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Dr. Katrina Wood's psychotherapy blog

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Anxiety isn’t always a bad thing

May 1, 2012 By Dr. Katrina Wood

Freud on danger

In the final decades of the 19th century, a young Sigmund Freud was hammering out his theories and exploring the dense and complex world of the human psyche. Over time Freud fine-tuned his work and pondered what was then known as "hysteria." He offered in a paper a new way of looking at anxiety. Freud felt there were aspects of anxiety that might be useful, and in turn he coined the term … [Read more...]

Filed Under: stress and trauma Tagged With: panic & fear

Keeping your cool in the dog days of summer

July 25, 2011 By Dr. Katrina Wood

dog keeping cool in summer

Hot enough for you? Heat and irritability both spike in the summer months. Tempers rise right along with those thermometer readings. The FBI reports that July and August are the worst months for crime, especially incidents of domestic violence. Why are we more likely to be cross in the summer? Any number of things could be in the mix. Difficulty sleeping. Heat-related disruptions of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: good vibrations, stress and trauma Tagged With: society

The capacity to both celebrate and grieve

May 9, 2011 By Dr. Katrina Wood

before 9/11

Ding dong, Bin Laden's dead! Yes, and we in the United States celebrate, of course. In the midst of all that cheering, though, many of us also feel grief. For while our formidable enemy now sleeps with the fishes, the memory of the thousands of innocents he killed still carries an impact of epic proportion. We mourn the dead, reach out to their loved ones and never forget the shock and the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: stress and trauma Tagged With: emotions, society

Why do we mourn celebrities?

January 22, 2011 By Dr. Katrina Wood

Strawberry Fields NY

There are a few celebrities whose lives and deaths touched us in ways that we can't always put into words. Year after year, as the anniversaries of their passings come around, we take a moment to pause, reflect and mourn the loss of such lives.  John Lennon was mourned once again last month on the 30th anniversary of his death -- a day always recalled by radio and the media. Hearing such … [Read more...]

Filed Under: stress and trauma Tagged With: media, mourning & grief, society

Good stress, bad stress: a two-way street

October 15, 2010 By Dr. Katrina Wood

stress tight and loose

Some stresses actually are good for you and your body. The right kind of stress can activate the flow of endorphins, evoke feelings of happiness and excitement, and provide a feeling of overall wellness. Examples of good stress may be the anticipation of a wedding or a birth. The excitement of going to Disneyland. Taking a vacation cruise. Buying your child's first pet. Riding a thrilling … [Read more...]

Filed Under: stress and trauma Tagged With: emotions

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Business consulting

Dr. Katrina Wood offers business consulting services with a focus on assisting entrepreneurs with startup mental health group practices. General consulting and coaching in the workplace for optimum performance. Learn more.

About Katrina Wood

Dr. Katrina Wood Dr. Katrina Wood is an author, lecturer and psychotherapist focusing on emotional healing. She lives in L.A., where she runs the Wilshire/Valley psychotherapy center.

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Couples intensive therapy

Wilshire/Valley Therapy Center's make-or-break sessions help couples get back on the love track … or enable them to move on. Katrina Wood, Ph.D., has developed these sessions and their content. Learn about the Couples Connect sessions.

Video interview

In January 2025, Rachael Lassoff of Meddkit, above, interviewed Dr. Katrina Wood for her "Provider Spotlight" series. They discussed trauma, healing and the power of communication. Listen in.

Dr. Wood’s ‘Faerie’ tale

Children’s fantasy adventure : Katrina Wood’s “The Night of the Faerie Rade” is now available at Amazon. A wonderful gift for kids ages 6-10.

Dr. Wood at LACPA

View Katrina Wood's talk on suicide prevention at the L.A. County Psychological Association convention.

My mental health centers

Wilshire/Valley Therapy Center & Management Services 

> Locations in Southern California
> Our therapeutic specialties

Topics: Mental health

About depression
Therapy: Getting help
Panic attacks
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Anxiety and GAD
Sexual abuse
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Disclaimer

This blog discusses psychotherapy issues in a general way. Readers should address pressing concerns via their personal-growth support system. Some problems covered here are best handled directly by mental health providers.

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