Shame‑Soaked Grief
There are kinds of grief we’re allowed to name [...]
By Cheryl Strain, MA, LMFT, LPC|2026-07-20T19:50:15+00:00April 7, 2026|Reflections|Comments Off on Shame‑Soaked Grief
Until We’re Ready
People heal, in part, when they are ready to heal. [...]
The Illusion of Mutuality
On Realizing Someone You Held Close Was Only Ever in [...]
You’re Not Imagining It: Disenfranchised Stress and the Strain No One Sees
When your lived experience is repeatedly minimized, the strain does [...]
When the Smaller Story Is Where the Sharpest Pain Lives
A woman recently began therapy with me here in Houston, [...]
Why Diagnosing Loved Ones Often Does More Harm Than Good
Diagnosing loved ones based on articles or online checklists can [...]
Good People, Bad Moments
Before You Decide You Are a Bad Person Shame speaks [...]
What People Often Bring First to Therapy
Many people begin therapy by naming something that is genuinely [...]
A Moment in the Life of One Therapist @ 2016
Note: This was written in 2016, not as a [...]