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Aviation is built on layers of safety—mechanical checks, operational protocols, regulatory compliance, and teamwork. We train for turbulence, medical events, unruly passengers, and emergencies we pray never happen. But for all the systems we’ve mastered, there is one area where our industry remains dangerously vulnerable: The emotional and psychological safety of the people who keep aviation running. This truth resurfaced with heartbreaking clarity in the recent inquest into

If you’ve ever stepped into a crowded airport with your heart racing, your shoulders tense, and your mind preparing for impact before you’ve even reached TSA, trust me — you’re not alone. Airports and airplanes are emotional ecosystems.They trigger memories, anxiety, sensory overload, grief, claustrophobia, and even childhood wounds. I know this intimately — not only as a psychotherapist who specializes in anxiety, trauma, and chronic invisible illnesses, but also as someone

1. Before You Travel — Prepare Your Mind & Tools Documents & Logistics Arrive earlier than usual (2.5–3 hours domestic, 3.5–4 hours international). Download your airline’s app (boarding passes, gate changes, delay alerts). Enable flight notifications via email, text, or app push alerts. Pack medications, chargers, valuable items in carry-on only (not checked bags). Calm-in-Your-Pocket Kit (Download Before Travel) Offline playlists (music, nature sounds, worship songs, ca

A Captain’s Message: What Fearful Flyers Need to Know During Uncertain Times During one of the most uncertain periods in recent aviation history, a commercial airline captain stood at the front of his cabin before takeoff and delivered a message that resonated far beyond his passengers that day. He didn’t talk about politics or delays. He didn’t minimize anyone’s stress. Instead, he spoke directly to the heart of what every anxious flyer needs to hear: “This aircraft does not

By The Flying Psychotherapist There’s something breathtaking about that moment right before takeoff—engines humming, hearts racing, a...

By Suhadee Henriquez, LCSW — The Flying Psychotherapist As the anniversary of September 11  approaches, a familiar weight returns to my...

By The Flying Psychotherapist Every week—or so it seems—there’s another aviation headline.“Plane makes emergency landing.”“Severe...

By: Su The Flying Psychotherapist There’s a kind of quiet magic that happens the moment we hear a plane rumble across the sky. No matter...

“Becoming the Sky: A Therapist’s Journey with a Passenger in Fear” By The Flying Psychotherapist Before I was ever a therapist, I lived...

By: Su The Flying Psychotherapist There’s a side of aviation the world doesn’t always see. It’s not the perfectly ironed uniform, the...

From The Flying Psychotherapist There are days when the beauty of flight carries weight we cannot see. Today is one of those days. My...

By Su-The Flying Psychotherapist With the recent headlines about air traffic controller staffing issues and weather-related delays at...

Traveling from Dallas, Texas, to El Paso offers not just a change in scenery but a delightful experience filled with stunning landscapes....

Flying from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Los Angeles (LAX) is more than just a means of transportation; it’s a chance to experience...

From the Heart of a Flight Attendant Who Once Had a Dream There will be moments when your dream seems to slip further away—no matter how...

And What That Teaches Us About Flight Butterflies drift through the air with delicate grace — weightless, colorful, and free. They don’t...

I know that after hearing about the recent events at Newark Airport, some of you might feel a surge of anxiety about flying. Let me...

I want to share something with you, from the heart of a flight attendant who has walked the aisles beside thousands of passengers, each...