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California Associate Marriage & Family Therapist AMFT#150437 • Under Supervision of Spencer Figueroa, California LMFT#45991
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Psychedelics Are Being Fast-Tracked—But That Doesn’t Mean What People Think It Means
There has been a recent federal push to accelerate research on psychedelics—psilocybin, MDMA, and others—through an executive order aimed at reducing barriers and moving studies forward more quickly. This didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s been building for years through research, advocacy, and clinical frustration with treatments that are not working for a significant number of people. There is a real shift here: something long pushed to the margins—associated with countercult
sabrinagmft
Apr 213 min read
One Gene Doesn’t Explain Mental Illness—But This Study Still Matters
A post has been circulating claiming that one genetic marker links multiple psychiatric disorders, including ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, and depression. It’s the kind of headline that spreads quickly because it offers something people are always looking for: a simple explanation for complex human experiences. It’s also not what the research actually says. The study being referenced, published in Cell by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, does not identify a single gene re
sabrinagmft
Apr 63 min read
“I’m Trying” vs “I’m Doing”: What That Sentence Is Actually Doing
On the first day of my undergraduate statistics course, our professor skipped introductions and asked us to close our eyes. She told us to picture, clearly, why we were there, what our end goal was. Then she asked us to answer one question internally: whether we believed we would reach that goal. I remember answering immediately that to myself that I would. There was no internal debate. It didn’t feel like motivation or self-encouragement. It felt like a position I had alrea
sabrinagmft
Apr 23 min read
Conversion Therapy Is Harm—And We Need to Stop Pretending Otherwise
Let’s be clear from the start: Conversion therapy is not therapy. It is harm dressed up as care. And yet, here we are—watching a Supreme Court decision reopen the door to a practice that has already been discredited by every major medical and mental health organization. What Just Happened The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled against a state-level ban on conversion therapy for minors, framing the issue as one of free speech rather than clinical harm. This matters, because it
sabrinagmft
Mar 313 min read
Women, Stop Faking Orgasms!
At some point, sex stopped being something you experienced and became something you managed, and it didn’t happen all at once or in some dramatic, obvious way. It happens quietly, in the small moments where you feel something shift, where you notice something isn’t quite working, where your body isn’t responding the way it’s “supposed” to, and instead of staying with that experience, your attention moves outward. You start tracking the other person, their pace, their expectat
sabrinagmft
Mar 284 min read
“I Understand Why I’m Like This”
When Insight Becomes a Nervous System Escape Route If you’ve ever sat in therapy and heard yourself say: “I know this comes from my childhood. “I can see how this is my attachment style. “I understand why I’m attracted to emotionally unavailable people.” …and yet nothing in your life is actually changing… You’ve likely run into one of the most elegant trauma defenses we have: Intellectualization. And here’s the part most people don’t expect: Intellectualization often looks li
sabrinagmft
Feb 183 min read
The Default Mode Network: Your Brain’s Inner Narrator and Its Role in Healing
If you’ve ever found yourself replaying conversations, worrying about the future, or reflecting deeply on your life, you’ve experienced your brain’s default mode network (DMN) in action. This powerful network plays a central role in how we experience ourselves, our memories, and our sense of meaning. In recent years, neuroscientists and mental health researchers have become increasingly interested in how certain psychedelic therapies may influence the DMN—especially when pai
sabrinagmft
Feb 95 min read
Projection, Gaslighting, Patriarchy, and the Cost of Emotional Avoidance
Why So Many Women Are Exhausted — and Why So Many Men Feel Lonely As a therapist, I repeatedly witness the same emotional dynamic in relationships: women doing deep personal work while partners struggle with accountability, emotional awareness, and repair. This pattern is not about individual failure. It is rooted in psychological defenses, cultural conditioning, and unaddressed trauma. Understanding these dynamics is essential for building healthier, more secure relationship
sabrinagmft
Feb 73 min read
Therapy & Social Justice: How Healing, Resilience, and Equity Are Deeply Connected 🌿
Therapy & Social Justice: Why Healing Is Never “Just Personal” When most people think about therapy, they imagine an individual sitting with a therapist, exploring thoughts, emotions, and relationships. While this relational space is essential, it tells only part of the story. Mental health does not exist in a vacuum. Our emotional lives are shaped by our families, communities, histories, and social systems. Racism, economic inequality, immigration stress, gender-based violen
sabrinagmft
Feb 13 min read
Jungian Personas and Shadow Work: Learning to Live Without the Mask
Understanding the Jungian Persona, the Shadow Self, and How Depth Psychology Supports Trauma Healing and Emotional Integration Most of us learn very early that certain parts of us are welcomed… and others are not. Some emotions get praised. Others get ignored. Some traits are rewarded. Others are corrected, shamed, or punished. Over time, we adapt. We learn who to be in order to belong, stay safe, and survive. In Jungian psychology, this adaptive version of ourselves is calle
sabrinagmft
Jan 234 min read
What Is a Family Genogram? A Trauma-Informed Therapy Tool for Intergenerational Healing
A family genogram is a powerful clinical assessment tool used in psychotherapy to understand patterns that repeat across generations. Unlike a traditional family tree, a genogram maps emotional relationships, attachment styles, mental health histories, medical conditions, and relational roles that shape how individuals experience themselves and others. Many clients enter therapy believing their struggles are personal failures. However, genograms help reveal how symptoms often
sabrinagmft
Jan 201 min read
Beyond the Hype: Why AI Is Not Therapy (and Why That Matters)
We are living in a moment of intense AI sensationalization. Headlines promise instant insight, emotional support on demand, and even “therapy without the therapist.” As mental health professionals, we need to slow this narrative down — not because AI is useless, but because AI is being dangerously misrepresented as something it is not . Let’s be clear: AI is not therapy. Therapy is not the delivery of information, coping skills, or reflections alone. Therapy is a relational,
sabrinagmft
Jan 122 min read
Managing Post-Election Anxiety: A Guide to Self-Care
Strategies to help manage post-elections anxiety. Tips for self-care, emotion regulation, finding meaning
The Hummingbird Therapist
Nov 6, 20244 min read
5 Signs It's Time for Couples Counseling
Strengthen your bond with relationship counseling. Resolve conflicts and deepen emotional intimacy for lasting connection.
The Hummingbird Therapist
Oct 25, 20244 min read
Rewiring Trauma: The Neuroscience of EMDR
Discover how EMDR taps into the brain's natural healing mechanisms to transform traumatic memories
The Hummingbird Therapist
Oct 22, 20243 min read
I survived a narcissist, and so can you
My own experience of healing from narcissistic abuse. Working with clients to help them regain control of their lives.
The Hummingbird Therapist
Oct 14, 20245 min read
Eating Disorders Treatment Through an Attachment Lens
Exploration of different attachment styles and their relationship with the development of eating disorders.
Treatment considerations.
The Hummingbird Therapist
Oct 11, 20243 min read
The 4 Horsemen of Relationships: Signs of Trouble and How to Overcome Them
What are the warning signs your relationship is in trouble?
4 ways to detect problems in your relationship and easy ways to solve them.
The Hummingbird Therapist
Oct 10, 20243 min read
Gratitude in Relationships: An Evidence-Based Approach
Research supports the notion that there are several psychological benefits to adopting a practice of gratitude in relationships.
The Hummingbird Therapist
Oct 10, 20243 min read
The articles on this page are not meant to be a substitution of therapy; if you are in the midst of a mental health crisis, please dial 911 or use the contacts provided below:
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
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Phone: 988 (or 1-800-273-TALK)
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Website: 988lifeline.org
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2. National Domestic Violence Hotline
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Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
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Website: thehotline.org
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3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline
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Phone: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
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Website: samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
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4. Undocuhealth Initiative
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Website: unitedwedream.org
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5. Trevor Project: LGBTQ+ Crisis Hotline
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Phone: 1-800-488-7386
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Website: the hotline.org
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6. Reproductive Health Access Project
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Website: reproductive access.org
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