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July 30, 2025
To everyone (except my previous bosses),
To everyone (except my previous bosses),
Recently I started my own private practice. Before licensure, I dreamt of one day doing this—some seasons of my career I would put it to the side and then later pick the idea back up again. Since taking this leap, the transition has been almost nothing like what I expected—well, maybe a little, but I’ve never done this before.
You feel-out your identity and how you fit into it all, with any new role or situation. One day I even came to work in blue jeans (very unusual), just because I could. Who was going to scold me? My boss? Perhaps this was an act of discovery (or rebellion) to see if this fit the new role I’m inhabiting—a business owner.
Anyway, yesterday a very unexpected opportunity came up to travel out of town for two weeks! Beachside, no less. I would consider myself an ethical opportunist. So I accepted.
For someone who holds great value in planning, consistency, and reliability, I immediately thought of the impact this trip may have on my clients. I thought, “Oh no. I just told them I’d see them next week.”
As soon as possible, I began calling my in-office clients to switch to virtual sessions. One client in particular was very supportive as I explained the situation. They replied, “That’s the beauty of being your own boss. You get to do what you want.”
And to their point, there is some truth in that—I can set up systems that work best for myself and my clients. I can control every aspect of billing, scheduling, office decor, and availability so that all aspects of the business align with my values of high-quality, personable care.
But that comment got me thinking.
I never worked for my bosses. (And if you’re one of them and got this far...) Each and every one of them—I hold in high regard. They did create a business to scale that I can look up to. They supervised, coached, and supported me as I figured the whole therapist thing out. For that, I will forever be grateful.
AND—I never worked for my bosses. I didn’t tune into trainings, wake up early, document thoroughly, show up on time for my bosses. I didn’t think about them over the weekend and whisper to myself, “I hope they’re doing okay.” I didn’t worry about calling off or taking a vacation because of what my boss might think.
I did all those things because I care deeply about my clients. I tune into trainings, wake up early, document thoroughly, show up on time for my clients. When I know my client has a big presentation, difficult conversation, heartbreak, or graduation—I think about them on the weekend. And yes, sometimes I do think to myself, “I hope they’re doing okay.” I worry about calling off or taking a vacation because of the impact it may have on my clients—especially something so impromptu.
The ending to this story is that my clients are great. All of them have been super flexible and accommodating regarding this temporary scheduling change. And that one comment got me thinking: I did all of this for my clients.
With an immense amount of gratitude
Elena
What is anxiety?
What is anxiety?
July 27, 2025
Written by: Elena Lentz, LISW-S
That’s a great question—let’s talk about it.
We all experience anxiety at some point in our lives. Anxiety is our body’s tool to keep us safe. Our bodies are smart. When they detect danger, they increase our heart rate, shift our breathing, and throw us into “fight-or-flight” mode.
Now, if we were being chased by a bear in the woods, that would be incredibly useful. But in 2025, (hopefully) we’re not faced with that kind of dilemma. Still, we can experience a similar response during confrontations with a family member, friend, or coworker. Or, for example, when we’re walking to our car after a late-night concert—we might walk a little faster and become hyper-aware of our surroundings. Sometimes, we experience this feeling when something seemingly neutral reminds us of a time when we were unsafe—due to past trauma or old hurt.
Anxiety helps us stay alert, feel out our environment, and assess for risk—so we can pivot toward safety. Let’s take a moment to thank our bodies for always being in our corner.
When is anxiety a problem?
If you’ve made it this far into the post and are thinking, “Okay, Elena, that’s great. But I still can’t sleep at night, eat a full meal, or stay calm in social situations. And you’re telling me anxiety is useful?”
Yes—but let’s break it down.
Anxiety exists on a spectrum. On one end, we might feel nervous before a presentation, complete it, and then calm down. On the other end, we may have gone through difficult experiences and find that we just can’t seem to move past them. There might be triggering situations where we are objectively safe, but we continue to behave in ways that used to protect us. We may feel constantly on edge, have difficulty relaxing, and assume the worst of other people’s intentions.
Sometimes, our body doesn’t get the memo that we no longer need to fight.
That’s the disconnect that meditation, spirituality, therapy, exercise, and similar practices can help with.
Anxiety is often invisible—but that doesn’t make it any less impactful in our daily lives.
Quick Tips
Quick Tips
If you’re feeling anxious and can’t seem to calm yourself down, here are some quick tips that might help:
Grab an ice pack and place it on your bare chest, forehead, or the back of your neck.
This sends a physiological signal to your nervous system to enter “reset” mode.Move your body.
Exercise, deep-clean the house, or take the dog for a walk—bonus points if you move until you’re tired. Burning off anxious energy can bring relief.Cuddle someone you love (including your pets—it’s time they pulled their weight!)
Physical connection with a pet or loved one can produce oxytocin, the “love hormone.” It reduces stress and helps ground you in the present moment, rather than the worries in your mind.
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