Perspectives

SCG Staff Articles

Intentional Crash
Sanctuary Counseling Sanctuary Counseling

Intentional Crash

We have all had that feeling….when the day is over and we get home, cook dinner, eat, sit down, and then it begins the mindless scroll on social media or quick fix repetitive tapping game. As a culture, we are all experiencing burnout and the allure of doom scrolling. I often have clients talk to me about wanting to change this behavior but feeling stuck in not knowing what to do or where even this feeling to disconnect comes from.

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Saying Goodbye
Elizabeth Hirata Elizabeth Hirata

Saying Goodbye

Let’s face it. There is nothing harder than saying goodbye. Whether it is the process of grieving a loved one, moving away from your chosen family or even ending an evening with friends---we all struggle with how to say goodbye. I see our society’s issues with goodbyes throughout my counseling practice. Working with people on why it hurts so much to be ghosted by a date or a friend fighting for time off work after a difficult loss. Sadly, we often avoid the goodbyes in our personal, professional, and even in our therapeutic relationships.

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Faithful or Anxious
Elizabeth Hirata Elizabeth Hirata

Faithful or Anxious

All of us have had that sinking feeling, those racing thoughts, and creeping sense of dread. Anxiety, especially in the last year, has been a companion to many of us. In the counseling space, I see anxiety in clients almost daily. It is a privilege to partner with people who want to find a sense of peace and sanctuary among the chaos.

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Honoring, Celebrating, and Caring for Women
Elizabeth Hirata Elizabeth Hirata

Honoring, Celebrating, and Caring for Women

In honor of Women’s History Month, several of our staff clinicians will be sharing their perspectives on women and mental health throughout the month of March. Women have been essential to the development of counseling as it exists today.

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The Weight of Looking Back
Elizabeth Hirata Elizabeth Hirata

The Weight of Looking Back

Many of us can name where we were when significant historical events happened or when your personal life changed dramatically. This type of episodic memory is important and for many captures key turning points in our personal and communal lives.

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Then Sings my Soul
Elizabeth Hirata Elizabeth Hirata

Then Sings my Soul

Music is one of the most versatile and accessible ways to engage in a person’s story. We all have songs that capture our current feelings, our most treasured memories, and the daring hope for our future. Our likes and dislikes of genre, style, and lyrics are almost as unique as our fingerprints. Music is often referred to as a universal language that can unite people across contexts.

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