Thoughts from the Couch Mental Health Blog

On my blog, I share tips for caring for your mental health.

Justine Carino Justine Carino

How Physical Activity Supports Mental Health (and How Therapy Can Help You Get There)

Caring for your body is caring for your mind. We often hear that exercise is good for our physical health, but movement plays a powerful role in emotional wellness too. Even simple, gentle activity can lift mood, ease anxiety, and build confidence. Still, knowing exercise is helpful and actually being able to start are two very different things. When you are navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, or stress, motivation and energy can feel out of reach, and the pressure to “do it right” can feel overwhelming.

Therapy can help bridge that gap. By building self-compassion, reducing negative self-talk, and creating realistic, supportive routines, you can move at your own pace toward a healthier relationship with your body and mind. You do not have to do it alone. With the right support, movement can become a gentle act of self-care, not a source of stress.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

Behind the Badge: The Silent Struggles of Law Enforcement and First Responders in New York

A badge may symbolize bravery, but it doesn’t shield the heart. In this post, discover the unseen emotional toll faced by law enforcement and first responders in New York and how constant exposure to trauma impacts mental health, relationships, and daily life. Learn why seeking support is not a sign of weakness but an act of strength, and how evidence-based therapies like CBT empower first responders to reclaim control, resilience, and hope.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

Supporting Mental Health for Self-Employed Women

Self-employment offers freedom and flexibility—but it can also bring financial stress, isolation, and emotional strain. As more women choose entrepreneurship, prioritizing mental health becomes essential to long-term success. This article explores the unique pressures self-employed women face and offers practical strategies to manage stress, set boundaries, and build supportive networks that foster both business growth and emotional well-being.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

How Parents Can Help Teens Struggling with Eating Disorders

Supporting a teen with an eating disorder can feel overwhelming, but your understanding and involvement are essential to their recovery. From recognizing early warning signs to avoiding shame, fostering open communication, and seeking professional guidance, parents play a key role in helping teens rebuild a healthy relationship with food and themselves. Learn practical ways to create a supportive environment that encourages healing, self-acceptance, and long-term well-being.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

The Dangers of Burnout and the Importance of Self-Care for High Achieving Women

Burnout doesn’t just happen overnight—it builds quietly while you’re busy taking care of everything and everyone else. For high-achieving women, it often shows up as exhaustion disguised as productivity, or irritability masked as resilience. In this powerful reflection, we uncover how burnout is more than mental fatigue—it’s a full-body signal that your life needs realignment. From early warning signs to recovery steps, learn how to rebuild your energy, redefine success, and start honoring the life your body and mind have been asking for all along.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

Family Conflict Solutions That Really Improve Connection and Understanding

Every family experiences conflict, but when handled with empathy and clear communication, disagreements can bring you closer. This post explores practical strategies to resolve tension, set healthy boundaries, and strengthen understanding within your family—turning everyday challenges into opportunities for deeper connection and growth.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

Parenting Advice When Raising a Stubborn Child

Raising a strong-willed child can test your patience—but it can also shape a confident, independent thinker. This article explores how to turn stubbornness into strength through calm communication, empathy, and positive reinforcement. Learn how patience and structure can nurture cooperation without breaking your child’s spirit.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

Preserving Your Mental Health Through the Early Stages of Motherhood

The early days of motherhood can feel overwhelming, filled with joy, exhaustion, and constant change. Hormonal shifts, sleepless nights, and new responsibilities can deeply affect mental health. This post explores practical ways to care for your emotional well-being, recognize early signs of postpartum stress, and build supportive routines that nurture both you and your baby.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

The Hidden Exhaustion of Always Being Strong as a Working Mom

Being a working mom often means wearing strength like armor — juggling deadlines, emotions, and endless responsibilities. But behind that strength is quiet exhaustion that deserves compassion, not guilt. This post explores how redefining strength through rest, boundaries, and support can help working mothers protect their mental and emotional well-being.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

Understanding When Anxiety Medication Makes Sense

Feeling like anxiety still has a grip even after therapy, journaling, and self-care? Learn from therapist [Your Name] and psychiatrist Dr. Mona Amini about when anxiety becomes a disorder, how medication can help, and what real healing looks like. Discover the truth about SSRIs, side effects, and finding balance without losing yourself.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

The Real Impact of Perfectionism on Mental Health

Perfectionism isn’t just about keeping high standards — it’s about carrying invisible weight that drains your peace, joy, and energy. For many high-functioning professionals, perfectionism hides behind packed calendars, color-coded to-do lists, and the constant fear of letting someone down. Instead of motivating you, it chips away at your confidence and fuels anxiety, guilt, and burnout. Left unchecked, it becomes an exhausting cycle of all-or-nothing thinking, unrealistic expectations, and endless “shoulds.” In this blog, we unpack the real impact of perfectionism on mental health, how core beliefs and hidden thinking traps keep you stuck, and simple, science-based shifts that help you reclaim balance. From practicing “80% effort” to loosening the rules that run your life, you’ll learn practical ways to stop over-functioning without lowering your standards. Because you don’t have to be perfect to be enough.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

The Reality of Being a Self-Employed Mom

Can you really be a present mom and a thriving business owner at the same time? The truth: there’s no perfect balance. But with flexibility, boundaries, and letting go of perfection, it is possible. Here’s how real women are making it work—and why you don’t need a flawless routine to succeed in both motherhood and entrepreneurship.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

The Real Work-Life Balance Fix for Moms

As a self-employed mom, I know what it’s like to carry the weight of a business and a family at the same time. In this solo episode, I’m breaking down the invisible stressors that so many of us face, decision fatigue, financial pressure, time scarcity, mom guilt and why they leave us feeling burned out, even when everything looks fine on the outside.

If you’re constantly chasing productivity and still feel like it’s not enough, this episode is for you. You will come across honest truths, mindset shifts, and small but powerful ways to care for yourself without losing momentum in your work or at home.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

Silent Stressors of Self-Employed Moms: Real Solutions for the Guilt and Burnout No One Talks About

As a self-employed mom, I know what it’s like to carry the weight of a business and a family at the same time. In this solo episode, I’m breaking down the invisible stressors that so many of us face, decision fatigue, financial pressure, time scarcity, mom guilt and why they leave us feeling burned out, even when everything looks fine on the outside.

If you’re constantly chasing productivity and still feel like it’s not enough, this episode is for you. You will come across honest truths, mindset shifts, and small but powerful ways to care for yourself without losing momentum in your work or at home.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

Is Cutting off a Family Member the Right Choice?

Struggling with family tension and wondering if cutting ties is the only way to heal? This blog explores the rise in family estrangement, the emotional toll it takes, and why setting boundaries—not breaking bonds—can offer a healthier path forward. Learn how to protect your peace without losing your roots.

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Justine Carino Justine Carino

Real Sobriety Support for Women Who Want More

Some mood swings aren't random—they're hormonal. This blog breaks down how your cycle affects your mind, energy, and sleep, why common fixes often miss the mark, and how a practical, natural approach can help you feel like yourself again—without the side effects.

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