Cherry Anne Bacani RPm, RPsy

07/03/2026

This week marked the termination and relapse prevention sessions for several clients who began their psychotherapy journey with me during the third quarter of 2025.

As always, the final sessions bring a mixture of emotions for both therapist and client. Earlier this week, I said goodbye to an older adult client who had been working through Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Today, I also concluded therapy with a teen client who has developed stronger emotional regulation and coping skills. A few hours later, I completed therapy with a female adult client who had been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. For this post, I am reflecting on her journey.

She began treatment during a very difficult chapter of her life. During our first session, she was struggling with severe depressive symptoms, including suicidal thoughts, following the end of a romantic relationship. Over the course of therapy, I saw her slowly work through the pain and emotional weight of that experience. Healing was not easy, but she continued to show up and engage in the work required for recovery.

Today, she shared that she feels stronger and clearer about her life. She has made meaningful changes, including leaving a stressful work environment, finding a better job, finding closure after the breakup, and developing stronger boundaries for future relationships. Most importantly, she no longer carries the sense of hopelessness that once brought her to therapy.

Moments like this remind me that therapy is not about fixing people; it is about helping individuals reconnect with their own strength, clarity, and sense of self. I was also deeply touched by her thoughtful gesture of a sunflower bouquet, a moving symbol of her appreciation for the guidance and help I gave her.

I wish her continued healing and strength as she moves toward a stronger, more resilient future.
(Shared with client consent. Identifying details have been modified to protect confidentiality. A small note of clarification: while some clients kindly refer to me as “Dr. Cherry,” I am a licensed psychologist and not yet a doctoral degree holder.)

04/03/2026

01/03/2026

As we begin a new month, many of us are also noticing the heaviness in the world around us.

Recent escalations and bombings in parts of the Middle East have left many people feeling worried, distressed, or emotionally overwhelmed. Even from afar, exposure to difficult global news can affect our nervous system and sense of safety.

Today might be a gentle moment to pause and ask ourselves:
What am I carrying emotionally right now?
Do I need to limit my news intake for a while?
What would help my body feel a little safer today?

Caring about the world and caring for your mental health can coexist. As we step into March, may we move with compassion, for others and for ourselves.

28/02/2026

Today, I had my last session with a teen client who started her psychotherapy with me last July 2025 for panic disorder and depression. As I welcomed her to my clinic for our termination and relapse prevention session, she handed me a bouquet with a handwritten note as a token of her appreciation. A gesture like this from a client is deeply touching.
I am also sharing in this post her narrative reflection, which I assigned to her as part of her final session, to help her intentionally look back and value the progress she has made over the course of her psychotherapy. Her reflection was both professionally affirming and personally moving. Her words show insight, emotional awareness, and the ability to make meaning from her challenging experiences. While therapy can offer tools, structure, and a safe space, actual change happens when clients choose to do the hard work. This young client showed remarkable resilience, consistently working on her homework (worksheets), applying what she learned in sessions, and pushing through even when the process felt difficult. Her progress is a testament not only to the therapeutic process but also to her courage and dedication. Just as crucial is her support system, her family and her friends, who held her hands throughout her journey.
It has been a privilege to witness her growth and to support her as she continues forward with strengthened skills and self-understanding.
(Shared with strict respect for confidentiality; details modified to protect client privacy. I do not accept gifts to maintain professional boundaries and therapeutic objectivity. In this case, I accepted a small token from the client as it was her final session, and the gift was modest and symbolic in nature. )

23/02/2026

Depression is a disorder of the brain that's more than just "feeling blue" for a few days.

Help raise awareness about depression, learn the different types of depression, signs and symptoms, treatment options, and how to find help. samhsa.gov/mental-health/depression

23/02/2026

At the beginning of a relationship, intense attention can feel exciting and validating. But psychologically, not all intense affection means healthy love. Love bombing is commonly described in the literature on narcissistic and manipulative relationship patterns as overwhelming someone with excessive attention, praise, or gifts early in a relationship to accelerate emotional closeness and dependence.

Love bombing often feels:
• very intense very quickly
• “too much, too soon.”
• pressured or overwhelming
• inconsistent over time

Research on narcissistic relationship dynamics and coercive control notes that rapid idealization followed by inconsistency can be part of unhealthy relational patterns.
Genuine affection usually feels:

- warm but gradual
- consistent over time
- respectful of boundaries
- emotionally steady (not a roller coaster)

Healthy relationships tend to build trust progressively, with mutual pacing and respect for autonomy. Intensity alone is not the best indicator of emotional safety. Sometimes the more helpful question is: “Do I feel grounded and respected? Or do I feel rushed and overwhelmed?” (Aron et al., 1992; Campbell & Foster, 2002; Fromm, 1956; Stark, 2007)

If you find yourself confused by mixed signals in relationships, speaking with a mental health professional can help you sort through patterns at your own pace.

Cherry Anne Bacani, RPm, RPsy
Psychometrician and Psychologist
Online & Onsite Services

To book, click https://seriousmd.com/doc/cherry-anne-bacani (Online Consultation) or send a message via SMS/Whatsapp/Viber to 09171132481 (Onsite/Face-to-face).

17/02/2026

Before you continue scrolling, pause for a moment.
Ask yourself:
How have I really been feeling lately?
Am I constantly pushing through exhaustion?
When was the last time I rested without guilt?

We often function on autopilot: meeting responsibilities, showing up for others, solving problems.
But emotional fatigue doesn’t always announce itself loudly.
Sometimes it shows up as irritability, difficulty concentrating, or feeling disconnected.
Taking care of your mental health doesn’t always require a big decision.
Sometimes it begins with simply noticing.
If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, you’re not alone.
Support is available when you’re ready.

Cherry Anne Bacani, RPm, RPsy
Online: click the link https://seriousmd.com/doc/cherry-anne-bacani to book
Onsite (Salubris Medical Center): SMS/Whatsapp/Viber 09171132481 to set an appointment

12/02/2026

🎯

11/02/2026

Is your child:
- struggling academically despite effort?
- having difficulty focusing or organizing tasks?
s- howing emotional or behavioral changes that affect school performance?

Sometimes, the concern isn’t about intelligence; it’s about understanding how your child learns and processes information.

A comprehensive cognitive assessment helps to:
- assess intellectual functioning and academic skills
- identify emotional or psychological factors affecting learning
- clarify strengths and challenges
- provide personalized, practical recommendations*

This process is conducted one-on-one by a licensed psychologist to ensure accuracy, professionalism, and ethical standards.

📍 Salubris Medical Center – Solano, Nueva Vizcaya
🗓 By appointment only (Wednesday & Saturday)
⏳ Testing duration: 3–5 hours

If you would like to schedule or inquire, you may send a message via SMS/Viber/WhatsApp at 09171132481.

Not all learning difficulties are visible. Early assessment can make a meaningful difference and provide better support.

*Results are based on standardized assessment tools and professional interpretation. Further medical or specialist referral may be recommended when appropriate.

06/02/2026

Not all relationship struggles look dramatic.
Sometimes it’s:
- frequent misunderstandings
- feeling unheard
- walking on eggshells
- emotional distance that slowly grows
And sometimes, it’s simply realizing, “Something doesn’t feel safe anymore.”
Therapy isn’t only for relationships in crisis.
It can be a space to:
- understand patterns
- improve communication
- rebuild emotional safety
- explore whether staying, setting boundaries, or healing is needed

You don’t have to wait until things fall apart before seeking support.

Cherry Anne Bacani, RPm, RPsy
Psychometrician and Psychologist
Online: click the link https://seriousmd.com/doc/cherry-anne-bacani to book
Onsite (Salubris Medical Center): SMS/Whatsapp/Viber 09171132481 to set an appointment