In recent years, "self-care" has become a buzzword splashed across social media feeds, often accompanied by images of bubble baths, expensive spa treatments, and luxury purchases. While these activities can certainly be enjoyable, this popular portrayal has created significant misunderstanding about what self-care actually means and why it matters for mental health.

Summer gatherings and holidays, while meant to be joyful occasions, can trigger a complex mix of emotions and stress for many people.

We see it every week in the therapy room: clients walk in saying they are overwhelmed, burnt out, stuck… but they don’t always know if what they are experiencing is stress, clinical anxiety, or both.