CBT therapy focuses on the powerful connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In this blog, you’ll learn what CBT actually looks like in therapy, how skills are practiced in real life, and how changing patterns of thinking can help you respond to stress, relationships, and life challenges with more confidence and control.

Every January, many of us feel pressure to reinvent ourselves through New Year’s resolutions—only to feel discouraged when they don’t last. This blog explores why resolutions often fail and offers a more compassionate, effective alternative: setting realistic, values-based goals through a yearly task list. Learn how to create achievable goals that support mental health, foster connection, and reflect who you truly are, not an idealized version of yourself. Whether you’re seeking personal growth, greater balance, or a fresh approach to the new year, this guide provides practical tools and encouragement to help you move forward with intention.

The holiday season often arrives with more pressure than joy. Messages telling us to be cheerful, grateful, and endlessly family-oriented, even when we're feeling overwhelmed or disconnected. In this blog, we explore the idea of thanks living: choosing intentional boundaries, honoring your emotional needs, and engaging with others in ways that feel healthy and authentic. From navigating challenging family dynamics to managing holiday-driven anxiety, this piece offers practical tools for communicating limits, redirecting conversations, and prioritizing your own well-being. Whether you’re deciding how much time to spend with relatives, figuring out how to handle “The Commenter,” or considering the support of therapy during this season, you’ll find guidance here for creating a holiday experience rooted in self-respect, clarity, and calm.

Michelle Shya, LCSW (She/Her), Therapist and Founder of Acorn & Oak Counseling
Specializing in identity development, life transitions, and relationship dynamics, Michelle supports individuals exploring self-understanding, communication, and authentic living. She provides affirming, compassionate care for clients navigating gender identity, personal growth, and mental wellness.

Feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of the past months? You’re not alone. Explore local food pantries, community support resources, and small ways you can make a meaningful impact. If you need support processing stress, anxiety, or life changes, my therapy services are here to help you navigate this time with guidance and care.

Discover how celebrating Halloween can boost your mental health through play, creativity, and connection. From stress relief and community bonding to exploring fear in healthy ways, this season offers powerful reminders that joy, imagination, and tradition can nurture emotional wellbeing.

Learn the truth about narcissism, relationship health, and communication tools. Explore therapy to gain clarity, set boundaries, and grow.

ADHD Symptoms, Therapy, and Treatment: A Guide to Support - Learn about ADHD symptoms, therapy strategies, and treatment options. Discover how talk therapy, skills, and resources can help you manage ADHD and thrive.

A tiny fledgling outside my daughter’s dance studio reminded me of a powerful truth: growth is awkward, messy, and necessary. Just like baby birds, we don’t soar the moment we “leave the nest.” We stumble, hop, and learn through discomfort. This reflection explores what a baby bird taught me about independence, parenting, and trusting the process of becoming.

The hit show Bluey offers more than entertainment. It’s a powerful therapeutic tool for families. Episodes like Baby Race, Sleepytime, and The Sign model mindfulness, emotional regulation, secure attachment, and self-compassion, helping parents and children grow together.

Struggling to build a routine that supports your mental health? This National Wellness Month, learn simple, sustainable steps to create a daily wellness routine that nurtures your mind and body. Includes self-care tips, emotional wellness tools, and habit-building strategies.

Advocacy is powerful—but it can also be emotionally exhausting. Whether you’re organizing, speaking out, or simply staying informed, the work of fighting for change often takes a toll on mental health. This blog explores how to stay engaged without burning out through safe, sustainable activism. Learn practical strategies for emotional resilience, setting healthy boundaries, and honoring both your passion and your well-being.