Why We Feel Stuck (and How Therapy Helps Us Move Again)
By Deirdre Arato, M.Ed, LPC, NCC
The Universal Experience of Feeling Stuck
At some point in life, almost everyone feels stuck. Maybe it looks like repeating the same patterns in relationships, losing motivation at work, or waking up with a heavy sense of “something’s missing.” Feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’re broken
—it’s part of being human. The problem isn’t that you’ve hit a wall; it’s that you haven’t yet found the tools to move past it.
Many people quietly live with this sense of pause, hoping things will change on their own. Therapy creates a space to explore why you’re stuck and what steps can help you move forward with confidence and clarity.
What It Means to Be Stuck
When clients describe being “in a rut,” it often shows up in more than one way:
Emotional stuckness: looping negative thoughts, self-criticism, or hopelessness.
Physical signs: fatigue, muscle tension, lack of energy.
Relationship struggles: conflict, poor communication, or falling into the same unhealthy dynamics.
Spiritual disconnection: feeling cut off from your deeper meaning, values, or inner truth.
These layers build on each other, leaving you feeling weighed down and unsure how to move.
Why Stuckness Happens
It’s not random—there are real reasons why we get stuck:
Past trauma or old wounds that replay in the present.
Anxiety and depression clouding focus and decision-making.
Nervous system dysregulation (fight, flight, or freeze stuck on repeat).
Living by outside expectations instead of your own core values. Understanding the root of your stuckness is the first step toward shifting it.
How Therapy Creates Movement
Therapy isn’t about “fixing you”—it’s about reconnecting you with yourself. In session, you learn how to:
Build Awareness: separate what happened from the story you’re telling yourself.
Learn Skills: practice mindfulness, grounding, breathwork, and other tools to calm the mind and body.
Reframe Your Inner Dialogue: shift from harsh self-criticism to compassionate self-talk.
Anchor to Values: identify what matters most so your choices and actions align with your authentic self.
These tools create small but powerful shifts that ripple into every area of your life.
How I Support You at Blue Lotus Garden of Healing
As a Certified Neuropsychotherapist and trauma-informed therapist, I help clients uncover what keeps them stuck and guide them toward lasting change. My approach blends science with holistic healing, including:
Trauma-informed and neuroscience-based therapy: EMDR-informed practices, vagus nerve regulation, somatic therapies.
Mind-body-spirit integration: breathwork, yoga-informed approaches, and mindfulness tools.
Personalized guidance: together, we identify your stuck points and create a roadmap for growth.
Values-based self-worth: helping you root your confidence in who you are—not outside approval.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Each session is tailored to your needs, so you leave with both insight and practical steps.
Taking the First Step Toward Movement
If you’ve been feeling stuck, you don’t have to keep struggling alone. Therapy offers the chance to reset, realign, and move forward with greater confidence. Small steps can open the door to big change.
You don’t need to have it all figured out—you just need to take the first step.
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