Ellen Kessel Phd
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Insights & Resources

I share insights and knowledge about psychology to promote mental health. Whether you need help navigating mental wellness or are curious about psychology, these resources are informative and practical. Recognizing that therapy is a significant investment, I provide these tools to support your journey. Stay tuned for more guides and updates to promote mental wellness for everyone.

Latest Articles

Seeing in Black and White: How Childhood Patterns and Certainty Warp Our Relationships

When we struggle in adult relationships, we’re often experiencing echoes of our earliest attachments. Our minds can radically transform how we see others in an instant. Someone we once viewed..

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Intergenerational trauma and mental health: a systems and societal perspective

Trauma and mental health challenges are deeply embedded within family dynamics and are profoundly influenced by societal structures. Trauma disrupts an individual’s ability to cope, leading to lasting psychological harm…

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Understanding Double Binds: When Every Choice Feels Wrong

Have you ever been stuck in a situation where no matter what you do, you can’t win? This frustrating experience might be the result of something called a “double bind.”..

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The Science of Boundaries: Understanding Self-other Distinction in Mental Health

Our brains are wired for connection. When we meaningfully engage with others, our neural activity synchronizes in remarkable ways, creating shared experiences and mutual understanding. Yet within this biological dance..

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Building Mental Health: The Key Role of Personality Functioning

Recent research underscores that personality functioning—how we manage who we are and how we connect with others—is a crucial determinant of mental health. The HiTOP model, which focuses on shared..

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Safety & Empowerment Through Boundaries

Understanding Boundaries Boundaries are self-imposed rules and limits that serve to protect an individual’s well-being and integrity. They also act as barriers, signaling self and mutual respect, pivotal in preventing..

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Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes the importance of understanding, accepting, and transforming emotional experiences. By learning to identify, express, and regulate emotions in healthy ways, individuals can develop greater self-compassion, improve relationships, and experience deep, lasting change. EFT incorporates techniques such as chair work, empathic reflection, and experiential exercises to help clients process and make sense of their emotional experiences.

In therapy, teens can learn effective communication skills, practice asserting their needs, and establish healthy boundaries in their relationships. By developing these skills, teens can improve their interpersonal relationships, advocate for themselves, and foster a sense of safety and well-being.

Therapy provides a supportive space for teens to explore various aspects of their identity, express themselves authentically, and develop self-acceptance and confidence. By affirming their unique identities, teens can build a strong sense of self, which is essential for navigating the challenges of growing up and leading fulfilling lives.

In therapy, teens can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe, non-judgmental space. By processing these experiences with a supportive therapist, they can gain self-awareness, insight, and a clearer understanding of themselves and their relationships, laying the foundation for personal growth and positive change.

Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps individuals confront their fears and anxieties in a safe and controlled environment. By gradually exposing oneself to feared situations or objects, individuals learn to manage their anxiety and build resilience. Exposure therapy has been proven highly effective in treating various anxiety disorders, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a goal-oriented, short-term treatment approach that helps individuals identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress. CBT provides practical tools and strategies to manage symptoms, build resilience, and improve daily functioning. It has been extensively researched and proven effective for treating a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and stress-related issues.

I have extensive experience helping children and teens navigate the struggles of growing up, such as anxiety, low self-esteem, academic stress, and family conflicts. When working with youth with anxiety disorders, I utilize cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy tailored to their developmental stage, often incorporating parents into the treatment process.

For adolescents in particular, therapy offers a safe place to make sense of their experiences, affirm their identity, and learn to effectively communicate their needs. Drawing from the latest research, I provide a pragmatic, strengths-based approach that empowers young people with the self-awareness and skills to thrive.