Relationships & Couples
Seasonal Depression: Signs and When to Get Help
Do you feel low every fall or winter? Learn the signs of seasonal depression, what helps and when to reach out.
November 4, 2026
The Artisan Blog
Practical, compassionate guidance on relationships, parenting, anxiety, trauma and emotional wellness from the licensed counselors at Artisan Counseling in Newport News and Suffolk, Virginia.
Do you feel low every fall or winter? Learn the signs of seasonal depression, what helps and when to reach out.
Wondering what happens in therapy for anxiety? Learn what the first sessions, common approaches and everyday skills look like.
Panic attacks feel frightening but are treatable. Learn what helps in the moment and what helps over time.
Not sure if your anxiety is “bad enough” for therapy? Learn the signs it is time to talk to a counselor.
Not sure whether to try couples counseling or individual therapy? Learn how each works and how to decide where to start.
Nervous about your first couples counseling session? Learn what to expect, how to prepare and what happens next.
Coverage for couples therapy depends on your plan and the reason for treatment. Learn how it usually works and what to ask your insurer.
Trust can be rebuilt after an affair with time, honesty and consistent action. Learn the stages of recovery and how couples counseling helps.
Sleep and mental health are so closely linked that it is often hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
Do you feel low every fall or winter? Learn the signs of seasonal depression, what helps and when to reach out.
Wondering what happens in therapy for anxiety? Learn what the first sessions, common approaches and everyday skills look like.
Panic attacks feel frightening but are treatable. Learn what helps in the moment and what helps over time.
Not sure if your anxiety is “bad enough” for therapy? Learn the signs it is time to talk to a counselor.
Not sure whether to try couples counseling or individual therapy? Learn how each works and how to decide where to start.
Nervous about your first couples counseling session? Learn what to expect, how to prepare and what happens next.
Coverage for couples therapy depends on your plan and the reason for treatment. Learn how it usually works and what to ask your insurer.
Trust can be rebuilt after an affair with time, honesty and consistent action. Learn the stages of recovery and how couples counseling helps.
Emotional safety means you can be honest without fear of being mocked, punished, or shut out. Learn the signs, what erodes it, and practical ways to build it together.
Emotional manipulation can be hard to spot because it works by making you doubt yourself. Learn the common tactics, the warning signs, and practical steps to protect yourself.
Communication breakdowns usually come from patterns, not a lack of love. Learn the common cycles couples fall into, why they take hold, and practical ways to talk so you both feel heard.
Staying in an unhealthy relationship is rarely as simple as choosing to leave. Learn the emotional, practical, and safety reasons people stay, and the steps that can help you move forward.
Emotional neglect is about what is missing: attention, interest, and responsiveness. Learn the signs, why it happens, how it affects you, and steps to rebuild connection.
Recurring arguments usually point to deeper needs and perpetual differences. Learn why the same fights keep coming back and practical steps to break the cycle together.
Boundaries protect connection rather than threaten it. Learn what healthy boundaries are, the types every relationship needs, and simple scripts for setting them with care.
Codependency is a pattern of putting someone else’s needs and feelings ahead of your own to the point of losing yourself. Learn the signs, where it comes from, and how to break the cycle.
Childhood trauma can shape how you trust, love, and handle conflict as an adult. Learn the common patterns, why they develop, and practical steps toward healthier relationships.
Couples counseling helps many relationships recover. Learn what makes it work, what happens in sessions, signs of progress, and when it may not be the right fit.
Counseling helps couples and families break communication patterns that lead to conflict. Learn why talks break down and the practical skills counselors teach.
Marriage counseling and couples therapy overlap more than most people think. Learn the subtle differences, what both share, and how to choose the right support.
You do not need to be in crisis to seek couples counseling. Learn seven signs it may be time, why earlier help matters, and how to bring it up with your partner.
Co-parenting after separation is hard, but some approaches reliably help kids thrive. Learn what hurts children most, practical tips, and traps to avoid.
Big emotions can push any parent to yell. Learn why kids melt down, why yelling backfires, and a step-by-step approach to stay calm, hold limits, and repair after hard moments.
Divorce, moves, new siblings, loss, and deployment affect every family member differently. Learn the signs your family needs support and how family counseling helps.
Learn how family counseling for teens works, common reasons families seek it, how teens really feel about it, and what parents can do to help it succeed.
Family counseling helps families communicate, resolve conflict, and navigate change together. Learn how it works, what sessions look like, and who should attend.
Setbacks are part of recovery, not proof that you are failing. Learn what healing really looks like, why old struggles return, and how to measure progress kindly.
Even positive changes can leave you anxious, drained, or unlike yourself. Learn why life transitions feel overwhelming, how stress shows up, and what helps you adjust.
Resilience is not about bouncing back overnight. Learn what resilience really means, what helps people recover after hardship, and practical ways to rebuild.
Grief rarely moves in neat stages. Learn why grief has no timeline, what it really looks like, how to cope day to day, and when grief counseling can help.
Learn what self-awareness really is, the signs it may be low, and practical daily habits that help you understand your patterns and grow with intention.
Low self-esteem quietly shapes relationships, work, health, and decisions. Learn how it shows up, where it comes from, and practical steps to rebuild self-worth.
Stuck replaying the same negative thoughts? Learn why the brain loops, what keeps rumination going, and practical strategies that help break the cycle.
Burnout and depression share many symptoms but are not the same. Learn the key differences, where they overlap, and what helps each one.
Emotional regulation is not about suppressing feelings. Learn what it really means, signs it is a struggle, and practical skills to manage emotions well.
Feeling emotionally drained all the time? Learn the common causes of emotional exhaustion, the signs your tank is empty, and practical steps to recover.
High-functioning anxiety hides behind success and productivity. Learn 12 signs most people miss, why it goes unnoticed, and what actually helps.
Saying yes when you mean no? Feeling drained by people? Learn 15 signs of unhealthy boundaries, where they come from, and how to start setting healthy limits.
Feeling anxious even when life seems calm? Learn the common causes of background anxiety, the signs to watch for, and practical steps that help you settle.
Learn the common signs of PTSD in veterans, why reaching out can feel hard, which evidence-based treatments help, and how to know it’s time to talk with a counselor.
Police, firefighters, EMTs, and dispatchers carry heavy stress. Learn the most common mental health challenges first responders face, the barriers to care, and what helps.
Always tense, wired but tired, or unable to rest? Learn the signs your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, why it happens, and practical ways to help it settle.
Childhood trauma can shape health, relationships, and self-worth well into adulthood. Learn the long-term effects, why they appear years later, and what helps you heal.
PTSD and complex PTSD share core symptoms but differ in important ways. Learn how CPTSD affects emotions, self-worth, and relationships, and what treatment helps.
Trauma changes how the brain processes threat and how the body handles stress. Learn what happens in the brain and body after trauma, the signs to notice, and what helps.
EMDR and talk-based trauma therapies both help people heal from PTSD. Learn how they differ, who each tends to suit, and how to choose a starting point.
Art therapy gives trauma survivors a way to express and process experiences without relying only on words. Learn how it works, what sessions involve, and who it helps.
A complete guide to EMDR therapy: how it works, the eight phases, what the evidence says, what sessions feel like, and how counselors keep processing manageable.
Curious what happens in an art therapy session? Learn how sessions flow, what materials are used, what art therapy helps with, and how to prepare for your first visit.
Can CBT help with depression? Learn how cognitive behavioral therapy breaks the depression cycle, what sessions look like, how long it takes, and when to add support.
Worried you are not artistic enough for art therapy? You do not need any art skills. Learn why the process matters more than the product and what to expect.
DBT is not only for borderline personality disorder. Learn who benefits from DBT, what its four skill areas teach, signs it may fit you, and how it works in practice.
Learn the CBT techniques counselors use most, from thought records and cognitive distortions to exposure and behavioral activation, and how they help.
DBT skills explained in plain language: learn the four skill areas, real examples like TIPP, STOP, and DEAR MAN, and how people learn and practice them.
CBT is a structured, skills-based form of talk therapy. Learn how it differs from open-ended counseling, how sessions feel, and how to choose the right fit.
Art therapy helps both children and adults, but sessions look different by age. Learn how it is adapted, what parents should know, and where the approaches overlap.
DBT vs CBT: learn how these related therapies differ in focus, structure, and the concerns they treat, where they overlap, and how to choose the right fit.
Learn how CBT for anxiety works, the techniques counselors use such as exposure and cognitive restructuring, what sessions look like, and signs it is helping.
Learn what art therapy is, how creative expression supports healing, what happens in a session, who benefits, and common myths about art therapy.
Learn what dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is, its four core skill areas, how DBT programs are structured, who benefits, and how it differs from CBT.
Learn what cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is, how sessions work, the thinking patterns and techniques it uses, and how to know if CBT is a good fit for you.
Learn how to choose the right therapist: clarify your goals, check credentials and specialties, weigh cost and logistics, and recognize a good fit.
How long does counseling take? Learn the factors that shape your timeline, typical ranges for common concerns, and how to know when you are ready to finish.
Comparing in-person vs. telehealth counseling? Learn the benefits of each format, how effective online therapy is, and how to choose what fits your life.
Wondering what happens in your first counseling session? Learn the questions you may be asked, the paperwork involved, how to prepare, and how you may feel after.
Not sure if you need individual counseling? Learn seven common signs, what counseling can help with, and when to reach out for support right away.
Abby Brundage, LCSW and the “In Honor of Nancy Smith” team raised $2,430.31, the most of all 67 teams at the 2026 Virginia Peninsula Out of the Darkness Walk in Hampton, VA.
Preparing for the NCMHCE for Virginia LPC licensure? Learn how the case-based exam works, what to study, common pitfalls, and test strategies that help.
Artisan Counseling sponsored an NCMHCE test strategies training for counseling residents and students on July 14, 2018. See what it covered and where to find prep tips.
Is it a generational curse or a learned behavior? Learn how family patterns are passed down, why they feel so automatic, and how they can be unlearned.