Turn the Mind, LLC

03/03/2026

Turn the Mind is growing. We are pleased to introduce Serena Liang, who joins our team as Visual Marketing Designer and Intake Coordinator. Serena's background in architecture brings a unique lens to how we communicate our work — and her role in intake means she will often be the first welcoming voice families hear. We are thrilled to have her!

03/03/2026

Nobody told us that the teenage brain is literally running on a Ferrari engine with bicycle brakes.

The emotional center? Fully online. The "rational thinking, pump the brakes" center? Still being built, and it won't be done until the mid-20s. That's not an excuse. That's biology.

So if you're a teen who feels like your emotions go from 0 to 100 with no warning, or a parent watching that happen and not knowing what to do, here are 3 tools that actually work with the brain, not against it:

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫/𝐓𝐈𝐏𝐏: Splash ice water on your face for 30 seconds. It triggers a physical reflex that drops your heart rate. Instant brakes.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡: Push against a wall as hard as you can for 10 seconds. It grounds your nervous system by reminding your body where it is in space.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐡: Double inhale through the nose, long exhale through the mouth. The fastest way to signal "I'm safe" to your brain.

Save this for the next 10/10 moment. Tag a teen or parent who needs it.

03/02/2026

When a teenager is self-harming or expressing suicidal ideation, weekly outpatient therapy is often not enough, not because the therapist isn't skilled, but because the level of support doesn't match the level of need. As we say in DBT, "it's not the right dose". This is the gap that comprehensive DBT for teens was designed to fill.

Unlike traditional outpatient therapy, a comprehensive DBT program integrates four components working in concert: individual therapy, skills training group, phone coaching for in-the-moment crisis support, and a therapist consultation team maintaining treatment fidelity.

Parents are active participants in this program. They attend our multi-family skills group, just like their teens. Because teens aren't the only ones who can become dysregulated, and the home environment is critical to change.

At Turn the Mind, we run a comprehensive DBT program for adolescents and their families — built for teens who are emotionally intense, self-harming, or struggling with suicidal thinking.

If you're a clinician looking for a higher level of care to refer into, or a parent trying to understand what your teenager actually needs right now, we would welcome the conversation.

💙 Reach out directly or visit our website to learn more.

03/02/2026

On this World Teen Mental Wellness Day (March 2nd) we remind you that:

Teen brains are built with a powerful gas pedal and brand new brakes.
In DBT for teens, we teach skills that slow the body down first so thinking can come back online.

Cold water.
Pressure.
Breath.

Help them pump the brakes and they can learn to use the brakes more on their own!

02/27/2026

Sometimes healing starts with understanding.

When your system shuts down to protect you through slowing heart rate, blunting emotion, dimming sensation, it’s doing exactly what it believes will keep you safe.

But safety doesn’t stay static. Learning how to gently reconnect with sensation, breath, and emotion is the real thaw.

Discover where numbness fits in the larger nervous system story.
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒛𝒆, https://www.turnthemind.com/blog/thawing-the-freeze-healing-numbness-amp-dorsal-vagal-shutdown

02/25/2026

Numbness is often a trauma response, not a lack of effort or insight.
Your nervous system adapted to survive.
Healing starts with safety.

Read more via our blog: https://www.turnthemind.com/blog/thawing-the-freeze-healing-numbness-amp-dorsal-vagal-shutdown

02/20/2026

Our Practice Director, Laura Richardson, mentioned in -LBC's post!

For this , we want to honor a very special member of our community, Dr. Laura Richardson, as she concludes her impactful tenure with the DBT-LBC™ Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Laura has been a committed advocate for clinical excellence and equity within the DBT community. As a DBT-LBC Certified Clinician, her work has always been grounded in the belief that high-quality, evidence-based treatment must also be culturally competent and deeply affirming.
Throughout her time on the committee, Laura has brought her immense expertise in LGBTQIA+ affirming care and anti-racist practice to the forefront of our mission. Her dedication to addressing the unique challenges faced by marginalized individuals has been instrumental in helping the DBT-LBC™ move closer to its goal of protecting the public through inclusive and ethical standards of care. She has also championed the new DBT-LBC™ Individual Clinician Mentorship Program and has been integral to it’s development and ongoing management.
Beyond her committee work, Dr. Richardson’s professional journey from leading DBT programs in inpatient settings to her passionate advocacy for families of transgender youth, exemplifies the "Compassionate Mind" we strive for in our field.
Dr. Richardson, thank you for your time, your wisdom, and your unwavering commitment to making DBT accessible and affirming for all. Your contributions have left a lasting mark, and while we will miss your presence on the committee, we celebrate the incredible work you continue to do.
Please join us in the comments below to thank Dr. Richardson for her years of volunteer service! 💛

02/20/2026

Trauma-related numbness doesn't respond to rest, time off, or self-care alone.
Because it's not an energy problem. It's a safety problem.

Your body needs proof that it's safe to feel again.
And that happens through nervous system work, not willpower.

If you've been wondering why nothing seems to help, this might be why.

02/18/2026

I used to think I was just "bad at self-care."
I'd take time off and still feel nothing. I'd rest and wake up just as numb. I'd set boundaries and still feel disconnected from my own life.

It wasn't until I understood nervous system shutdown that things clicked.
I wasn't lazy. I wasn't unmotivated. I wasn't broken.
My body had learned to survive by shutting down, and it didn't yet know how to turn back on.

If you've ever felt:
Flat instead of anxious
Disconnected from people you love
Like you're watching your life from behind glass
Confused why rest doesn't help
You're not alone. And you're not failing at recovery.

You might be dealing with something different than burnout.

02/18/2026

Announcing our 12-Week DBT-Informed Parenting Group for parents of children and young adults.

When a child or young adult is navigating significant mental health hurdles, the entire family system feels the impact. In these moments, parents often find that their usual intuition needs a bit of reinforcement from evidence-based skills. It isn’t about changing who you are as a parent—it’s about adding specialized tools to your existing foundation of love and care.

At Turn the Mind, we are committed to walking alongside families as they navigate these complexities. We are opening registration for our 12-week DBT-Informed Parenting Group, starting in March 2026.

This group is designed to be a warm, inclusive space where parents can move from feeling uncertain to feeling equipped. We focus on fostering a home environment where both connection and structure can thrive.

Our 12-week curriculum focuses on:

🤝 The Bridge of Validation: Learning how to truly hear your child’s experience in a way that de-escalates tension and builds lasting trust.

🌿 Compassionate Boundaries: Strategies for setting clear, effective limits that protect the relationship while providing necessary structure.

✨ Mindful Presence: Cultivating the ability to stay grounded and present, even during the most challenging parenting moments.

🔄 Balanced Regulation: Practical techniques for parents to care for their own emotional well-being while supporting a child who is struggling.

Program Details:

Format: Virtual (Open to residents of NJ and NY)

Schedule: Wednesday or Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm

Duration: 12-week skills-based intensive

If you are a professional looking to refer a family to a high-fidelity, supportive resource or a parent looking for a community of skills and support, we would be honored to connect with you.

Learn more or register: laura@turnthemind.com | (201) 241-2422
Visit us at: www.turnthemind.com

02/16/2026

The "Body-Brain Connection"

Feeling "Safe" in your mind, but "Anxious" in your body? 🧠⚡️

We’ve all been there: You tell yourself "everything is fine," but your heart is racing, your muscles are tight, or you feel strangely numb and disconnected. That’s because your nervous system is still holding onto a stress response that never got to finish.

Traditional talk therapy is great for the mind—but for deep trauma and chronic stress, we have to talk to the body.

Join Martha Jimenez, LCSW, for our upcoming 8-week virtual skills group. Martha is a Certified Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP), meaning she is a specialist in the neurobiology of how we "store" stress. In this 8-week group, she will guide you through:

✅ Decoding your "Internal Map" – Learn to catch fight/flight/freeze signals before they take over.
✅ The Somatic Toolkit – Real-time physical anchors to ground you during panic or overwhelm.
✅ Completing the Cycle – Safely release stored survival energy without having to "relive" your past.
✅ Expanding your Window of Tolerance – Train your system to stay calm and connected, even when life gets loud.

THE DETAILS:
🗓 Duration: 8 Consecutive Weeks
💻 Format: Virtual (Open to all NJ Residents)
💰 Investment: $125 per session
👤 Who: Adults ready to move from "survival" to "regulation."

Don’t just manage your symptoms—heal the system that creates them.

✨ Space is limited to ensure a safe, intimate environment.
🔗 Click here to learn more and claim your spot: www.turnthemind.com/contact-us

02/16/2026

Burnout usually improves with rest, time off, or reduced workload.
Trauma-related numbness does not.

People often say:
“I took time off and I still feel nothing.”
“I’m rested, but not connected.”
“I’m not overwhelmed. I’m just blank.”

That’s because numbness is not an energy problem.
It is a safety problem.

The nervous system does not yet feel safe enough to allow emotion, sensation, or connection back online.
Read more at 𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐗