When Pleasing Becomes a Survival Strategy: Understanding the Fawn Response
By Kate Smiley, LCSW — Licensed clinical social worker specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and EMDR therapy Most of us are familiar with the “fight or flight” response—the way our bodies prepare to confront or escape a threat. Some might also recognize “freeze,” when we shut down or become paralyzed in the face […]
How social media can affect mood, body image, self-esteem, and attention span
By Kate Smiley, LCSW — Licensed clinical social worker specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and EMDR therapy In today’s digital world, social media has become a central part of daily life for many people. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) offer connection, entertainment, and information, but they can also have […]
The Fire Within: Grieving and Healing in the Aftermath of the Los Angeles Fires
As a child growing up in Encino, Los Angeles was more than just a backdrop; it was vibrant and alive with memories of laughter, adventure, and the warmth of childhood friends and family. Each neighborhood, park, and street corner tells a story, but now, as flames engulf familiar sights, those stories are threatened, and the […]