Untamed Journey Insights

One of the things I love about our growing cultural conversations around relationships is how people are becoming more attuned to red flags. I see clients, friends, and even teens online identifying unhealthy dynamics and naming them—which is powerful. But as with many psychological terms that go viral, some words start to get stretched so far they lose their real meaning. One of those buzzwords? Love bombing. On social media, I’ve seen people call it love bombing when someone texts back quickly, gives compliments, or is simply enthusiastic early on. But that’s not what the term was meant to describe—and when we misuse it, we risk blurring the line between genuine affection and emotional manipulation. That’s why I’m continuing this series to unpack these trending concepts and bring clarity. Today, let’s dig into what love bombing really is, what it isn’t, and why the distinction matters. What is Love Bombing? Love bombing is a manipulative tactic most often used in toxic or abusive re...

One of the things I truly appreciate about our modern times is how much more emotionally aware younger generations are becoming. I love seeing the sensitivity, language, and openness they bring to conversations around mental health—and honestly, I’ve even learned new terms from them, like the trending phrase “functional freeze.” But there’s a double edge to this awareness. With so much psychology content circulating on social media, important concepts sometimes get misused or watered down. A single trending video can take a clinical term and strip it of its true meaning. Words like gaslighting, narcissist, or love bombing can easily become catch-all insults, or worse—minimize very real experiences of harm. That’s why I’ve decided to launch a series unpacking some of these buzzwords. My goal is to clear the air, give context, and help us use this language in ways that validate rather than harm. And where better to begin than with a fan favorite? Let’s talk about what gaslighting really ...

  If you’re in high school or college, it can feel like everybody drinks. Maybe it’s at parties, hanging out after a game, or even just chilling in someone's backyard. At first, it might seem like a normal part of growing up and experimenting. But here’s the thing: alcohol impacts a developing brain differently than it does an adult’s.  While alcohol is not great for adult bodies and minds either, the impact is more problematic for a body and mind that is still going through a very important stage of development.   It’s not just about bad hangovers or making cringey decisions you regret the next day. Drinking now can affect your mood, memory, and mental health for years. It's also responsible for around 4300 deaths of young people under age 21 .  How Alcohol Impacts a Teen Brain Your brain’s still under construction – The part that controls decisions, impulse control, and planning (your prefrontal cortex) isn’t done developing until about age 25. Alcohol ...

More and more, I’m hearing from patients, "I asked ChatGPT..." followed by an apology or “I know I’m not supposed to do that.” I’ve also come across memes and videos that are pretty funny but carry a message  that AI is somehow a threat to therapists' jobs or undermining the work we’re doing with our patients. It seems to be a thing, so let’s talk about whether AI is helping or hurting the therapy world. As I write this on my 48th birthday, I can't help but reflect on the value of maturity and growth. Each decade of life brings its own set of gifts, and I can look back and  pinpoint specific moments when technology shifted in big ways, and society stood at the crossroads of fascination and fear of change. Because, as we all know, change isn’t something humans generally welcome. I remember when Google and internet searches first became popular. People would casually search random things just for fun. Now, it’s a tool we don’t even think twice about—kind of like not app...