Therapy for Those Dreaming Beyond Burnout

Providing Individual, COUPLES, and group therapy in California (Online) and Bakersfield (in-person)

No matter what, it feels like you’re inherently wrong by just existing as yourself.

You’ve told yourself the story that if you did things the “right way” (study hard, attend college, job with retirement), things will eventually get easier:

you’ll have less pressure to constantly prove yourself
you’ll finally belong
you’ll feel like you’re enough

Except things aren’t easier and you’re feeling more trapped (and like a failure to boot) than ever for this life you worked so diligently to create. And, what’s worse, it feels like you’re always “on,” curating the “perfect” image of yourself, around friends and family making sure not to offend or disappoint.

Honestly, you just thought you have a bad attitude, are selfish, or just weird for not being happy. As often as you remind yourself why you should be grateful for what you have, it leaves you feeling more discouraged. It sucks because in the process of fixing your attitude, managing your image, and being the perfect friend/employee/everything, you’re not even sure who you are as a person anymore.

You don’t think of yourself as a person who needs therapy.

After all, how hard can it really be?

You bought a few workbooks to complete (Mind Over Mood, a few CBT workbooks, a gratitude journal). You were all in with your dependable pens and highlighters by your side, until you forgot that they existed as the pile of mail swallowed them. (Sort of reminds you of all the blank journals you were supposed to use for ideas and art).

You’ve tried reading the books (Atomic Habits to be better at not being lazy, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents because you saw so many recommendations). It’s just hard to get your mind to focus on the words:

1) it feels like such a waste of time when you could be doing something more productive and
2) it’s hard to connect with the words.

Plus, there’s this added sense that you’re still doing things wrong. Great, even these unknown authors point out how you suck.

You told yourself to just be happy. Other people seem to be able to do it, so why can’t you? This is really about self-discipline.

Let’s acknowledge this fact: You’ve been working so hard, have been so dedicated, and disciplined in the act of trying to feel and be better for such a long time. You’ve done so much on your own and maybe it’s time to let someone help you.

I know, I know. There is something icky and nervewrecking about the idea of talking to someone else (even though you’ve always been interested in therapy). To go to therapy would mean that you have to open a vault of truths that weren’t supposed to leave the confines of your brain.

But how much space is there to hoard more thoughts and disappointments you’re collecting? It’s definitely time to do some spring cleaning in your mind, offloading the pressures and expectations you carry.

You need a therapist who can hang with you, without judgment, as you’re trying to untangle the mess in your mind.

You’re wanting to get some relief from this pressure to constantly prove and perform.

You’re wanting to know who you are as a person because it almost feels like in the act of surviving each day, you’ve lost yourself along the way. How much of you is really you?

You want to be able to feel excitement or passion or something.

And while you may not say this out loud, you want to be seen, heard, and understood.

We’re not the type of therapists who put the bandaid on for the superficial aesthetic of happiness. No, we’re here to dive in deep, challenge your perspective, and empower you in being you.

Click here to schedule your consult

Psssst. Hey you.

I’m Alison Gomez, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, owner of this fantabulous practice.

We specialize in challenging the system (fuck you, white supremacy) by empowering BIPOC to embrace joy and not take responsibility for a system that harms (I see you, generational trauma). It’s not just about being resilient, because I know you are. It’s about not having to be resilient for once. Living is more than maintaining the status quo of pain, but has creativity, authenticity, and connection.

We’re committed to giving you a space to air your grievances with work, family, and friends knowing full well how caring of a person you are.

We’re committed to not just assuming the problem is you, knowing that there is a whole context that is often missed in sharing your story.

If you’re tired of convincing yourself that you’re okay and long to actually be fulfilled, inspired, and understood, we’re your people.

Click here to schedule your consultation

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What’s on Instagram:

A beautiful day to guest lecture on Self-Compassion and Curiosity! #mentalhealth #selfcompassion @csubakersfield @csubalumni

I’m was so excited to get my Tiny Book Course box. The pens, notebook, and postcards are so cute and makes my heart spark joy. As I’m writing my book/workbook on how to be self-compassionate and curious, these touches just adds to this no

You're doing the best that you can, which means that you're going to question, resist, and be skeptical. And that's not a problem.

Okay, it can be a problem when you want to feel better right away, and it's also not a problem in of itself. Why?

Bec

Taking responsibility for how others act as a default is plain fucking exhausting.

And demoralizing.

But the fact is, that it feels like walking on egg shells managing others' feelings because it hasn't always been safe to show up as yourself. Yo

I think about this more often, especially as I have been more vocal about how the -isms show up in therapy: fat phobia, diet-culture, healthism, sexism, etc.

And it makes me wonder: how much of being called defensive is because that is what is goin

What I've received, both as a student and as an employee:

- advocating for myself is being defensive.

- communicating wants and needs is being defensive.

- sharing concerns is being defensive.

- expressing feeling misunderstood is being defensiv

Anti-fatness definitely makes it hard to feel like there is something pathologically wrong with your body (which, definitely ties into healthism, but that's a conversation for another time).

Learning to embracing your body and building a trusting r

It feels like second nature for you to have to analyze the next thing you say and the way you act when interacting with people.

It's like editing a college paper that's due tomorrow morning, your brain working in overdrive to make it work so you're

There is something so completely uncomfortable about letting people know the real you:

1) What if they don't like what they see? Just like in Dear Evan Hansen, the fear of rejection and abandonment.

2) Do you even know who you are? Because, honest

When I keep thinking about eating disorder recovery and relapse, it really does make sense how it is hard to have a compassionate and loving relationship with your body when the message everywhere says that there is something wrong. In addition, this

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.

You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.