Treating Anxiety and Depression at the Root: A Psychodynamic Approach in Orange County
Treating Anxiety and Depression at the Root: A Psychodynamic Approach in Orange County Anxiety and depression are two of the most common reasons people seek therapy—but too often, treatment focuses only on managing symptoms rather than addressing their deeper emotional roots. While strategies like CBT, medication, and mindfulness offer valuable tools for relief, they may […]
Beyond ‘Just Think Positive’: Why Toxic Positivity is Harmful and What Actually Helps
We’ve all heard it before: “Everything happens for a reason,” “Just stay positive,” or “Look on the bright side.” These phrases, though intended to soothe, often serve to defend against discomfort—both for the speaker and the listener. For those navigating grief, trauma, or profound transitions, such messages can feel alienating, as if their pain is […]
Understanding Defense Mechanisms and Personality Styles
At Keil Psych Group we approach our patients through a psychodynamic framework. It is a cornerstone of our work and the most effective approach to helping people navigate deep, meaningful work in psychotherapy. One of the prominent minds of psychodynamic theory is Nancy McWilliams, a renowned psychoanalyst, writer, and educator whose work has deeply […]
Teens and iPhone’s: 4 Rules for Parents to Consider
A Silent Disconnect: How Smartphones Are Rewiring a Generation One graph says it all. Since 2008—the year smartphones went mainstream and social media began its meteoric rise—teen mental health has been on a sharp decline. The first generation to go through puberty with smartphones in hand has become more anxious, depressed, self-harming, and, tragically, more […]
Developing and Expressing Empathy
Empathy is the experience of resonating with another person’s experience. People who are strong in this trait describe it as “feeling with” another person or “experiencing alongside” them. Empathetic people are good at imagining what it might be like to be in the other persons shoes, both situationally and emotionally. They are good at simulating, […]
