Depression, anxiety, and stress often build quietly before they become impossible to ignore. That was the focus of a recent KESQ segment featuring local therapist Carolina Vasquez, who joined the station during Mental Health Awareness Month to talk about practical ways people can notice emotional changes earlier and seek support before things feel overwhelming. The May 26, 2026, conversation centered on a simple but important message: mental health care is not only for moment

After more than 20 years working with teens and families throughout the Coachella Valley, I've learned that parents and teens often want the same thing: to feel heard, understood, and loved. Learn about affordable teen therapy options, insurance coverage, bilingual services, and support for families.

Many people living with depression still go to work, take care of others, smile, and keep functioning every day. This article explores what high functioning depression really looks like, the signs people often miss, and why you do not have to completely fall apart before asking for help.

What Is It Like to Go to Therapy for the First Time? Going to therapy for the first time feels scary for most people. You might not know what to say, worry about being judged, or wonder if anything is even wrong enough to be there. It is normal to feel all of that. What most people find, once they take that first step, is that the hardest part was actually walking in. A (Mexican-American) Therapist's First Time in Therapy As a clinical therapist with over ten years of experie

"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds,' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens, but it is never gone." - Rose Kennedy My beloved daughter, Danielle died by suicide on April 3rd, 2000 at 13 years old. This year will mark the 26th anniversary of her passing. My ex-husband and I adopted three Ecuadorian children, all orphans who were not related biologically, 42 years ago. You may be wonde

heartfelt reflection on growing up as the oldest daughter in a Hispanic family and the emotional weight of early responsibility. This article explores anxiety, healing, and finding support through therapy and telehealth services available across California.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder best known for its motor symptoms, such as resting tremor and rigidity. However, many non-motor symptoms often appear years before movement changes begin.1 Fatigue, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances can have a profound impact on quality of life, and these are areas where mental health professionals can provide invaluable support.2 Understanding the broader impact. PD affects an estimated six mil

For many in the Hispanic and Latino community, finding the right therapist means finding someone who truly understands family, culture, and language. This article talks about how to find the right fit, why therapy may not have worked before, and how telehealth in California can make support more accessible.

Depression disguises itself in many different ways. Here are some surprising signs… 1. Are you constantly on the go? Busyness can be an outward expression of depression. 2. Behind the brightest smiles can lie the heaviest hearts. Many depressed people live on auto-pilot, so it doesn't always show on the surface. 3. Sleep troubles are more than just exhaustion. They can be a silent cry for help. 4. Physical aches and pains can be manifestations of emotional distress and trappe

So check this out. I just did a thing. I JUST carefully, and quietly, climbed out of my daughter's crib. You read that correctly. I just climbed out of my daughter's crib. How did this even happen? Well, it's really quite a simple story. It's been a week of teething with an angry and cranky toddler who is fighting naps and clinging to me with greater strength than water stains. I am at the end of me. She is waking up at 5 am everyday screaming at the top of her lungs and

The first blog I want to share with you is about anxiety. Anxiety is something I lived with for a very long time without knowing it had a name. Because I didn't know better, I just assumed that this overwhelming feeling of anxiety was a normal human condition. What is anxiety? Well, as it is with most things, anxiety is described and felt differently by different people. I will tell you my experience. Anxiety at its best felt like a nagging feeling that I carried with me,

First of all, let’s make this very clear: it’s never too late to apologize. Just know that SINCERE apologies are not meant to be self-serving. Sincere apologies are meant to let the other person know that you acknowledge that you hurt them and that you are truly sorry for doing so. If you are a human being reading this, I’ll have you know that you’ll owe people apologies for the rest of your life. Yes, for the rest of your life. Part of being human beings is that we mess