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Just Try Counseling Blog
This mental health blog is a mix of reflections, insights, and real world observations about therapy, online counseling, and everyday coping strategies.
I write about what I notice in my work, in life, and in the messy in-between moments that shape us.You’ll find posts on topics like anxiety, stress, relationships, self-awareness, and personal growth, but don’t expect a one-size-fits-all guide or a list of “shoulds.”
Therapy isn’t about thinking the right way; it’s about exploring what’s real and useful for you. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and I hope something here helps you feel seen, supported, or a little more grounded.
All Posts
Why It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (And Why It Feels So Hard to Accept)
You can be doing everything “right”… and still not feel okay. You can be showing up, getting things done, taking care of everyone else, and still feel overwhelmed, irritated, or just off. And then that second layer hits: Why do I feel like this when nothing is technically wrong? There’s this unspoken expectation that we’re supposed to be okay. Not just functioning, but handling it. Holding it together. Managing. And the tricky part is that no one really says, “You’re not allo
Jessica Schladt
4 days ago5 min read
Why Is It So Hard to Explain Your Feelings?
You know something feels off, but when someone asks, “What’s wrong?” your mind goes completely blank. Or you default to “I’m fine,” even when you know that’s not actually true. In American culture, ‘How are you?’ is often more of a greeting than a real question. Most people respond with “good,” “fine,” or “great” automatically, even when that doesn’t reflect what’s actually going on internally. Over time, that habit builds. We get used to not checking in with ourselves, and e
Jessica Schladt
Mar 225 min read
AI and Mental Health: When It Helps and When You Should Talk to a Therapist
Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday life. Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are now commonly used for writing, research, brainstorming ideas, and answering questions. Increasingly, people are also turning to these tools to ask questions about their emotions, anxiety, relationships, or other mental health concerns. This is something I have begun hearing about more frequently in conversations with clients. Some people share that before starting therapy, they tried
Jessica Schladt
Mar 156 min read
How Long Does Therapy Take? Frequency, Progress, and What Impacts the Timeline
One of the most common questions people ask before starting therapy is simple and practical: How long does therapy take? Closely behind that question are others: How often should I go to therapy? How do you know therapy is working? Is this going to take years? The honest answer is that therapy timelines vary. But there are patterns that can help you set realistic expectations. How Often Should You Go to Therapy? If you are wondering how often you should go to therapy, most cl
Jessica Schladt
Mar 92 min read
What to Expect in Therapy: A Realistic Look at How Sessions Work
Starting therapy often comes with questions. Even if you feel good about the therapist you chose, you might still wonder: What will sessions actually look like? Will it feel awkward? Will I have to talk about everything right away? What actually happens in therapy? If you have been searching for what to expect in therapy, you are not alone. Therapy is an investment of time, energy, and money. It makes sense to want clarity about what you are stepping into. Here is what the
Jessica Schladt
Mar 24 min read
How to Know If a Therapist Is Right for You (Questions to Ask During a Consultation)
Finding a therapist can feel overwhelming. You are not just picking a service. You are choosing someone to talk to about potentially vulnerable, complicated, deeply personal parts of your life. OF COURSE you want to know if they are a good fit. As someone who has both been to therapy and provided therapy for over a decade, I know firsthand that finding the right therapist is not always easy. Insurance, scheduling, personality, style, all of it matters. So yes, finding the r
Jessica Schladt
Feb 226 min read
Why It Matters to Have Things to Look Forward To: The Dopamine Connection
When was the last time you had something on your calendar that made you smile? Not because it fixed your problems or erased your stress, but simply because it gave you something to look forward to. Having things to anticipate is not just a pleasant lifestyle suggestion. It has real, measurable benefits for mental health, motivation, resilience, and even how your brain releases dopamine. Let’s talk about why. What Is Anticipation? Anticipation is the act of looking ahead to a
Jessica Schladt
Feb 144 min read
Hope Is Not a Course of Action
Hope is an essential part of being human. It allows us to imagine a future that feels different than the present and helps us endure difficult seasons. In therapy, I see how necessary hope is every day. When people lose hope, motivation often collapses. If you cannot see how things might improve or even feel slightly less heavy, it becomes incredibly difficult to keep going. Hope matters deeply. At the same time, hope by itself is not a course of action. Why Hope Matters for
Jessica Schladt
Feb 84 min read
Self-Sabotage and Change: Why "Getting Better" Can Feel So Hard
When people try to make changes in their lives, one of the most common fears that comes up is the feeling that they are getting in their own way. Words like resistant to change and self-sabotage come up frequently in therapy. A question I hear often is: “Why do I keep self-sabotaging?” Sometimes a more helpful question is: “Why am I afraid of ‘getting better’?” We don’t repeat behaviors for no reason. Humans are animals, and like all animals, we repeat behaviors because we
Jessica Schladt
Feb 13 min read
Coping Skills, Change, and the Trap of All or Nothing Thinking
One of the most common reasons people come to therapy is to talk about coping skills. They want ways to manage stress, get through hard situations, or carry what they are dealing with in a way that feels lighter and more sustainable. Coping skills are not about eliminating discomfort entirely. They are about reducing pressure, creating relief, and helping you function through whatever season you are in. And an important thing about coping skills is that they are often situati
Jessica Schladt
Jan 253 min read
Rethinking the Meaning of “Work–Life Balance”: Why the Real Goal Isn’t Balance at All
I hear the phrase work–life balance everywhere. It shows up in career articles, wellness conversations, and social media advice. But the more I sit with it, the more I believe it’s a concept that sets people up to feel like they’re failing. It reminds me of how the breakfast industry pushed the idea that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” A catchy slogan from cereal companies slowly became a cultural truth. The meaning of work–life balance feels similar. It
Jessica Schladt
Jan 193 min read
Therapist vs Life Coach: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
When people search for therapist vs life coach , they are often feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what kind of support they actually need. On the surface, therapy and life coaching can sound similar. Both involve conversation, reflection, and working toward change. From my perspective, the difference between a therapist and a life coach is significant. Understanding the distinction between a therapist vs life coach can help you choose support that aligns with your emotion
Jessica Schladt
Jan 113 min read
The Stages of Change: Why Progress Isn’t Linear
When people think about personal growth or behavior change, they often think it's jumping straight to action. If nothing is happening on the outside, it is easy to assume nothing meaningful is happening on the inside. But most change begins quietly, long before any visible shift occurs. The stages of change model helps explain this internal process. It offers language and structure for what many people experience but do not always recognize as real progress. One of the most
Jessica Schladt
Jan 45 min read
Why Is Change So Hard and Why Motivation Alone Is Not Enough
As the year winds down, conversations about change begin to surface almost naturally. Whether or not you care about resolutions, people reflect on the past year, consider what has shifted, and think about what they hope the next season might look like. Even if you never formally create a list of goals, someone will inevitably ask what you want to work on or what changes you hope to make. Many people feel frustrated by the idea of resolutions, and that frustration often leads
Jessica Schladt
Dec 27, 20254 min read
Why Do I Always Feel the Need to Be Productive?
If you have found yourself asking, why do I always feel the need to be productive , you are not alone. This is something I have been hearing a lot over the past few months, and the timing is not accidental. Especially during the holiday season, everything feels more compressed. Time feels tighter. Expectations feel heavier. And the pressure to always be doing something mounts. For many people, there is a constant internal urge to get something done. Laundry. Paperwork. Cleani
Jessica Schladt
Dec 21, 20254 min read
Online Therapy: What People Actually Mean When They Search
Online therapy can feel confusing when search terms like “therapist near me,” “telehealth,” or “virtual counseling” all seem to mean different things. Here’s what people are really searching for and how to find the right online therapist, no matter where you live. Why This Topic Matters Right Now If you’ve ever opened Google and typed “therapist near me,” “online therapy,” or “virtual counseling,” you’re not alone. That might even be how you found this post! When people look
Jessica Schladt
Dec 14, 20254 min read
When (and When Not) to Be Assertive With Family: Holiday Edition
The holidays have a way of pulling family relationships right to the surface. Even if someone comes to therapy without any intention of talking about communication or relationships, those topics still come up; we are all in relationships with people in some form. Friends, partners, coworkers, and of course… family. During the holiday season, those family dynamics often get louder. Expectations, whether cultural, generational, or unique to your own family, tend to pile up quic
Jessica Schladt
Dec 7, 20254 min read
Why the Holidays Feel More Stressful as an Adult and How to Listen to Your Needs
For some people, the holiday season is a joyful, sparkly, heart-warming time of year. If that’s you, I’m genuinely happy for you. I hope your weeks are filled with ease, connection, and moments that feel good. No notes. Many people don’t experience the holidays that way. If you fall into that camp, you’re far from alone. For a lot of adults, the holiday season brings expectations , forced joy , financial stress , travel headaches , or a calendar so packed that downtime feels
Jessica Schladt
Nov 30, 20253 min read
Making Friends as an Adult: Why It’s Hard and How to Build Real Connections
Making friends as an adult is definitely a challenge. It’s something many people don’t realize when they’re kids or even young adults, but once you hit your mid-20s, 30s, or 40s and notice your social circle getting smaller, it’s easy to panic and think, “Is something wrong with me?” Meanwhile, TV shows and movies love to portray groups of five or six adults who do absolutely everything together. And while that might be true for some people, I’ve found that those big friend
Jessica Schladt
Nov 24, 20254 min read
Why Sleep Matters for Your Mental Health (and Why It’s Not Always Easy to Get Enough)
As I’m writing this, I’m slightly sleep-deprived thanks to particular creatures in my home who do not grasp the importance of sleep for others. Sleep isn’t just something I talk about with clients; it's something I'm actively navigating myself. This morning, I noticed my frustration tolerance was lower, my irritability was higher, and I was leaning toward negative conclusions and all-or-nothing thinking. And honestly? This is extremely common when a person is sleep-deprived.
Jessica Schladt
Nov 18, 20253 min read
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