Genesis Games, LMHC

04/22/2026

Today is Soleil’s 5th birthday 🐾🤍

And in honor of my soul dog, I want to normalize something I see come up often in therapy: the emotional realities of being a dog parent.

We talk a lot about how much joy pets bring—but not enough about the very real grief, guilt, and overwhelm that can come with loving them deeply.
1. The Puppy Blues
This often happens in the first few weeks (sometimes months) after bringing a puppy home.
You may feel:
• Exhausted
• Sleep deprived
• Overstimulated
• Resentful of how much time they require
• Nostalgic for the freedom you had before
Your life suddenly revolves around feeding schedules, potty breaks, training, and constant supervision. You may even question whether you made the right choice.
This does not make you a bad dog parent.
And for most people—it gets significantly better.
2. Anticipatory Grief
One of the hardest parts of loving a pet is knowing their lifespan is shorter than ours.
You watch them age in real time and may feel sadness long before anything is wrong.
You may think:
“What will I do when they’re gone?”
Even when they’re healthy and young.
That grief is rooted in love.
3. Pet Loss Grief
When a pet dies, the loss can feel as profound as losing a family member.
Because they are family.
They are woven into:
your routines
your milestones
your hardest days
your happiest memories
And when they’re gone, the absence can feel enormous.
That grief deserves space.

This post is your reminder that if you’ve experienced any of this—you’re not “too sensitive,” incapable, or dramatic.

You’re deeply attached to a being you love.
And that attachment matters.

Happy 5th birthday to Soleil—the little dog who taught me so much about love, responsibility, and presence 🤍

04/21/2026

Fatherhood has evolved—
and that’s a good thing
Research shows that children benefit most from fathers who are not just providers, but present, engaged, and emotionally available
That means:
showing up in the relationship
supporting your co-parent
connecting with your child beyond discipline or structure
Because the impact of a father isn’t just what he gives—
it’s how he shows up
And that presence?
It shapes everything 🤍

04/20/2026

Fathers and non-gestational parents are also going through a massive transition—biologically, emotionally, and relationally
While the hormonal shifts may not be as intense, they are still significant
Add in:
sleep deprivation
new responsibilities
identity shifts
relationship changes
…and it makes sense why many struggle silently
Perinatal mental health is family mental health
We need to expand the conversation 🤍

04/19/2026

If you’re new here—let me put you on:
A joy list is your go-to collection of easy things that bring you back to yourself.
And by easy, I mean:
✨ low cost
✨ low effort
✨ low planning
The goal?
You don’t wait until you’re burnt out to feel better.
You weave these moments into your everyday life…
and lean on them even more when things feel heavy.
Because regulation isn’t built in crisis—
it’s built in the small, consistent moments that remind you:
life can still feel good here.
Save this as your reminder to start your own 🤍

04/17/2026

04/17/2026

We’ve been sold the idea that our partner should be everything
And while emotional closeness matters…
over-reliance creates pressure most relationships can’t sustain
When your partner is your only outlet,
every need feels urgent
every disconnect feels bigger
every conflict feels heavier
Diversifying your social world isn’t a threat to your relationship—
it’s what protects it
More support
More perspective
More balance
And ultimately…
more space for your relationship to just be what it’s meant to be 🤍

04/16/2026

Most of us bounce between two extremes:

Reacting purely from emotion
or
shutting feelings down and relying only on logic

But healing isn’t found in either extreme.

DBT introduces wise mind—the place where your emotions and logic work together, not against each other.

It’s not about ignoring how you feel.
And it’s not about letting your feelings run the show.

It’s about pausing long enough to access the version of you that is grounded, clear, and intentional.

That version of you exists.
Sometimes… it just gets drowned out by the noise.

04/15/2026

So many of us move through life half-present.

We’re in the conversation… but replaying something from earlier.
We’re doing the activity… but thinking about what’s next.
We’re with people we love… but stuck in our heads.

DBT calls us back to something simple (and hard):
participate.

To be fully in the moment without overanalyzing, performing, or holding back.

Because your life isn’t happening in your thoughts about it—
it’s happening in real time.

And you deserve to actually be there for it. 🤍

04/14/2026

Most people try to fix their emotions before they even understand them.

That’s where we get stuck.

DBT teaches something different:
First, observe what’s happening.
Then, describe it—without judgment, without exaggeration.

Because the moment you move from
“I’m overwhelmed, this is terrible”
to
“I notice my heart racing and thoughts spiraling…”

—you create space.

And in that space?
You get your power back.

You don’t have to react to everything you feel.
You can learn to respond. 🤍

04/13/2026

A lot of people come to therapy wanting one thing:
to feel better

And that matters—deeply

But if therapy only focuses on reducing symptoms,
without helping you build the skills to navigate life…
the relief often doesn’t last

Because life will still ask things of you

Hard conversations
Uncertainty
Relationships
Stress

And without the tools to move through those moments,
old patterns tend to resurface

At the same time—
skill-building isn’t realistic when your nervous system is overwhelmed

You need a baseline sense of safety first

This is the balance:
feeling better and becoming more equipped

That’s where real, sustainable change happens 🤍

04/10/2026

Some of the things you’re quietly carrying… are the exact same things others are bringing into therapy every week.
We’re holding grief and hope. Fear and ambition. Love and resentment.
We’re trying to build meaningful relationships while navigating a world that feels increasingly uncertain.
Nothing about this season of life is simple—and it’s okay if you feel stretched.
You’re not behind. You’re not “too much.”
You’re responding to a lot.
And you don’t have to hold it all alone. 🤍