When It All Feels Like Too Much: Finding Steady Ground in the Midst of Emotional Overwhelm5/27/2025 Life doesn’t always slow down when we need it to. Sometimes, the world around us keeps spinning—loud, fast, and demanding—while inside, we feel like we’re unraveling.
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![]() What Is Faith-Based Therapy? For many people, faith is more than just a belief system — it’s a source of strength, identity, and guidance. So when life feels overwhelming, it makes sense to want a therapist who not only understands evidence-based techniques but also honors your spiritual journey. That’s where faith-based therapy comes in. Integrating Faith and Therapy Faith-based therapy brings together the best of two worlds: clinical expertise and spiritual insight. In my practice, this means creating a space where we can explore emotional struggles while also grounding ourselves in the hope and truth of Scripture — when that is meaningful to you. Whether you’re experiencing anxiety, trauma, grief, or relational pain, faith-based therapy allows us to look at your challenges through both a psychological and spiritual lens — helping you heal with the support of both proven tools and the deeper values that guide your life. What Makes It Different? You don’t have to leave your beliefs — or your questions — at the door. If you’re a person of faith, we can weave prayer, Scripture, or spiritual reflection into our work together. But if you're not religious or unsure where you stand spiritually, that’s absolutely okay, too. Many of my clients simply want a compassionate therapist who respects their worldview and meets them where they are. Whether or not faith is a part of your life, you'll find a safe, nonjudgmental space here. Do I Have to Be a Christian? No. I work with people from various walks of life — Christian or not — who are seeking emotional healing, personal growth, or help navigating life’s challenges. While my own perspective is rooted in Christian values, my approach is never about preaching or pressure. It’s about connection, healing, and honoring the whole person. Who I Work With As a licensed therapist in Roseville, CA, I serve individuals and couples navigating:
Is Faith-Based Therapy Right for You? If you're looking for therapy that considers your emotional, relational, and — if desired — spiritual well-being, this approach might be a good fit. Whether faith is central to your life or simply a piece of your story, you’ll find care that is thoughtful, professional, and personal. Let’s Take the First Step Together If you're curious about how therapy could support your healing journey, I’d be honored to connect with you. I offer therapy in-person in Roseville and virtually throughout California. Ready to begin your healing journey? Schedule a session or Contact Sue today. When life feels overwhelming—whether from trauma, anxiety, or persistent challenges—it’s easy to feel stuck, as though something inside is holding you back from fully healing. Over my years as a therapist, I’ve come to understand that lasting transformation often requires more than traditional talk therapy. This is where Brainspotting becomes a game-changer.
![]() Life can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re navigating the challenges of a relationship, processing grief, or struggling with anxiety, it’s easy to feel stuck and unsure where to turn. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I should be able to handle this,” or “Why does this feel so hard?”—you’re not alone. In my years as a therapist, I’ve heard countless clients express these feelings. The good news? There is hope, and healing is possible. Why We Feel Stuck When life’s challenges pile up, it’s natural to feel like you’re treading water, just trying to stay afloat. Often, our core beliefs—formed through past experiences—shape how we react to stress. These beliefs can sometimes hold us back, keeping us stuck in patterns of worry, doubt, or fear. For example:
If any of these resonate, you’re not broken—you’re human. These feelings are signals, and therapy can help you uncover what’s driving them. The Path Forward Healing begins when we acknowledge our struggles and seek support. A few ways to start:
Finding Hope Together As a therapist, I’m here to walk alongside you on this journey. My approach blends evidence-based techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Brainspotting, and EMDR with a faith-based perspective that respects your unique values. Together, we’ll uncover what’s keeping you stuck and find the tools you need to move forward. You don’t have to navigate this alone. Whether you’re facing trauma, anxiety, grief, or relationship challenges, I’m here to help you discover hope and joy. Take the Next Step If you’re ready to begin your journey toward healing, let’s talk. Contact me today to schedule an appointment or learn more about my therapeutic services. Your brighter future starts with one small step. Closing Thought: Life will always have its challenges, but you are stronger than you think. Healing isn’t about doing it perfectly—it’s about showing up, one step at a time. ![]() Most of the couples who come to me for premarital counseling are surprised to learn how much there is to consider before getting married. When their relationship is going well and their focus is on the excitement of their wedding, the honeymoon and future dreams and expectations, it’s hard to imagine what might someday become a source of conflict in the relationship. By the time the wedding date is set and they and/or their families are financially invested, it is hard to think of anything but the wedding or to pay attention to red flags that may come up as indicators of current or future problems in the relationship. But it’s important to keep in mind that after the wedding, all couples must settle into the marriage. What about the marriage? Unfortunately, some of those dreams and expectations may be unspoken and a potential source of future marital conflict. Each of us brings our own personal history and experiences into a relationship. That creates our paradigm, the lens through which we view life. That’s where premarital counseling is helpful, and it’s most useful before couples are so invested and committed to a wedding that they are beyond considering adjustments to their plan. It may be necessary to take added time to consider their strengths and weaknesses, their dreams and expectations, and work through areas of needed growth in their relationship before they are ready to marry. So when is the best time to get premarital counseling? Before the engagement. In addition to my clinical training and experience, I bring almost 45 years of marriage experience to the counseling setting. Premarital counseling is one of the things I enjoy most in my practice. You don’t know what you don’t know, so it’s normal that couples are surprised to learn there is so much to consider before making a lifetime commitment to each other. I am a certified facilitator of the Prepare/Enrich Inventory. I like Prepare/Enrich for a number of reasons. It identifies personal styles and covers a wide range of topics that spark discussions designed to help couples know themselves and each other well. In addition, couples learn healthy productive ways to build on their relationship and to navigate conflict both in the couple relationship and with the broader extended family. We also explore hopes and dreams and expectations. Prepare/Enrich can be customized to accommodate faith based or secular preferences. It is suited for couples who are considering marriage for the first time and those who have been married before and may be blending families. If you are contemplating marriage, or even if you are engaged or recently married, I would consider it an honor to help you navigate the premarital counseling process. Call me at (916) 806-4437 or email me at [email protected] to get started or to address further questions you may have. Guilt vs. GriefPeople often tell me they feel guilty when I can see no evidence they did something wrong. Guilt is an emotion associated with violating one's moral code. I frequently hear people say someone else made them feel guilty. Did you know that no one has the power to make you feel any emotion that you do not agree to feel? Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." When it comes to feelings, attitudes and choices, having a good understanding of boundaries is essential to knowing what is and isn't your responsibility. Being able to distinguish what is and isn't yours to own is very liberating, empowering in fact. It engenders self-confidence and alleviates undue stress. I once had a friend who lamented how guilty she felt for deciding to reenter the workplace and leave her children with a sitter. The decision to go back to work had been an agonizing one for her and her husband. This couple determined having a double income was necessary and in their family's best interest. In the course of our discussion, my friend realized it was actually sadness and grief that she was feeling. She came to understand that, although she was mourning the loss of time she could now spend with her children, she hadn't violated her moral code and did not need to feel guilty.
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AuthorSue Parkins, LMFT Archives
May 2025
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