeating, the feeling that you're managing but not really living the way you want to.

Our therapists work with adults every day on anxiety, depression, stress management, and the ways those experiences show up in work, relationships, and sense of self. We have availability now, and we'd love to help you find the right fit.
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If you've been thinking about starting therapy, this month is a good reason to stop thinking and take the step. Reach out to us at www.castlebrookcounseling.com or 508-475-9110 x2 to get started.