Blog — Skilled Minds Therapy

On this blog, I use characters from comic books and graphic novels to bring CBT and DBT skills to life. I also write posts for parents and caregivers on how to talk with your teen about therapy, and other topics that come up when someone you care for needs support. Research suggests that people who know what to expect from therapy are more likely to stick with it and benefit from it. These posts offer a glimpse of the skills I practice with my clients, so that you know ahead of time what therapy with me is like.

Latest CBT

CBT "I'm Going to Be Grounded for My Entire Life": Why We Do Things We Regret

Do you sometimes find yourself doing things that feel good in the moment but that you later regret? This post explains how that happens and what you can do to change it. What you’ll read here is not a substitute for therapy: if your actions consistently create problems for you or for others at home or at school, please work with me or another therapist trained in the DBT or UP-A protocols.

July 15, 2026 4 min read

Identity Finding Yourself One Dot at a Time: Tegan and Sara and the Gender Unicorn

If you’ve read Tegan and Sara Quin’s Junior High, you know how much of that story is about figuring out who you are (the crushes, the questions, the stuff that’s hard to say out loud). In this post, you’ll read about a tool called the Gender Unicorn that can help you explore those same questions in your own life and at your own pace.

Jul 14, 2026 3 min read

For Parents What Misophonia Is & How I Can Help

For many families the hardest part of misophonia is the time spent not knowing it exists. This blog post explains what misophonia is and suggests where to turn next.

Jul 13, 2026 3 min read

CBT When the Night Feels Too Big: What Anya Can Teach Us About Fear

Do your fears sometimes feel bigger than you? This blog post about Anya's fears during her night watch reminds you that thoughts, feelings, and actions are interconnected. A simple one-week experiment helps you notice your own thoughts in fearful moments as a first, doable step toward feeling less at your fear's mercy. The experiment is not a replacement for therapy. To get a therapeutic effect, you want to work with me or another therapist who is trained in UP-A.

Jul 7, 2026 4 min read

For Parents How to Talk to Your Teen About Therapy

Talking with your teen about therapy can feel daunting. These suggestions, drawn from techniques I use with my own teen clients, focus on listening first and respecting your teen’s pace.

Jul 5, 2026 3 min read

DBT Skills How Anya in K. O’Neill’s Graphic Novel The Moth Keeper Uses the DBT Observe Skill in a Scary Moment

Do you sometimes find your self challenged by your thoughts in tough situations? Anya's example could help you cope. The information in this blog post is not to be read as replacement for therapy. To get the benefit of therapy, you want to work with me or another therapist trained in the DBT protocol.

Jul 1, 2026 3 min read

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