FIREFLY BLOG

There is a particular kind of loneliness that comes from being welcomed into a room and still feeling certain you do not belong there. Maybe you earned the promotion, but you are waiting for your coworkers to realize you are not as capable as they think. Maybe you have found a supportive group of friends, yet part of you remains convinced that if they knew the “real” you, they would pull away. Perhaps you are in a loving relationship, but receiving care feels uncomfortable, o

There is something about this time of year that still feels like the beginning of a new chapter. Even long after our school years have ended, the shift from summer into fall can bring back that familiar sense of possibility. New routines. Fresh notebooks. A slightly more structured calendar. The feeling that it might be time to begin again. Perhaps it comes from having spent so many years living according to an academic calendar. Perhaps it is because summer has always carrie

Summer often arrives with an invitation to move differently. For some, the season brings a more relaxed work schedule, longer days, a shift in routine, or the possibility of taking time away. For others, summer may simply create a little more space to imagine doing something outside the ordinary. A day trip. A train ride to a neighborhood rarely visited. A week somewhere entirely unfamiliar. Perhaps, when circumstances align, a journey across an ocean. Travel has a way of int

Summer is arriving, and with it comes a seasonal shift in what many of us wear. Closets are rearranged. Sweaters and jackets are packed away. Shorts, tank tops, dresses, and swimsuits return to daily life. For some people, these changes barely register. The weather gets warmer, so clothing gets lighter. It is practical and uncomplicated. For survivors of sexual trauma, however, clothing can carry meanings that extend far beyond comfort, style, or temperature. The clothes we c

It’s a quiet thought that shows up for so many survivors: I should have done something. I should have fought harder. I should have told someone. I should have known better. These thoughts can feel convincing—especially when you’re looking back from a place of safety, clarity, and distance. But they are rooted in a misunderstanding of what actually happens in moments of trauma. Because the truth is this: your brain and body were not designed to think strategically during traum

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month—a time that calls for reflection, recognition, and renewed commitment. At Firefly Therapy, this month is not just about awareness. It is about action. It is about standing firmly in our values and continuing the work of supporting survivors of sexual violence with care, compassion, and unwavering belief. Last year, we wrote a sentence that continues to ground our mission: “We will never accept sexual violence as a part of life.” This is

When we talk about trauma, one of the most persistent myths is that there is a “right” way to respond in a threatening or dangerous situation. People often imagine themselves reacting with strength and clarity—fighting back, speaking up, or escaping immediately. But trauma doesn’t work that way. In real moments of fear or danger, our responses are not conscious decisions. They are automatic survival mechanisms built deep within our nervous systems. At Firefly Therapy, one of

Among the many things we hear from new or prospective group members at Firefly Therapy, one concern comes up so often. A woman sits down, takes a breath, and begins sharing the pieces of her story—the memories she has tried to outrun, the patterns she can’t quite unhook from, the impact she carries in her body, her relationships, or beneath her confidence. And then, she pauses and adds a variation of the same sentence: “But it’s not like it was that bad.” “At least he didn’t…

The new year has a reputation. A f resh page. A clean slate. A symbolic reset button we’re collectively encouraged to press. And while we believe that any day is a good day to make a healthy change, there’s something powerful about leaning into a moment society already recognizes as a beginning. So, if January—or any “new year” moment in your life—feels like an invitation, you’re allowed to accept it. What we want to gently challenge is the idea that reinvention has to look d

The holidays are often portrayed as a time of joy, love, and togetherness. But for many, the season brings complexities that can feel overwhelming. Family gatherings may not always be filled with warmth and understanding. For survivors of trauma, the holidays can be especially challenging when the people around the table include those who have caused harm, those who didn’t believe, or those who simply don’t know. At Firefly Therapy, we understand the weight of these situation