Conversations for Connection

Imposter syndrome involves feeling less capable or deserving than others perceive you to be, often affecting work, school, relationships, and creative spaces. It can lead to doubts about belonging and fears of being "found out," despite evidence of competence. While increased awareness helps, it's vital to understand its true impact on mental health and explore ways to overcome it. Dive deeper into the realities of imposter syndrome and how to navigate it with care.

Losing a pet isn't just about missing them. It's also about adjusting to the absence of something that shaped your routines, your home, and your sense of self. Dr. Nicole Taylor reflects on the grief that follows the loss of an animal companion, what it can look like, and how to support yourself.

Lately, I’ve been noticing a pattern across clients, colleagues, and communities. More people talking about work feeling heavy in ways that are hard to name. Not always burnout. Not always overwhelm. But something that sits underneath it.

Many people think of pets as companions, something that brings comfort, joy, or routine. They often offer regulation, connection and care in people's daily lives. But in my work, and in my own experience of having pets since childhood, I often see how relationships with animals can support our mental health in deeper ways that aren’t always named.

The ways anxiety can show up as irritation, control, and distance, especially for people of color.

The word narcissist gets used a lot these days, not just for exes or family members, but to describe celebrities, influencers, and political figures who crave attention, cause harm and/ or avoid accountability. Having language for harmful behavior can be empowering, but the overuse of the term also creates confusion.

When most of us feel anxious, we’re told to breathe, take a walk, or use coping skills to get through the moment. These tools can help calm the nervous system, but often they don’t go deep enough.

Many people grew up in families where love and care were present, but emotional connection and maturity were not. If you’ve ever felt like you were the emotional adult in your relationship with a parent, or like your feelings weren’t acknowledged or understood, you’re not alone.

During a therapy session, the topic of reasons to get married came up, and I was intrigued by the range of responses that emerged.