Clinical Ideas,
Real Talk.
Welcome to the Free Mental Health Blog from Clear Water Wellness.
Here we share insights, evidence-based strategies, and practical tools to support emotional wellness for individuals, families, athletes, and professionals. Browse posts on mental health, performance, anxiety, self-care, parenting, and more — written by licensed clinicians dedicated to helping our Berks County community and beyond thrive.
Understanding Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care
Importantly, trauma is defined less by what happened and more by how the experience was processed internally. Whether we felt powerless, unsafe, unseen, or unsupported can matter for how we were affected by hardships. Two people can live through similar events and be affected very differently. Some notice symptoms immediately, others years later. Some recover without formal intervention, while others benefit from additional support. All responses are valid and healing remains possible at every stage.
From the Therapist’s Chair: What We’re Actually Thinking While You’re in Therapy
Ever wonder what your therapist notices in session? Learn why therapy isn’t all breakthroughs, why insight isn’t the whole story, and why small wins matter more than you think.
Setting Realistic Expectations in Therapy: What to Know Before You Start!
Keeping you Informed: Understanding the 2026 ACA Changes and Navigating the Changing Therapeutic Landscape
Learn how ACA changes, out-of-network benefits, and deductibles affect therapy — and why Clear Water Wellness’s independent, out-of-network model can better serve families in Wyomissing and Berks County, PA.
Understanding Medication as Part of a Bigger Picture
Medication can be an important part of managing symptoms, but it is rarely the whole story. Psychotherapy, behavioral strategies, lifestyle changes, and social connection are all part of a holistic approach. Medication is not a sign of personal weakness. Rather, it can be another tool that works alongside other strategies. At the same time, responses to medication vary widely. Finding the right medication or determining that medication is not the right fit, often involves monitoring, adjustment, and collaboration with a prescriber.
Here at Clear Water Wellness we are BIG FANS of collaborative care with your provider!
Feeling Stuck? How EMDR Can Support Healing
Feeling stuck?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain and nervous system process unresolved experiences so they no longer feel overwhelming in the present. This article explores how EMDR works, the eight phases and three-prong protocol, what EMDR therapy actually feels like, and the wide range of concerns it can support—including trauma, anxiety, attachment wounds, and unresolved grief. Learn how EMDR promotes healing without requiring detailed retelling of painful experiences and how to determine whether EMDR may be the right fit for your healing journey.
Peak Performance at Clear Water Wellness: Why Mental Skills Matter for Athletes and Executives
CWW’s Peak Performance program helps athletes and executives build confidence, focus, and resilience through evidence-based mental skills training in Wyomissing and Berks County, PA.