Category: Students

1/1/2026 0 Comments

Part-Time Jobs for Therapists: 10 Things You Should Know Before You Apply (2026 Edition)

Looking for part-time therapy work can feel overwhelming. Trust me, I get it. As someone who's navigated both sides of the hiring equation in mental health, I've seen how the landscape has shifted dramatically: especially post-pandemic. The good news? Part-time opportunities for therapists are more abundant than ever in 2026. The challenging news? There are some crucial things you need to know before you apply that could save you from frustration, financial stress, or career missteps.

Let me walk you through the ten most important considerations I wish every therapist knew before pursuing part-time work.

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12/17/2025 0 Comments

Part-Time AMFT Jobs: Your Complete Guide to Finding Flexible Therapy Work in 2026

Picture of woman in telehealth therapy session, amft, apcc, asw, acsw, associate therapist, therapy, counselor, counseling, job, jobs, hiring, new job, part time, full time, online, in person, Redding, Chico

Finding meaningful part-time work as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist can feel overwhelming. I get it: you're trying to balance your need for flexibility with your desire to do impactful work, all while navigating licensing requirements and building your clinical hours. The job market has changed dramatically, especially post-pandemic, and figuring out where you fit can be tough.

As someone who's worked in this field for years and employs associate therapists, I've watched countless AMFTs struggle to find positions that honor both their professional goals and their personal needs. The good news? The landscape for part-time therapy work has never been more promising. Let me walk you through what I've learned about finding flexible, meaningful positions in 2026.

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12/15/2025 0 Comments

Adolescence and Identity Formation: Why Teens Need Space to Explore and Mess Up

Picture of teen in bedroom. EMDR for teens, EMDR for parents, family therapy, couples therapy, parenting therapy, blended families, bonding, stress, ODD, RAD, siblings, isolation, defiance, trouble, grief

Watching teenagers navigate identity formation can feel terrifying for parents. I see it in my office every day, parents who are genuinely confused and scared when their previously compliant child suddenly dyes their hair purple, starts hanging out with new friends, or announces they're questioning everything they once believed. It's natural to want to pull them back, to keep them safe, to guide every step. But here's what I've learned in my years as a therapist: healthy adolescent development actually requires space for exploration and, yes, making mistakes.

As someone who works extensively with teens and families, I want to share why this messy, sometimes chaotic process isn't just normal: it's absolutely necessary for your teenager to become a healthy, well-adjusted adult.

The Adolescent Brain: A Work in Progress

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6/23/2025 0 Comments

Healing Trust After Betrayal: Teen Friendship Repair Using EFT-Inspired Tips

Picture of two young women sitting on a sofa and talking.

Teen friendship betrayal is one of the most painful experiences young people face. When a close friend breaks your trust: whether by sharing secrets, choosing sides, or flat-out lying: it can feel like your world is crashing down. The hurt runs deep because friendships during the teen years aren't just social connections; they're lifelines that help shape identity and provide emotional safety.

But here's what I've learned working with teens: trust can be rebuilt. It takes work, vulnerability, and the right tools, but broken friendships can actually become stronger than they were before the betrayal happened.

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5/27/2025 0 Comments

Handling Family Questions in College: How to Keep Your Journey Yours

Picture of six young adults sitting and drinking coffee in a room that looks like the lounge area of a library. Two young women have blue hair.

College is exciting, overwhelming, and full of growth: but sometimes the hardest part isn't your coursework or making new friends. It's navigating those well-meaning family questions that feel more like interrogations: "What's your major going to be?" "Are you eating enough?" "Why haven't you called?" "What are you doing with your life?"

If you're feeling suffocated by family curiosity or struggling to maintain your independence while staying connected, you're not alone. This tension is actually a normal part of healthy development, and understanding the science behind it can help you navigate these conversations with more confidence and less stress.

The Neuroscience of Separation and Connection

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1/26/2025 0 Comments

Unwinding After School: How Teens Can Recharge and Still Meet Family Obligations

Three teenagers sit on a sectional sofa engaging in various activities: homework, listening to music, going through a basket.

Let's be real: coming home from school feeling mentally drained while your parents immediately start talking about homework, chores, and "how was your day?" can feel overwhelming. You need time to decompress, but you also don't want to deal with family drama about not pulling your weight around the house.

The good news? You can totally have both. It's all about finding that sweet spot between taking care of yourself and keeping the peace at home.

Why Your Brain Actually Needs a Break (And It's Not Just Being Lazy)

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1/18/2025 0 Comments

How Teen Girls Can Stand Up to Bullies by Setting Healthy Boundaries

Three girls stand together in a classroom, facing the camera confidently as friends.

Dealing with bullies is honestly one of the hardest parts of being a teen girl. Whether it's mean girls spreading rumors, someone making nasty comments about your appearance, or dealing with exclusion and social manipulation, bullying can feel overwhelming and scary. But here's the thing - you have way more power than you think to protect yourself and create healthier relationships through something called boundaries.

Think of boundaries like invisible shields that protect your energy, emotions, and self-worth. They're not walls that keep everyone out - they're more like gates that let the right people in while keeping toxic behavior where it belongs: far away from you.

Why Confidence Is Your Secret Weapon

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12/10/2024 0 Comments

How Teen Boys Can Stand Up to Bullies by Setting Healthy Boundaries

3 teen boys standing and talking on a sidewalk while a school is in the distant background.

Bullying is a tough reality that way too many teen boys face. Whether it's happening in hallways, locker rooms, or online, dealing with bullies can feel overwhelming and confusing. But here's the thing – you have more power than you might realize.

Standing up to bullies isn't about getting into fights or being the toughest guy around. It's actually about something much smarter: setting healthy boundaries. And trust me, learning this skill now will serve you well for the rest of your life.

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8/18/2023 0 Comments

Multiple Emotions all at Once!

By Lauren Heinrich

Change is a part of life. Sometimes it feels good, like getting a promotion. Sometimes it hurts, like having to end a relationship. We tend to categorize our transitions as “good” or “bad” and expect the emotions we feel to match. It can really be confusing if our feelings don’t match what we expect.

Let’s take starting a family as an example. Having your first child is supposed to be a magical, joyous experience. What are new parents supposed to do if they feel mixed emotions about having a child? It doesn’t feel right to admit to being upset that they won’t have the same amount of freedom as they did before their first kid. Or let’s consider the mixed feelings that might come with taking a promotion at work. Who wouldn’t be excited about a pay raise? No one wants to admit they feel anxious about the new responsibilities, or how their relationships with their old coworkers will change.

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3/14/2023 0 Comments

Helping our Children Handle Stress & Anxiety

by Jessica Darling Wilkerson, LMFT

Anxiety in children can often take on the characteristics of other disorders and can be “misdiagnosed” by the people in the child’s life: parents, family members, teachers, etc. This is because children don’t have the ability to conceptualize and articulate what’s going on intrapsychically for themselves. A child identifies, “I don’t feel good.” They don’t identify the sense of foreboding, or feeling of “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” They can’t figure out why they feel this way, but they want the feeling to stop and they’ll do anything to make that happen.

To stop the anxiety they might refuse to participate in an activity. They could seem keyed-up or restless. They might isolate themselves and fight their parent tooth and nail to keep from engaging in whatever the parent wants them to do (go to school, do homework, get dressed, leave the house, etc). They might create little rituals that seem like OCD.

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2/10/2021 0 Comments

College Students and Counseling Therapy

By Jeremy Gregory, MSW, ASW

College Students. What's up with online therapy? Is it like coaching? Is it like venting to someone? Are you going to make me cry? How would I even know if I need a therapist? Maybe I'm just stressed because college is stressful?

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(530) 809-1702

[email protected]

Locations:

1025 Village Lane, Chico CA 95926

1610 West Street, Ste 4, Redding CA 96001

Inspired Life Counseling is NOT a crisis center and is not equipped with the necessary tools to help in an emergency. Please click below for more information if you or your loved one is in crisis: Crisis Information.

Crisis Information

By texting Inspired Life Counseling at ( 530) 809-1702, you agree to receive conversations (external) messages from Inspired Life Counseling. We are NOT a crisis response. If you are in a mental health crisis or feel you are a danger to yourself or someone else, please contact 911. If you would like to no longer receive SMS correspondence Reply STOP to opt-out; Reply HELP for support; Message & data rates may apply; Messaging frequency may vary. Visit https://www.inspiredlifechico.com/contact to see our privacy policy and our Terms of Service.

MISSION: To provide a tranquil and healing space in which people in our community can find calmness internally through the relaxing atmosphere, along with respectful and engaging therapy conversations. To contribute to happier and more secure families by helping individuals, couples, and teens heal within and thereby creating different ways of engaging with themselves, the world, and those they love.

VISION: Creating a new kind of therapy experience in the Chico and Redding areas in which therapists have smaller caseloads, giving them the flexibility to spend more time with clients as needed - longer sessions, phone calls, client-centered advocacy. Creating a space in our community where clients can go between sessions to sit, linger, and re-center themselves when they're having difficult days. A place to belong while they heal their hearts and relationships. A therapy office that embodies the unconditional love of Christ, no matter what a person's gender identity, romantic disposition, or previous life hardships, experiences, or actions might have been. To be a safe place.

Inspired Life Counseling
Inspired Life Counseling is owned and directed by Jessica Darling, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #104464.
Office Hours: By Appointment Contact us!

YOUR CART

Part-Time Jobs for Therapists: 10 Things You Should Know Before You Apply (2026 Edition)

Part-Time AMFT Jobs: Your Complete Guide to Finding Flexible Therapy Work in 2026

Adolescence and Identity Formation: Why Teens Need Space to Explore and Mess Up

Healing Trust After Betrayal: Teen Friendship Repair Using EFT-Inspired Tips

Handling Family Questions in College: How to Keep Your Journey Yours

Unwinding After School: How Teens Can Recharge and Still Meet Family Obligations

How Teen Girls Can Stand Up to Bullies by Setting Healthy Boundaries

How Teen Boys Can Stand Up to Bullies by Setting Healthy Boundaries

Multiple Emotions all at Once!

Helping our Children Handle Stress & Anxiety

College Students and Counseling Therapy

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