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AK PSYCHOTHERAPY
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AK PSYCHOTHERAPY
About
About Me
Approach
Specialties
Trauma Therapy
Anxiety & Overwhelm Therapy
People Pleasing, Codependency, & Perfectionism Therapy
Depression & Burn Out Therapy
Services
Individual Therapy
Professional Consultation
Therapist Support & Consultation Group
EMDR Intensives
FAQs
FAQs
Fees
Blog
Free Consultation
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About Me
Approach
Folder: Specialties
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Trauma Therapy
Anxiety & Overwhelm Therapy
People Pleasing, Codependency, & Perfectionism Therapy
Depression & Burn Out Therapy
Folder: Services
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Individual Therapy
Professional Consultation
Therapist Support & Consultation Group
EMDR Intensives
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Blog
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How to Spot Truly Toxic Behavior (And What to Do About It)
Trauma Therapy, Relationships & Boundaries, Emotionally Immature & Toxic Behavior Alyssa Kushner, LCSW 8/14/25 Trauma Therapy, Relationships & Boundaries, Emotionally Immature & Toxic Behavior Alyssa Kushner, LCSW 8/14/25

How to Spot Truly Toxic Behavior (And What to Do About It)

If you’ve ever felt confused, guilty, or emotionally drained around someone close to you - this blog breaks down the real signs of toxic behavior.

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AK Psychotherapy

Holistic Virtual Therapy in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, and Maryland.

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Sometimes what looks or even feels like calm is actually self-protection.⁣ ⁣ Hyper-vigilance, control, or emotional numbing can all be ways your nervous system tries to keep you safe!⁣ ⁣ But internal safety comes from connection from being grounded When your nervous system is on alert, you start scanning for danger in people instead of the present moment. ⁣ ⁣ You read tone shifts, facial expressions, and silence like survival cues - not just information. You make meaning and create assumptions Quiet signs of hyper-independence!⁣ ⁣ It’s not that you don’t want support -⁣ ⁣ It’s that your body learned being needed feels safer than needing. It’s a way to protect from your belief that people I’ll ultimately let yo Before you say “yes,” pause.⁣ ⁣ So many of us - especially people pleasers, fawners, or those who grew up equating connection with compliance - say yes before we’ve even checked in with ourselves.⁣ ⁣ But every “yes” is a
Calling my fellow female therapists 😊⁣ ⁣ I am launching a support AND consultation group for therapists who are navigating over-functioning, over-responsibility, recovering people pleasers and my anxious perfectionists!!!⁣ ⁣ This 12 week group will Hypervigilance can make it feel like you have to be on all the time. ⁣ ⁣ But safety starts with tiny moments of trust - in yourself, in your body, in the present. Reminding yourself that you don’t have to brace for impact 24-7. #hypervigilance Sometimes what feels like calm is actually our body’s way of protecting us from overwhelm. ⁣ ⁣ Freeze can look like peace or calm on the outside - but inside, your system might be shut down, disconnected, or running on autopilot.⁣ ⁣ If you&rsqu
November is for genuine gratitude, reflection, and alignment with yourself. What are some of your intentions this month? #november #gratitude #therapistsofinstagram

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Alyssa Kushner, LCSW
alyssakushnerlcsw@gmail.com

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