Psych Assistant

10/30/2024

Anita Avedian and I are thrilled to announce the launch of our new career coaching program designed for students, associates, and anyone who supervises or employs unlicensed therapists or students!

Learn more below:

Are you a graduate student, associate therapist, or someone looking to enter the mental health field? Our new course, Degree to Practice, is here to guide you! This comprehensive course is now open for enrollment and designed to bridge the gap between school and practice. Learn everything from finding the right work setting and supervisor to staying organized, planning for licensure, navigating salary and work-life balance, and building your personal brand.

We created this course to address the disconnect between graduating and entering the workforce, which can often lead to burnout and unrealistic expectations.

We saw this as a problem within our organizations and supervises and decided to do something about it!

Our hope is to help new therapists, students, schools, and practice owners develop a smoother transition into the profession.

Special Offer: For a limited time, we’re offering a discount to practice owners, schools, and students who enroll early and help spread the word!

Reach out to me directly at sandra@meridian-counseling.com for the discounted rate link—enroll for only $20 per person (normally $40), applicable per employee, per student, or per individual for early access!

Navigating the Journey to Becoming a Therapist Take the next step towards becoming a therapist with confidence. Are you passionate about mental health and ready to take the next step in your journey to becoming a therapist? Whether you’re still in graduate school or about to begin your clinical ex...

10/18/2024

Struggling with depression can feel overwhelming, but learning self-compassion can make all the difference. Discover powerful strategies to help navigate your journey toward healing in our latest blog, "How Learning Self-Compassion Can Help with Depression." It's time to be kinder to yourself and find the peace you deserve.

Read the full blog here:

Learn how self-compassion can help with depression. Discover the benefits of kindness, mindfulness, and resilience in managing depression and improving mental health.

07/10/2024

Honored to be featured again as an expert on Well + Good talking about Trauma Bonding in Relationships. Check out the article here:

Learn from experts about trauma bonding relationships, which are marked by repeated physical or emotional trauma and intermittent positive reinforcement.

07/10/2024

My job as a therapist is to make the covert overt, which can be uncomfortable for the client and for the relationship between me and the client. By making the covert overt, I bring observations of behaviors and how someone shows up in the room and in the relationship unconsciously to their attention. I do this to help the client gain insight, but also because the process of addressing these uncomfortable things that we often avoid is where the biggest change, growth, and power of therapy lies. 🌱 Most people avoid that discomfort in their everyday lives and relationships, staying in patterns that may be unhealthy and damaging. Using these insights, we can create change and find healthier relationships, more freedom, and more peace in their lives. 💡

What I realized in the last year is that there's so much going on in the world: wars 🌍, an upcoming election that could change America's future 🗳️, people treating their friends and partners as disposable 🗑️, rising levels of anxiety and depression 😥, eating disorders, and overall unhappiness and dissatisfaction in life and relationships. People often feel like others are happier than them because they’re comparing their lows to the highs people post on social media 📱.

With all of this, I realized that it is crucial to start making these issues overt and having conversations about the things that matter. It's important to call people out for bad behavior 🚫, remind people of what truly matters ❤️, and help them understand the layers of complexity that exist in others and in the world around us 🌐. That’s why I decided to start being more vulnerable and posting more on social media. I understood that someone has to talk about the discomfort and the uncomfortable things we all tend to avoid.

By sharing my story 📖, knowledge of mental health 🧠 and the layers of people’s complexities both within themselves and within their relationships, I realize that I can help at least a few people make big changes or understand dynamics that are impacting their lives. For me, helping even one or two people is worth it, because with that change, we can help people avoid going down a very dark and troubling path 🚶‍♀️🕳️.

I know that some of the things I post can seem overwhelming 🌊, and many people might not like what I have to say or feel that I’m oversharing or stepping out of line.

However, I do this intentionally because it’s important at this moment to create change 🌟, focus on what matters, and improve as individuals, as a community, and as a society 🌍.

The way we do that is through storytelling, learning, and applying that knowledge to create change first within ourselves, then within our relationships, and eventually within our communities and the world. To me, knowledge is power 💪 and vulnerability is strength 💖, and I’m not ashamed to share my perspectives or story. If you are uncomfortable or annoyed, I challenge you to take a look at why what I’m saying is triggering you or bothering you 🤔. If you’re not interested in doing that, then feel free to unfollow or mute me because we clearly are not aligned on what matters in this moment in time.

If even one person benefits from what I’m sharing, my story, and my knowledge, it’s worth it, because that benefit can create a ripple effect of positive change. 🌊✨

07/08/2024

Excited to be featured as an expert on Well + Good's article on apologies in relationships!

How to respond to an apology: Learn effective and graceful tips for acknowledging apologies and maintaining healthy communication.

06/25/2024

Behavioral therapy and psychoanalysis differ significantly in their approaches and techniques. Behavioral therapy is structured, goal-oriented, and focused on changing specific behaviors through practical techniques. Psychoanalysis is more exploratory and interpretive. It involves delving into an individual's past to uncover unconscious influences on behavior. Sessions are less structured, and the therapist takes on a more passive role, allowing the client to lead the discussion. The process is more about self-discovery and understanding underlying psychological conflicts.

Discover the key differences between Behavioral Therapy and Psychoanalysis. Learn which modality is best suited for different issues, ages, and therapeutic goals to find the right fit for your needs.

05/29/2024

Love, a profound and multifaceted emotion, has served as the central theme of innumerable poems, songs, and stories across the expanse of human history. The concept of true love, in particular, transcends the boundaries of mere physical attraction and romantic gestures. It is an enduring bond that forges a connection between individuals at a deeper, more intrinsic level. This connection is not merely superficial or transient, but rather, it is rooted in a fundamental understanding and acceptance of the other person's essence.

Discover the transformative power of love in spirituality, overcoming challenges, and healing. Embrace love's impact on personal and global growth.

05/23/2024

🌟 Attention Therapist Community! 🌟

I've noticed an increasing number of clients seeking insurance-based referrals, and I wanted to share a fantastic option with you all: Meridian Counseling!

We are proud to be in-network with ALL major insurance plans, including all Medi-Cal and Medicare plans in California and most major insurance plans in Utah. 🌐 Whether your clients need full telehealth services across California and Utah or prefer in-person sessions in Los Angeles, we've got them covered!

But that's not all! We also offer in-network medication management and have a fully virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) that is perfect for clients who are working full-time.

Referring to us is super simple!

Just direct your clients to fill out the verification form on our website. This will allow us to verify their benefits and match them with a provider who takes their insurance and best meets their needs.

Let's work together to ensure our clients receive the best care possible! 💙

www.meridian-counseling.com

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need more information. 😊

Best,

Sandra Kushnir, LMFT Founder and CEO

Unlock mental wellness with Meridian Counseling. Find personalized therapy that fits your life & budget. Get started with insurance-covered care today.

05/21/2024

Parental alienation is a deeply troubling and damaging phenomenon that occurs when one parent, either consciously or unconsciously, manipulates and influences a child to reject, avoid, or fear the other parent without any substantial or justifiable reason. This typically involves the use of various tactics and strategies, such as negative comments, false accusations, or exaggerated claims about the other parent, designed to alter the child's perception and feelings towards them.

Discover 17 signs of parental alienation, learn how to identify them, and find effective coping strategies. Get expert help at Meridian Counseling.

05/20/2024

It is imperative to fully understand the potential pitfalls and obstacles that often result in the failure of long-distance relationships. Armed with this knowledge, couples can better navigate the trials that may come their way and work collectively towards maintaining their relationship's health and longevity. They can develop strategies to cope with the distance and build a stronger, more resilient connection despite the miles that separate them.

Explore common challenges in long-distance relationships such as communication, trust issues, emotional disconnect, incompatible goals, and lack of intimacy.

05/15/2024

Trauma bonding is a term coined to illustrate the deep, complex emotional connection that can often manifest between an individual subjected to abuse and their perpetrator. This unique bond is particularly prevalent in relationships where instances of abusive behavior are sporadically interrupted with moments of affection and tenderness. What is paradoxical about this bond is that it is not weakened by the abusive episodes, but rather, it is strengthened.

Explore the 7 stages of trauma bonding in abusive relationships. Learn how to recognize the signs and navigate towards recovery and healing.

05/14/2024

Infertility is a deeply personal and complex issue, a silent struggle that affects millions of individuals and couples around the globe. It is an intricate problem that extends beyond the obvious biological challenges, reaching into every aspect of life and bringing with it a unique set of difficulties. For many, the journey through infertility treatment is not just a physical battle, but a psychological one, filled with a roller coaster of emotions such as hope, despair, anxiety, and determination.

Explore the psychological impacts of infertility, its effect on relationships, coping mechanisms, and available treatment options.