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Dr. Katrina Wood's psychotherapy blog

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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

Getting to know triggers from the past

September 29, 2010 By Dr. Katrina Wood

dog brings bad memories

It is important to remember that healing is a journey, a lifelong process. Wounds from the past can be triggered in unexpected ways. We use the word "trigger," meaning an event that evokes an experience from the past, summoning emotions such as shame, pain or anger. In this way the present can be distorted by the past. For example, current doubts about your worth -- or fears for your safety … [Read more...]

Filed Under: self-help, stress and trauma

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New 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.

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 Dr. Katrina Wood

Southern California psychotherapistKatrina Wood is an author, lecturer and certified life coach focusing on psychotherapy and emotional healing. She lives in Los Angeles, where she runs the Wilshire/Valley psychotherapy center. ( More )

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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.

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.

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Help with the holidays

Inner child exercises

Marital & premarital therapy

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Wilshire/Valley Therapy Center & Management Services 

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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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