Mental Wellness in San Diego - Psychotherapy blog of Abby Burd, LCSW

Looking for ways to stay balanced and at your best? Abigail Burd, LCSW, San Diego Psychotherapist blogs here to help new parents, educators and helping professionals help themselves and others.

13 10, 2018

My New Office (Same Building)

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:28-08:00October 13th, 2018|Categories: Blog, Practice Updates|Tags: family therapy, my office, office update, relationship therapy, what to expect|0 Comments

Hi everyone! My San Diego psychotherapy practice has been busy through the summer and the start of the school year. I’ve moved to electronic charting, which means everything is paperless. Now, when new clients start, we don’t have to waste any trees, and they can easily complete questionnaires on a smart phone.

In addition, I’ve also expanded to a larger office. Fortunately, I’m in the same building on the corner of Gennesee and Balboa, same floor even, just around the corner.

Also, I have to love how the waiting room looks out over the ocean.

I posted a […]

16 07, 2018

[Video] Postpartum Anxiety and How to Help

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:28-08:00July 16th, 2018|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Mental Wellness, Parenting|Tags: postpartum anxiety; perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; therapy for postpartum anxiety; videos about postpartum anxiety|0 Comments

In case you missed it, you can catch my conversation about Postpartum Anxiety with Christina Soletti of Ergobaby here. We broadcasted live from their downtown LA headquarters on the Ergobaby Facebook page last week.

Christina opened up about her personal experiences with anxiety after her baby was born. She never expected it. Most people don’t. Yet one in five new parents suffers from serious anxiety after a baby is born. Partners are at risk, too.

Catch the whole conversation about postpartum anxiety here:

If you have the time to watch the whole video, I share a little about how to manage anxiety and the fight or flight response with […]

29 03, 2018

Giveaway: 180 Reversible Stroller from Ergobaby

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:29-08:00March 29th, 2018|Categories: Blog, Giveaways/Free Resources, Maternal Mental Health, Parenting|0 Comments

Here’s something for all the new and expecting parents: a chance to win a brand new 180 Reversible Stroller from Ergobaby. As the name suggests, the 180 switches easily between baby facing the world and baby facing you. Sometimes your kid is inquisitive and wants to see everything, and sometimes they are overstimulated and want the reassurance of you.

I’ve teamed up with Baby Birds Farm, Ergobaby and the adorable family from a House in the Hills to offer this giveaway. You can enter below, or through Instagram @BabyBirdsFarm or @BurdTherapy (no emails needed). Or do both to maximize your chances!

28 02, 2018

All Teens Should Be Screened for Depression [TV News Clip]

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:29-08:00February 28th, 2018|Categories: Blog, Child and Adolescent Therapy, Students|Tags: adolescent therapy, child/adolescent psychotherapy, emotional development, media, mental health, mental wellness, san diego therapist, suicide prevention, tv appearance, video|0 Comments

The American Academy of Pediatrics announced this week that all adolescents, ages twelve and up, should universally be screened for depression. Yesterday, KSWB in San Diego had me on the morning news again to break down the recommendations on teen depression.

Live tv goes fast, so I had one big priority in my head: to share about the crisis text line. Most of the teens I know would feel more comfortable sending a text message than placing a phone call. You can do it privately in a room full of people and no-one would know. I would love for everyone to save the crisis text number now! If you text “HELLO” to 741741, any time of day or night, a volunteer will write back.

21 01, 2018

Why I’m a Feminist Therapist

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:29-08:00January 21st, 2018|Categories: Blog, Mental Wellness|Tags: feminism, grief counseling in san diego, san diego therapist, therapy in San Diego|0 Comments

I’m coming out as a feminist therapist. But it might not be what you think.

I do not have an agenda to push in therapy. At least not mine. I want to hear your voice. Your story. I’m here to empower you. Do you have a desire or agenda you are afraid to pursue? Let’s see how we can make it happen.

As a feminist therapist, yes, this does mean that I have a special interest in helping women overcome barriers. Have you been socialized to be “nice”? Does this now get in the way of requesting better pay at work? I can help you find a happy balance between pleasing people and meeting your own needs. In fact, having healthy boundaries honors and respects others.

But feminist […]

18 12, 2017

How a Motivational Interviewing Approach to Therapy Can Help You

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:30-08:00December 18th, 2017|Categories: Addiction, Blog, Child and Adolescent Therapy, Mental Wellness, Supervision|Tags: addiction, evolution of psychotherapy, motivational interviewing, san diego therapist|0 Comments

Hi all! In this dispatch from the Evolution of Psychotherapy, I spent the morning hearing from the founder of Motivational Interviewing, one of my go-to approaches since 2002. I wrote this post to introduce potential clients to a great way to get unstuck and move forward. Blog readers might recognize MI from this post on Value Sort Cards.

It is human nature to try to fix others. We love to point out what they need. Bill Miller, the founder of Motivational Interviewing (MI), calls this a “righting reflex.” We naturally want to make things right.

The problem is that most people come to therapy ambivalent. That means feeling conflicted about something, seeing both the good and bad about it, or feeling stuck. Raise your hand if you already know rationally some change […]

14 12, 2017

Sue Johnson, EFT and Dance: Why Couples Therapy is a Tango

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:30-08:00December 14th, 2017|Categories: Blog, Couples/Marriage Therapy|Tags: counseling for couples, couples therapy, evolution of psychotherapy, marriage therapy, san diego therapist|0 Comments

Hi all! Another dispatch from the Evolution of Psychotherapy. This time, Sue Johnson shares how attachment science can shape corrective emotional experiences in couples therapy.

When she is not training 3,000 people each year in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Sue Johnson is dancing. Specifically, she dances the Argentine tango ten hours a week.

Not surprisingly, she sees relationships — the connection, the conflict, and the disconnect – as a dance.

The NY Times once compared couples therapy to “piloting a helicopter in a hurricane.” The dirty little secret of many therapists is that they do not like doing couples therapy. They are scared it will inevitably end in fighting. Sue disagrees. Couples therapy is more a safe, comfortable Air Canada flight. There may be some turbulence, but […]

13 12, 2017

Helping Couples Recover From Infidelity

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:31-08:00December 13th, 2017|Categories: Blog, Couples/Marriage Therapy|Tags: couples therapy, evolution of psychotherapy, infidelity, marriage therapy, san diego therapy|0 Comments

Hello everyone! I’m at the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference this week. I’ll be sharing some of the best things I’ve learned here. In this post: Infidelity. If you are a therapist or therapy student, I hope you will pick up a few skills. If you are a prospective therapy client in San Diego, email me or call if you are curious about talking more about infidelity one on one or as a couple.

“When staying together after an affair makes you a warrior not a doormat…”

First, I heard from Michele Weiner-Davis, LCSW, about recovering from infidelity. You may know her from the “Sex Starved Marriage” book and this TED talk.

She is also known for […]

8 12, 2017

When Holiday Stress Gets You Down, Turn It Around

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:31-08:00December 8th, 2017|Categories: Blog, Mental Wellness|Tags: families, holiday stress, managing anxiety, managing stress, san diego therapist, san diego therapy|0 Comments

Sometimes the most wonderful time of the year is anything but. Today, writer Jennifer Scott shares a guest post on how to get through holiday stress and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Ah, the holidays. That delightful time of year when we all put aside our differences and peace on Earth prevails. Or not. While the time between New Year’s day and Halloween is fairly uneventful, we’re expected to put on a happy face from the stroke of midnight on the 305^th day of the year until the week after Santa’s annual appearance. But when you have a mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD, that’s not always possible.

Here are a few tips on how to keep holiday stress at […]

28 11, 2017

How to Use Pixar’s Coco to Teach about Death [Cinematherapy Guide]

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:31-08:00November 28th, 2017|Categories: Blog, Grief/Loss|Tags: cinematherapy, death, grief, grief counseling in san diego, movies, pixar coco, Study Guide|0 Comments

“The word death is not pronounced in New York, in Paris, in London, because it burns the lips. The Mexican, in contrast, is familiar with death… jokes about it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates it. It is one of his favorite toys and his most steadfast love.” -Octavio Paz

About Coco

Disney/Pixar’s latest movie, “Coco” delivers a beautiful animated tale, centered around the Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos). I’ve tried not to include any spoilers or reveal too much about the plot.

If you have seen my “Inside Out” Study Guides for teaching teens and children about emotions, you will know I am a fan of cinematherapy. In my psychotherapy practice in […]

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