Sisu Therapy, PLLC

09/21/2025

Today, on World Peace Day, cultivate your calm.

09/18/2025

Pay equity is human equity.

09/15/2025

I had the privilege of being featured in Voyage Minnesota's Magazine in their “Inspiring Stories” Series!
Grateful for the recognition and excited to keep growing. Thank you, Voyage Minnesota!

Read the full article here:

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Hagen. Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. My name is Jessica, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist and have a location in Centerville, Minnesota. I’ve always had an interest in pr...

08/12/2025

8 Common Coping Mechanisms That Disrupt Relationships (But Were Meant to Protect You).

They’re coping mechanisms—adaptive strategies we learned to survive stress, shame, abandonment, or unpredictability.

These aren’t “toxic traits”—they’re protective responses that were meant to protect.
Healing means understanding where they came from and learning new, safer ways to connect. 💛

Therapy can help you explore and rewire these patterns—without shame.

08/08/2025

It’s National CBD Day—and the conversation around CBD and mental health deserves science, not just hype. Here’s what some current research suggests:

Anxiety Relief
A 2019 study found that 79% of participants with anxiety saw improvements within the first month of using CBD.
🔗 Shannon, S. et al. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente Journal.
https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-041

Sleep Support
In the same study, 66% of participants reported better sleep, though improvements fluctuated over time.

Stress & Cortisol
A small randomized controlled trial showed CBD may reduce cortisol levels, helping modulate the stress response.
🔗 Zuardi, A.W. et al. (1993). Effects of CBD in humans. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research.

How It Works
CBD is believed to interact with 5-HT1A serotonin receptors and the endocannabinoid system, both of which help regulate mood, anxiety, and homeostasis.
🔗 Blessing, E.M. et al. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1

⚠️ Disclaimer:

CBD is not a cure-all or a substitute for therapy or prescribed medication

Effects vary by person, product quality, and dosage

Talk to your healthcare provider before adding it to your wellness plan. Do your research and talk to a trusted professional.

Holistic mental health means exploring what works for you—with curiosity, safety, and support.

07/30/2025

International Friendship Day
Being direct with a friend doesn’t mean you’re being harsh—it means you value the relationship enough to be real.

Friendships built on open communication are more resilient, more emotionally safe, and better for everyone’s mental health.

On International Friendship Day, let’s celebrate friendships that hold space for truth and tenderness. 💛

07/26/2025

We’re taught that love conquers all—but in real relationships, love alone isn’t enough to make a marriage or partnership feel healthy, connected, or sustainable.

What is enough?
👉 Emotional safety—the foundation of secure connection.

Emotional safety means:

Feeling safe to express your needs without fear of criticism

Knowing your partner won’t weaponize your vulnerability

Trusting that your emotions will be met with curiosity, not dismissal

Being able to disagree without fear of emotional abandonment

Without these, love can start to feel confusing, unstable, or even unsafe.

Many couples love each other deeply—but still find themselves stuck in patterns of miscommunication, defensiveness, or shutdown. This is where therapy can help rebuild safety, not just repair conflict. (IF you do the work).

💡 Love matters. But how we show up for each other—especially in hard moments—is what determines connection.

06/24/2025

Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon with my dog by my side, I was struck by the quiet strength held in such vastness. Nature reminds us that resilience doesn’t always roar—it endures, expands, and holds space through every season. That’s sisu: the deep, steady courage to keep going. In therapy, we tap into that same inner strength—uncovering what’s already within, like the canyon carved slowly by time and persistence.

06/21/2025

Take a moment today to stretch, breathe, and check in with yourself.
Your mind deserves peace just as much as your body deserves rest. 🕊️

06/19/2025

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas were informed of their freedom—two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It symbolizes delayed justice, resilience, and the ongoing fight for racial equity.

06/09/2025

Feeling anxious or overwhelmed? Try the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique to come back to the present moment.

👉 5 things you can see
👉 4 things you can touch
👉 3 things you can hear
👉 2 things you can smell
👉 1 thing you can taste

This simple tool uses your senses to ground you when anxiety hits. Save this for your next high-stress moment! 💚

06/05/2025

World Environment Day is more than a call to protect our planet—it’s a reminder that the health of the Earth directly affects our mental and emotional well-being.

From the calming effect of green spaces to the stress-reducing power of fresh air and clean water, our environment plays a crucial role in how we feel, think, and function each day.