Self care Archives - Holly LaBarbera, LMFT

Walking the Walk: Not as Easy as Talking the Talk

I am a therapist who spends a lot of time talking about boundaries. I deeply believe in the importance of setting and holding firm boundaries. Still, being faced with a situation that tests my own boundaries reminds me of how hard it actually is to do! I am worried and anxious today because I have to tell someone something that is going to make them upset. [...]

Risk and Reward: Vulnerability and Connection

Holly LaBarbera2026-09-17T11:40:50-07:00Self care|

I recently lead a group in a discussion about vulnerability. Doesn’t that sound like fun? No, vulnerability is definitely not fun! Who likes being vulnerable? Who likes opening themselves up to pain, rejection, embarrassment, loss? Nobody likes being vulnerable, but avoiding vulnerability also means avoiding true connection, which can lead to depression, loneliness, anxiety and isolation. Vulnerability is a scary proposition because there are very real [...]