The holidays can be depressing, here are some tools that can help you.

How to express our pain without hurting our relationships and how social media might make things worse.

Healing is possible. EMDR and therapy.

Good health, a fulfilling career, supportive family and friends, and a strong, uplifting community—these are often the cornerstones of a life well-lived. Growing up in the Galveston Bay area with my single mother, I came to understand the profound impact of a supportive community. Without a doubt, the encouragement and backing of the people around me shaped who I am today. There were teachers, school administrators, coaches and my friends parents that made a huge impact on my self-esteem and sense of security.

Over 25 years ago, I began teaching at our local community college, where I saw firsthand how meaningful relationships and supportive guidance can transform students’ lives. Helping students reach their goals was, and still is, an incredibly rewarding experience.

Now, I want to give back to our community in a new way. Resources for mental health counseling, wellness education, and psychoeducational support are limited in the La Porte, Deer Park, Pasadena, and greater Galveston Bay areas. I aim to fill this gap by offering counseling, wellness workshops, and educational resources to help individuals and families thrive.

Through one-on-one and couples counseling, community courses, and public talks, I want to make wellness resources more accessible and help people build stronger, healthier relationships. Access to good mental health information doesn’t just improve individual lives—it contributes to a healthier workforce, stronger families, and a more connected community.

If you need to talk or want information for your group or company, schedule a 10 Minute Free Consultation by clicking on the Contact Me link on my webpage www.ClareTherapy.com or email me at Clare@ClareTherapy.com.

Many people ask, how do I know if I need therapy? What happens in therapy? What can I expect? Chances are, if you're on this page, you’re likely at a point in your life where you want something to change. I get it—I’ve been there many times. Maybe you’re feeling stuck, needing more out of life, or just wanting someone to talk to before you reach a breaking point. That makes perfect sense to me.

I’ve faced my own difficult transitions. One such time was when my father moved to Texas because he needed help. My dad has Parkinson’s disease, a debilitating neurological condition, and he required a lot of care. But the hardest part for me wasn’t just the physical support—it was the fact that I barely knew him. My parents divorced when I was young, and our home was anything but functional and happy. As an adult, I saw him on and off, but we were never close. My dad struggles with alcoholism and bipolar disorder, and relationships are tough for him. After three failed marriages, he was alone, and I was the most likely person to step in.

However, stepping in created a lot of resentment within me. I needed to talk to someone. At that time, I was managing a career, raising a family, and had even decided to go back to school to earn my counseling degree. Looking back, it seems almost absurd to take on so much at once, but as women, we often overestimate our ability to juggle it all. Still, I did it. I felt stuck in my career and wanted something more. I sought counseling to learn how to set boundaries with my dad because I knew I couldn’t survive without learning to take better care of myself.

My dad and I never had the ideal father-daughter bond that some people are lucky enough to experience. But he needed help, and so did I. My help came in the form of a compassionate, skilled counselor who gave me the space to unload the weight of what I was carrying. Sometimes, you need to talk to someone outside of your usual circle of support, even if you have wonderful people like a supportive husband or best friend.

Counseling gave me the strength to finish school and find a way to have a relationship with my father that didn’t destroy me, my marriage, or my sanity. We all have stories like this—if you live long enough. Sometimes you need to talk about things that are heavy on your heart. Sometimes you are ready to heal old wounds. You can do it. I’m sharing mine to encourage you to reach out. You don’t have to carry these burdens alone or let them damage your health and relationships. There is another way, and I’m proof of that.

Let’s talk!

Ready to talk? Get mental health help and therapy options. No one should have to struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout and past trauma. Help is available. Therapy can help.