Written By: Rebecca Kangwa, LMHC, EMDR Therapist

NYC can be such an electric and exciting place. When you walk outside you’re instantly met with sights, sounds, and smells – whether you like it or not. The energy of Manhattan is what makes it so special, but sometimes it isn’t the best thing for our nervous system. 

At The Gold Mind, we help people who love New York but also need to decompress with their comfort show after being outside for more than 5 minutes. 

Why Does NYC Feel So Intense?

Living in the city comes with:

• Subway screeches, honking horns, and always an ambulance
  
• Heavy foot and car traffic seemingly everywhere
  
• Overcrowded small spaces

Even if you love the energy, sometimes it’s just… too much.

How Sensory Overload Shows Up

When NYC is overstimulating you, it might look like:

• Feeling hyper but exhausted
  Irritability over small things 
• Headaches or muscle tension
  Craving alone time but feeling lonely when you have it
• Stuck with racing thoughts when trying to go to bed 

This doesn’t mean you’re failing at city life. It just means your mind and body need a reset.

How Therapy Can Help

At The Gold Mind, we help New Yorkers sustainably navigate life in the Big Apple. Therapy can help you:

• Recognize the early signs of sensory overload
• Create small rituals to maintain calmness
• Set boundaries confidently 
• Learn ways to decompress so you can maintain a healthy relationship with nyc

New York might be the city that never sleeps, but that doesn’t mean you have to be on all the time. You deserve balance, peace, and space to breathe.

Feeling stretched thin in NYC? Connect with us at The Gold Mind. Let’s help you find your calm in the chaos and keep loving the city you call home.

Written By: Rebecca Kangwa, LMHC

Many couples have a lot of love for each other but still have hard times. Maybe you and your partner fight a lot, feel disconnected, or feel resentment building. Couples therapy can help!

Although individual therapy is becoming normalized, a lot of people still feel shy, embarrassed, or scared about starting couples therapy. Let’s talk about why that may be and why couples therapy is truly nothing to fear. 

Why Are People Scared of Couples Therapy?

Some people think going to therapy means their relationship is “bad” or “broken.” That’s not true. Couples therapy isn’t just for people who want to break up. It’s for anyone who wants to:

• Talk with a mediator
  
• Feel closer to their partner
  
• Understand each other better
  
• Work through specific problems together
  

Couples therapy is like learning a new skill. Just like you’d take a class to learn how to paint or play piano. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

Different Kinds of Couples Therapy

There are many methods to working with couples. Here are some very popular modalities of couples therapy:

Gottman Method Couples Therapy
This theory helps couples talk calmly and kindly, even when upset. It teaches how to fix fights, show love, and build trust.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
This theory helps couples understand each other’s feelings and develop safety with one another. It helps people who feel alone or scared in their relationship.

Imago Therapy
This therapy helps partners understand how childhood affects how they act in love. It helps people talk and listen without blaming each other.

Every couple is different. A good couples therapist will help you find the right kind of therapy for you and your partner.

Should We Try Couples Therapy?

If you and your partner:

• Fight a lot
  
• Feel far apart or lonely
  
• Have trouble talking without getting upset
  
• Feel stuck in the same problems
  

…then couples therapy could help! You don’t have to wait until things feel “really bad.” Many couples go to therapy just to make a good relationship even stronger.

At The Gold Mind, we help couples in NYC learn how to talk, listen, and love each other better.
Want to know more about couples therapy?

Contact The Gold Mind today. We’re here to help you and your partner feel happier and more connected.

Written By: Rebecca Kangwa, LMHC, Founder

You might finally have more free time, feel a bit less stressed, and have the mental space to focus on real changes. Often, when we’re in crisis mode, we’re busy putting out fires and handling the immediate chaos of life in New York City. But when things slow down, even just a little, that’s the perfect moment to dig deeper into areas of your life that deserve attention. Maybe it’s revisiting your childhood, exploring relationship patterns, or finally processing grief you’ve conveniently avoided.

Summer Can Be Hard

Of course, summer in NYC isn’t always sunshine and soft serve, either. It comes with its own set of challenges: FOMO, comparing yourself to your friends’ glamorous trips to Italy, juggling high living costs while work slows down, or simply trying not to melt on a sweltering subway platform. I recently heard someone say that summer isn’t the best season, it just has the best marketing. And honestly? Fair point. There’s a lot of pressure packed into those three months to be the happiest, most carefree version of yourself.

Benefits to Starting Therapy During Summer

As NYC therapists, we know summer can be a quieter season for therapy. Many people feel better, switch to biweekly sessions, take breaks for travel, or navigate complex summer schedules. But that also means therapists in New York City often have more openings and flexibility right now. It’s an excellent time to start therapy, especially if you’re a busy professional looking for high-quality mental health care tailored to your needs. Investing in yourself now can set you up for the rest of the year. (Can you believe we’re already halfway through?) Establishing healthy routines and habits this summer can make life much smoother for your fall and winter self.

What Now?

So if you’re reading this while sipping an iced matcha or enjoying a summer salad, first of all, I’m jealous, but secondly, maybe this is your sign to prioritize your mental health.

If you don’t know where to start, let me make it easy: reach out to The Gold Mind. We’re a boutique private practice offering therapy in NYC for individuals who value their mental health and want a holistic, personalized experience. We’ll help pair you with an NYC therapist who truly gets you.

Cheers to those thriving, and to the ones just surviving.