Our Desta Blog

Casio C-80 Calculator Watch Some of the gifts we remember most aren’t the ones we asked for... In the mid-to-late 1980s, my dad surprised me with a Casio C-80 calculator watch. I hadn’t asked for it. It wasn’t my birthday or Christmas. He bought it for me because he had noticed me cleaning and rearranging my sister’s room for her without being asked. I loved that watch, but decades later, I realize it wasn’t really the watch I remember most. It was being noticed. My dad saw s

A healthy parent-child relationship isn't about being a perfect parent or having a home where disagreements never happen. Every family experiences misunderstandings, frustration, and difficult moments. What matters is how parents and children communicate, respond to one another, and repair the relationship when things go wrong. A strong parent-child relationship is generally built on trust, emotional support, open communication, mutual respect, healthy boundaries, and connect

Setting boundaries with kids can sometimes feel like a constant battle. You may tell your child the same rule several times, only to have them push back, argue, or test the limit again. This can leave parents wondering whether they are being too strict—or not strict enough. The good news is that healthy boundaries for children don't have to be harsh or controlling. Effective boundaries give kids structure, help them understand expectations, and teach them how to manage emotio

Yes, EMDR can be done virtually. Many qualified mental health professionals provide EMDR therapy through secure telehealth platforms, allowing clients to participate in sessions from home. Virtual EMDR therapy follows the same general therapeutic principles as in-person EMDR, but the way certain activities are completed may be adapted for an online setting. Whether online EMDR therapy is appropriate depends on your individual needs, treatment goals, current symptoms, and your

Parenting can be deeply rewarding, but it can also be exhausting. Between work, household responsibilities, school schedules, appointments, and the everyday needs of children, parents may spend so much time caring for everyone else that they have little energy left for themselves. Occasional frustration or tiredness is a normal part of parenting. Parental burnout, however, can develop when parenting stress becomes prolonged and overwhelming. A parent may feel emotionally drai

When children are struggling with emotions, behavior, anxiety, or difficult life experiences, parents may not always understand why play is used during therapy. A common question is, “Isn’t my child just playing?” Play therapy is more than recreational play. For children, play can be a natural way to communicate feelings, explore experiences, and practice new coping skills. A trained child therapist uses play within a therapeutic relationship to support a child's emotional an

Journaling can be a simple way to slow down, reflect on your experiences, and better understand your thoughts and emotions. You do not need to be a professional writer or follow a complicated routine to begin. A few minutes of honest writing can create space to recognize patterns, process difficult emotions, and reflect on what you need. If you are wondering how to journal for mental health, the most important step is simply to start. At Desta Therapy in San Antonio, journali

A child's self-esteem shapes how they see themselves, approach challenges, build relationships, and respond to success and failure. Children with healthy self-esteem are more likely to develop confidence, resilience, and a positive outlook, while those with low self-esteem may struggle with self-doubt, anxiety, social difficulties, and fear of making mistakes. The good news is that self-esteem isn't something children are simply born with—it's developed over time through supp

Healthy relationships don't happen by chance—they're built through trust, communication, respect, and a shared commitment to growth. Whether you're in a long-term partnership, newly married, dating, or navigating life's challenges together, investing in your relationship can improve emotional well-being and strengthen your connection. Every couple experiences disagreements and stressful seasons. What sets healthy relationships apart is not the absence of conflict but the abil

Teenagers experience many emotional, physical, and social changes as they grow. While occasional frustration or irritability is a normal part of adolescence, ongoing anger that leads to conflict at home, school, or with friends may signal a need for additional support. Learning how to manage teenage anger isn't about suppressing emotions—it's about helping teens recognize their feelings, respond in healthy ways, and develop lifelong emotional regulation skills. With guidance

The teenage years are a time of rapid physical, emotional, and mental growth. During adolescence, healthy eating habits play an essential role in supporting brain development, maintaining energy levels, strengthening the immune system, and promoting emotional well-being. Yet, between busy school schedules, extracurricular activities, social media influences, and fast-food convenience, many teens struggle to maintain a balanced diet. Good nutrition isn't about strict diets or

When parents first learn that their child may have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one of the first questions they ask is, "What causes ADHD in children?" It's a natural question, especially when you're trying to understand your child's behavior and determine the best way to support them. You may wonder whether ADHD is inherited, whether something during pregnancy contributed to it, or if everyday habits such as diet or screen time played a role. The good new

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience unique challenges at home, at school, and in social situations. While not every child with ADHD develops anxiety, research shows that anxiety disorders are more common among children with ADHD than in the general population. Parents may notice that their child worries excessively about school, struggles with new situations, avoids certain activities, or becomes overwhelmed more easily than other ch

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can affect people throughout their lives, but its symptoms may look different depending on a person's age, environment, and responsibilities. While ADHD is often associated with children and school-related challenges, adults can also experience symptoms that affect their work, relationships, routines, and everyday responsibilities. Understanding ADHD in adults vs children can help parents, caregivers, and adults recognize how sy

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect people throughout their lives. While ADHD is often associated with children, many adults also experience symptoms that can affect their work, relationships, routines, and everyday responsibilities. For some adults, ADHD symptoms may have been present since childhood but were never formally recognized or diagnosed. Others may only begin to understand their challenges later in life

A racing heart can be one of the most frightening symptoms of anxiety. Your heart suddenly pounds, your breathing becomes shallow, and you may wonder whether you're experiencing a panic attack or a serious medical emergency. While these sensations can feel overwhelming, they're often the body's natural response to stress and anxiety. Understanding why anxiety causes your heart to race and learning healthy ways to calm it can help you regain control and reduce fear during anxi

A Word From Jimmy Gross - Co-Founder - Desta Therapy There are times in life that split everything into a "before" and an "after," and for some reason, I've experienced many such instances. The summer of 2024 was another one of those for me. After nearly 3 years of working tirelessly for a privately owned company, I found myself discouraged, exhausted, disillusioned, and wondering what came next. So, with the support of my wife, Rachel, I left that job. We didn't have a backu

As a parent, noticing changes in your child's eating habits can be worrying. Maybe they are skipping meals, becoming overly concerned about their weight, or avoiding foods they once enjoyed. It's natural to wonder whether these behaviors are just a phase or signs of something more serious. Eating disorders can affect children of all ages and backgrounds. While many people associate these conditions with teenagers, younger children can also develop unhealthy relationships with

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect people of all ages. While food and body image are often the most visible concerns, the underlying causes can be much deeper. For many individuals, past trauma, anxiety, depression, or difficult life experiences contribute to unhealthy relationships with food. One therapy that has gained recognition for addressing trauma is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). If you are wondering whether EMDR c

Relationships can be one of the greatest sources of comfort and support, but they can also bring uncertainty, vulnerability, and emotional challenges. If you constantly worry that your partner will leave, overanalyze conversations, or seek reassurance even when everything seems fine, you may be experiencing relationship anxiety. Learning how to manage anxiety in a relationship doesn't mean ignoring your feelings or pretending everything is perfect. Instead, it means understan