Blog
The Safe and Sound Protocol: A Polyvagal Approach to Healing
At Potomac Behavioral Health, we specialize in therapies that help rewire the nervous system for safety, resilience, and healing. One of the approaches we offer is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a cutting-edge, evidence-based intervention designed to support...
Why Are Workplace Affairs So Common and So Devastating? Insights from the Coldplay Kiss Cam Affair Scandal
Megan Carraco, LCPC is a licensed therapist and founder of Potomac Behavioral Health. When ex Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Astronomer HR executive Kristin Cabot were caught having an affair by a Coldplay kiss cam, the moment went viral, not just for its celebrity...
When the Waters Recede: Understanding Secondary Trauma After Texas Floods
It’s been almost 2 weeks since the July 4th floods in central Texas, particularly Kerr County, claimed nearly 130 lives, including more than 27 children at Camp Mystic, with over 100 still missing and left hundreds struggling to cope both mentally and...
What to Say (and What Not to Say) to Someone Affected by the Texas Floods
When disasters strike, like the devastating floods in Texas this weekend, many of us are left wondering: What do I even say? It can be hard to know what to say (or what not to say) to someone affected by a tragedy like the Texas floods. In times of crisis and grief,...
Can I Do EMDR on Myself?
If you’ve been exploring trauma healing, you’ve probably come across EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Maybe you’ve read about it, heard someone say it was life-changing, or even seen celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Prince Harry, or Sandra Bullock...
Movement and Mental Health: Exploring the Therapeutic Benefits of Physical Activity
It seems obvious. We know exercise is good for us, but how does exercise affect our mental health? And how do we find the energy for physical activity when we’re anxious or depressed? Four months before my 30th birthday I decided to set an ambitious goal for my...
Understanding the Bystander Effect: How To Empower Yourself To Act and Heal
Why don’t people intervene when harassment happens in public? Social psychologists call it the bystander effect, but what is it and what can you do to reclaim your power? It happens in an instant. A catcall. An unwanted touch. A comment muttered just loud enough...