Mental Health Blog | Circle City Alliance Therapy Indianapolis
Mental health insights from Indianapolis therapist Ethany Michaud, LCSW — trauma, anxiety, grief, and healing.
Depression vs. Sadness: How to Know When It Is Something More
Everyone gets sad. But depression is something different — more persistent, more pervasive, and more resistant to the things that normally help. Here's how to tell the difference.
How Childhood Trauma Shows Up in Adults And Why It's Not Your Fault
You adapted. You survived. And you carried all of it into adulthood without a manual. Here's how childhood trauma actually shows up in adults — and why "my childhood wasn't that bad" doesn't disqualify you from healing.
Burnout Is Not Just Being Tired. What Your Body May Be Trying to Tell You
You took the vacation. You slept in. You still came back exhausted. Here's why rest alone may not fix burnout — and what your nervous system may actually need instead.
People-Pleasing and Anxiety: Why Setting Boundaries Feels Impossible
You said yes again. You didn't want to. And now you're lying awake, resentful and drained. Here's why people-pleasing and anxiety are connected — and why "just say no" doesn't actually work.
How Brainspotting Helps With Addiction — Getting to the Root, Not Just the Symptom
Knowing you should stop and actually stopping are two different things — and that gap isn't weakness. Here's why Brainspotting works for addiction when willpower alone doesn't.
Why Trauma Therapy Is So Hard — And Why That's Actually a Good Sign
You started trauma therapy and somehow feel worse. Before you quit — read this. An Indianapolis trauma therapist explains why the hardest sessions are often the most important ones.
Brainspotting vs. EMDR: What's the Difference and Which Is Right for You?
Both Brainspotting and EMDR go deeper than talk therapy — but they work differently. Here's an honest comparison from an Indianapolis therapist who's tried both sides of the chair.
A Therapist's Plain-Language Guide to C-PTSD and Complex Trauma
If PTSD didn't quite explain how you feel, C-PTSD might. Learn what Complex PTSD is, how it shows up in adults, and why it's so often missed — from an Indianapolis trauma therapist who specializes in it.
The Kind of Anxiety Nobody Sees Coming: High-Functioning Anxiety
You show up, meet deadlines, and hold it all together. But on the inside, the noise never stops. Here's what high-functioning anxiety really looks like — and why functioning isn't the same as thriving.
8 Signs Your Nervous System Is Stuck in Survival Mode
Your body is bracing. Your mind won't stop scanning. Rest doesn't restore you. These 8 signs mean your nervous system might be stuck in survival mode — and here's what to do about it.
Why Healing Sometimes Has to Happen in the Body: Somatic Therapy Explained
You can know you're safe and still feel terrified. That's because trauma isn't just a thought — it lives in your body. Here's what somatic therapy actually does, and why it works when talk therapy hasn't.