Treat Yourself Like a Dog
What if the way you treat yourself would be unacceptable if you treated a beloved dog that way? KATIE ROSE LCSW explores self-neglect, self-care, self-respect, and emotional resilience through a surprisingly simple therapy exercise: treat yourself like a dog. This article offers a practical framework for recognizing unmet needs, improving daily wellbeing, practicing self-compassion, and building a healthier foundation for mental health.
How to Enjoy Winter: An ACT-Informed Guide to Seasonal Living Without Burnout
Why does winter feel so difficult—and do we really need to “survive” it? KATIE ROSE LCSW explores how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help us stop fighting the realities of winter and adapt our routines, expectations, and environments instead. From seasonal lighting and clothing to outdoor activities, cozy rituals, food, and rest, this practical guide offers a more sustainable way to live with—and even enjoy—the winter season.
When Your Mother Has a Favorite
Why does parental favoritism affect children long after childhood ends? KATIE ROSE LCSW explores parental differential treatment (PDT), the psychological effects of being the less-favored child, sibling relationships, core shame, and healing from maternal coldness. This article examines how favoritism can shape adult self-worth—and how therapy, reparenting, boundaries, and differentiation can help adult children stop seeking parental approval and begin building a secure relationship with themselves.
When the Truth Sounds Like a Delusion: The Cost of Getting Diagnosis Wrong
Can a therapist mistake a true story for a delusion? KATIE ROSE LCSW explores the risks of misdiagnosis, diagnostic bias, PTSD, delusional disorder, and trauma-informed care. This powerful clinical lesson examines why an improbable story is not necessarily untrue—and why therapists must approach unusual experiences with curiosity, humility, and evidence rather than assumptions.