<![CDATA[Michelle Gallagher

<![CDATA[Michelle Gallagher - Blogs]]>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 03:29:57 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[The Inner Critic: When Low Self-Esteem Therapy Helps in Rio Verde]]>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.aroundthecornercounseling.com/blogs/the-inner-critic-when-low-self-esteem-therapy-helps-in-rio-verde

I Offer Compassionate Support for the Inner Critic

A harsh inner voice can make even small tasks feel heavy. I often support adults who live with second-guessing, shame, comparison, or the painful feeling that nothing they do is enough. During demanding times, including the long, hot stretch of late summer in Arizona, self-criticism can feel especially loud when stress, exhaustion, or loneliness are already present

I do not see an inner critic as proof that something is wrong. I understand it as a learned protective response that may have developed to help someone stay alert, avoid disappointment, or make sense of painful experiences. Through low self-esteem therapy in Rio Verde, I offer space to understand that voice with care rather than treating it as a personal failure.

I offer active, collaborative therapy that can help build awareness of old patterns, settle intense emotions, strengthen self-trust, and practice a more supportive inner response.

I Understand How Self-Criticism Can Take Root

I know low self-esteem usually has a history. Experiences such as criticism, bullying, emotional neglect, unpredictable caregiving, betrayal, grief, trauma, or substance use struggles can shape how a person sees themselves. When care or safety has felt inconsistent, self-blame can sometimes feel easier than facing circumstances that were outside of someone’s control.

I also pay attention to attachment patterns. An attachment pattern is the way a person learns to expect care, connection, and safety in close relationships. When early relationships have felt painful or uncertain, someone may continue to expect rejection even when kindness is available in the present. The inner critic may try to protect against disappointment with messages such as “Do better,” “Do not need anything,” or “Do not make a mistake.”

I often see self-criticism show up through:

Perfectionism or fear of getting things wrong
People-pleasing and difficulty setting boundaries
Relationship anxiety or fear of being “too much”
Constant second-guessing and reassurance-seeking
Feeling disconnected from personal needs and preferences

I do not believe understanding these patterns is about blaming anyone or staying stuck in the past. I use that understanding to help create more choice in the present.

I Know When Therapy Can Offer Meaningful Support

I recognize that self-doubting thoughts are part of being human. I also know therapy can be helpful when the inner critic takes up more space than someone wants it to, or when it affects sleep, work, relationships, recovery, mood, decision-making, or the ability to enjoy life.

I often work with adults who appear capable on the outside while privately carrying shame, anxiety, and a fear that others will discover they are not good enough. Low self-esteem can overlap with trauma responses, grief, relationship concerns, anxiety, and substance use recovery. Insight alone does not always change a deeply learned pattern, especially when stress is high.

I offer low self-esteem therapy in Rio Verde for adults who feel tired of repeating old responses. I believe a desire for a steadier, kinder relationship with oneself is enough reason to seek support; a crisis is not required.

I Use Trauma-Informed Care to Build Self-Trust

I approach self-esteem concerns through a trauma-informed lens. For me, trauma-informed care means paying close attention to safety, choice, pacing, and collaboration. I do not believe healing comes from forcing painful memories open before a person feels ready. Instead, I work with thoughts, emotions, body sensations, relationship patterns, and the experiences that may have shaped the inner critic.

Depending on individual needs and goals, I may incorporate approaches such as:

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which can help the brain process distressing memories that still feel emotionally present
Somatic Experiencing, a body-based approach that helps build awareness of stress responses, such as tension, numbness, shutdown, or restlessness
Dynamic Attachment Re-patterning Experience, which supports new experiences of safety, connection, and self-compassion
Collaborative talk therapy, which offers supported space to make meaning of lived experiences

I tailor therapy to each person’s readiness, lived experience, and hopes for change. I understand regulation as the ability to notice and gently settle strong emotions or stress responses. Healing is not about erasing the past or forcing positive thoughts. I see it as creating more room for regulation, choice, connection, and a steadier sense of worth.

I Support New Responses Beyond the Critical Voice

I do not believe building self-worth requires silencing every hard thought. I help people notice the critic without automatically obeying it. When shame or anxiety rises, I may invite simple grounding practices, such as feeling both feet on the floor, noticing the breath, looking around the room, or placing a hand over the heart.

Over time, I support clients in learning the difference between a protective critical voice and personal values, needs, and preferences. Self-trust may look like setting a boundary, asking for support, resting without guilt, making a decision without endless reassurance, or acknowledging progress.

I see low self-esteem therapy in Rio Verde as a way to build a more respectful and steady relationship with oneself, not as a demand to feel confident every moment of every day. Hearts do heal, often through many small experiences of safety, truth, and support.

A Gentle First Step Toward Self-Worth

I believe support does not need to be earned. Self-criticism may have served a protective purpose at one time, but it does not have to direct every choice in the present. At Around the Corner Counseling, I offer a collaborative space to explore trauma, anxiety, grief, relationship patterns, recovery concerns, and self-worth at a manageable pace.

If reaching out feels like a next step, I welcome the opportunity to offer support without pressure or urgency.

Build Confidence With Support That Fits Your Life

At Around the Corner Counseling, I can help you explore the thoughts and experiences that may be holding you back. My low self-esteem therapy in Rio Verde offers a supportive space to strengthen self-trust and develop healthier self-talk. When you are ready to take the next step, contact me to get started.

]]><![CDATA[Ambiguous Loss Therapy in Arizona for Illness, Disability, or Estrangement]]>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.aroundthecornercounseling.com/blogs/ambiguous-loss-therapy-in-arizona-for-illness-disability-or-estrangement

Grief Can Exist Without a Final Goodbye

In my work, I hold space for grief that exists even when no one has died. I have supported people facing painful changes in relationships because of illness, disability, addiction, memory changes, or estrangement. I recognize how confusing this grief can feel when there is no clear ending, familiar ritual, or understanding from others.

I call this experience ambiguous loss. I use this term to describe the loss of a relationship, role, future, or sense of closeness while some part of that connection remains. In my clinical experience, ambiguous loss can follow dementia, brain injury, chronic illness, mental health changes, caregiving shifts, or family cutoff. I often hear sadness, anger, relief, guilt, numbness, longing, resentment, and hope described side by side. I do not see mixed feelings as a sign that love is gone.

Naming a Loss with No Clear Ending

I see ambiguous loss take two common forms. In one form, I see physical absence paired with an ongoing emotional connection, as can happen with estrangement, separation, or a relationship that no longer feels safe. In another form, I see physical presence paired with emotional or relational distance because of illness, disability, cognitive decline, or addiction.

Through my work, I see how unanswered questions can keep the mind and body on alert. I often hear about replayed conversations, uncertainty about what to do next, and hope for changes that may or may not come. I understand how hard it can be to make decisions when each choice feels permanent. I also recognize the painful space between holding on and letting go.

I do not believe grief needs to be fixed or rushed. In therapy, I offer a steady space for naming what has changed and what still matters. I help create room for uncertainty while supporting greater grounding, meaning, and connection in daily life.

When Loss Lives in the Body

I understand loss as more than an emotional experience. In my work, I see ongoing uncertainty affect both the brain and body. When the brain senses danger, loss, or instability, the nervous system can remain activated or shut down in an effort to cope. I often hear about experiences such as:

Trouble sleeping or waking with racing thoughts
Muscle tension, headaches, irritability, or panic
Feeling shut down, numb, or disconnected
Difficulty focusing, making choices, or resting

I also recognize that changed relationships can stir old attachment wounds. Attachment refers to the ways close relationships shape a sense of safety, connection, and belonging. When an important relationship changes, I often see fears of abandonment, rejection, or not being enough come to the surface. I understand how loneliness can remain present even when other people are nearby.

In my Arizona therapy practice, I offer conversation and gentle attention to what the body may be carrying. I may use grounding practices, Somatic Experiencing, attachment-focused work, and EMDR when appropriate. Somatic Experiencing is a body-based approach that helps the nervous system process stress gradually. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a structured therapy approach that can help the brain and body process distressing experiences. I do not use these approaches to force painful memories. I use them to support a greater sense of safety and capacity so that grief can be processed without overwhelm.

Grieving a Life Changed by Illness or Disability

I recognize that illness and disability can change far more than a diagnosis or daily schedule. In my work, I see changes in independence, work, parenting, movement, intimacy, energy, identity, and hopes for the future. I make room for grief alongside gratitude, adaptation, love, and real strength.

I also recognize the heartbreak of witnessing changes in a partner, parent, friend, or family member. I understand that love can exist beside grief for who someone was, what someone could do, or how a relationship once felt. I do not see this grief as selfishness or disloyalty. I see it as part of being human.

In therapy, I work at a pace that respects individual limits. I do not believe grief work requires forced positivity or constant emotional intensity. I may support a process of pausing, noticing internal experience, and practicing greater self-kindness. I often return to questions such as:

Who am I now that life looks different?
What am I allowed to miss?
How can I stay connected to what gives my life meaning?
What support do I need to keep going?

Support During Arizona’s Harder Season

I recognize that August in Arizona can make an already heavy season feel harder. Extreme heat, monsoon disruptions, back-to-school changes, caregiving tasks, and less time outdoors can leave little room for rest. I also understand how medical appointments, anniversaries, family gatherings, changing routines, and holiday planning can bring loss closer to the surface.

I do not see grief as following a neat timeline. In my work, I see grief return in waves after quiet moments, photographs, missed calls, or changes in someone’s abilities. I do not view a wave of grief as going backward. I see it as a sign that another part of the loss may need care.

At Around the Corner Counseling, I offer primarily virtual therapy and limited in-person appointments for adults across Arizona navigating grief, trauma responses, relationship changes, and uncertainty about what comes next. I believe hearts do heal, not by erasing love or pain, but by making space for grief and continued life. I welcome a conversation when seeking support feels right.

Find Support as You Adjust to Life’s Changes

At Around the Corner Counseling, I understand that changes in abilities and relationships can bring grief, uncertainty, and isolation. My therapy for loss of abilities and relationships in Arizona offers a compassionate space to process what has changed and identify ways to move forward. Lets connect, when you are ready to begin.

]]><![CDATA[Somatic Therapy in Carefree: Quiet Ways Adults Process Pet Loss]]>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.aroundthecornercounseling.com/blogs/somatic-therapy-in-carefree-quiet-ways-adults-process-pet-loss

Pet loss can hit the nervous system hard. You may walk into a quiet home and feel your chest tighten. You may reach for the leash, expect to hear paws in the hallway, or find yourself crying at bedtime when everything slows down. You may also feel numb, irritable, anxious, or strangely disconnected. If your grief feels bigger than other people expect, I want you to know that your response makes sense.

In my experience, the loss of a beloved animal can affect far more than mood. It can disrupt routines, attachment, sleep, appetite, and a basic sense of comfort in the body. I do not see this as overreacting. I see it as grief moving through the nervous system. Hearts do heal.

How Pet Loss Can Show Up in the Body

I often help clients notice that grief is not only emotional. It is physical too. After pet loss, I may see:

tightness in the chest or throat
stomach discomfort or a heavy feeling in the belly
trouble sleeping or vivid dreams
racing thoughts or sudden waves of panic
numbness, shutdown, or feeling far away from yourself
guilt that loops around the last day, last decision, or what you wish had gone differently

From a nervous system perspective, these reactions are understandable. When the sympathetic system is more activated, you may feel panic, fear, anger, anxiety, or urgency. When a more shut down state takes over, you may feel numb, hopeless, depressed, ashamed, or frozen. When the social engagement system is more available, you are more likely to feel grounded, curious, connected, and compassionate toward yourself. Trauma and grief can dysregulate these systems. Healing helps restore flexibility, regulation, and the ability to move in and out of these states with more ease.

How I Use Somatic Experiencing for Grief

One modality I may use in this work is Somatic Experiencing, or SE. Somatic Experiencing was developed by Dr. Peter Levine and is a body oriented approach that looks at how stress and trauma are held in the nervous system. Rather than requiring you to retell everything all at once, I focus on helping your system gradually come out of fight, flight, or freeze so your body can feel safer and more settled over time.

In session, I may help you track:

your breathing
muscle tension
a lump in the throat or pressure in the chest
the urge to collapse, brace, or pull away
small signs of settling, warmth, support, or relief

This work is slow, supported, and nervous system informed. I do not require you to relive trauma. I do not push for fast closure. Instead, I help you notice what is happening inside while also staying connected to the present moment. That may include feeling your feet on the floor, sensing the support of the chair, or noticing one place in your body that feels just a little less distressed than the rest.

Why Gentle Pacing Matters

Many people try to think their way through grief. Sometimes that helps, and sometimes the body still stays braced. When that happens, the mind may say, “I know my pet is gone,” while the nervous system still reacts as if something is terribly wrong right now.

That is why pacing matters. Sessions are typically 45 to 60 minutes, and I pace the work based on your current resilience, the intensity of your grief, and the supports already available to you. I pay close attention to consent, capacity, and the therapeutic relationship because healing often happens best when you do not feel rushed, judged, or pushed past what your system can handle.

What I Hold in Mind as a Trauma Therapist

Pet loss can stir up more than sadness. It can activate older attachment wounds, earlier losses, helplessness, or unresolved trauma. If that happens, I work carefully and directly, helping you stay grounded while making sense of what your body is carrying.

I am Michelle Gallagher, LPC, LIAC, CT, SEP, CGRS, DARe, and I am the owner and sole psychotherapist at Around the Corner Counseling, PLLC. I work with adults who are struggling with grief and loss, anxiety, depression, low self worth, relational trauma, substance use disorders, and other trauma related concerns. I primarily see clients virtually through a HIPAA approved platform and also offer a limited number of in person sessions. With over twenty years of experience, I use a customized approach that may include Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, DARe, CBT, mindfulness, creative processes, humor, and traditional talk therapy.

Start Feeling More Present And At Ease In Your Body

If you are ready to explore gentle, body-based support, I am here to work with you. Working with a carefree somatic therapist can help you release tension, reconnect with your inner calm, and respond to stress in new ways. Reach out so we can talk about what you are looking for and how I can support your next steps.

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