Rachel Damin, LMHC

10/17/2022

Link in bio to read about the Four Horsemen of the (Relationship) Apocalypse AKA the 4 communication styles that are harming your relationships!

10/07/2022

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve checked in on here! For those of you who are new and don’t know me - hi, I’m Rachel! I’m a therapist based in New York City and I specialize in working with eating disorders/body image difficulties, clients who identify as s*x workers, OCD, and s*x and love addiction. I’m so glad you’re here!

01/02/2022

It’s never too late to start fresh, try again, and be the best version of yourself!

12/25/2021

Wishing everyone a happy and gentle holiday season! Holidays can be joyful and exciting but can also lead to difficult conversations with loved ones surrounding food and weight. Link in bio to learn some tools to get through these family gatherings a bit easier.

12/16/2021

Rest in peace and power, bell hooks.

11/25/2021

I hope you are able to make space for gratitude, joy and warmth today and every day - happy thanksgiving!

11/02/2021

As the spookiest (and my personal favorite!) season comes to a close, I wanted to highlight an unlikely phenomena: HORROR MOVIES CAN BE HELPFUL FOR ANXIETY!

Yes, you heard me right! Research out of the University of Chicago states that those who suffer from anxiety are more likely to be fans of horror AND those who do enjoy horror may be able to find some short-term relief of their symptoms through watching scary movies.

Those who have anxiety often have a higher interest in what is referred to as “morbid curiosity” - this is an interest in learning about threatening situations. Because of the human brain’s primitive desire to keep ourselves safe, it can actually feel comforting to learn about things/circumstances that are scary to you because it can help you learn about potential threats.

So much of what is terrifying about life is the element of uncertainty and the anxiety over the unknown. Scary movies can offer an opportunity to remain in control over what you allow to scare you in a way that is safe, controlled, and somewhat predictable. By choosing to engage in watching horror movies - you are actually working to regain control over your own emotional state.

There are so many different ways that horror movies can be helpful for mental health - they can allow us to explore taboo topics, force us to face our fears, and give us space to play in worlds unlike our own. What horror movie is your favorite??

10/14/2021

RESILIENCE- probably the world of the year (or the word of the pandemic, or the word of the past decade!) But are some people just born with resilience? Can you develop it? What if you want to be more resilient? If you want to learn how to increase your resilience and navigate life’s challenges in a better way - VISIT THE LINK IN BIO!

09/24/2021

Is it hard for you to set and keep boundaries? Do you feel like you don’t always know what your boundary is until someone crosses it? Boundaries can be incredibly challenging to navigate, especially if you are not used to putting them in place and having others respect them. It can also feel really uncomfortable and maybe even sometimes MEAN to put boundaries in place with certain friends or loved ones around your time, communication, energy, and money. Despite the difficulty, boundaries are truly an expression of love and respect, both for yourself and for those close to you.

If you have thoughts or questions about navigating boundaries in your own life - reach out at the link in my bio!

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09/12/2021

09/11/2021

I love being a New Yorker. I love this city and I am consistently in awe of the resilience and spirit of those who live here. Remembering all those lost on this day and their loved ones 🤍

09/09/2021

In order for a wound to heal, it needs to first be cleaned out. I think about the physical wound healing process quite a bit when considering the purpose and process of psychotherapy.

Most people come to therapy with an idea that they just need to “fix” or “solve” one specific problem and that, once they learn how to fix the problem, they will be healed. While it’s not an entirely incorrect fantasy, most of the real work of therapy, and where most of the healing comes from, is through the proverbial “cleaning out” phase. I believe that it’s important to acknowledge and sit with the discomfort of our negative emotions and stories so that we can learn how best to move forward. We need to treat the wound before we can wrap it up.