Bridgette W. Gottwald
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC More often than not, we defend ourselves and our actions – sometimes without even realizing it. Maybe if we weren’t so busy explaining ourselves to others, we’d have more room for important things like compassion, understanding, and empathy. What Are the Id, Ego, and Superego? Often when the word “ego” is used, many people think that we are referring to the way someone feels about themselves. In psychology, the id, ego,…
Read MoreBy: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Ever wondered why your grandma tells the same stories over and over again or has difficulty troubleshooting or adapting to new ways? No, it’s not just because she is old and stubborn – there is a cognitive concept behind this. When it comes to intelligence, you may think of the accumulation of facts, but it also encompasses the ability to learn new things. Therapists have different definitions that we use to…
Read MoreBy: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC As we jump into 2020, many people will find themselves focused on New Year’s resolutions and ways they can positively implement change in their lives. It’s collective and cultural – all we will hear about for the next few weeks are New Year’s resolutions. In doing this, ensure that your resolutions reflect “SMART goals.” Utilizing SMART criteria helps us to be more successful by setting better goals. SMART stands for specific,…
Read MoreBy Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC “Do not judge, or you will be judged. For in the same way that you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2 Who are you to judge? I often say this to myself, other people, and sometimes my clients, too. Human beings are built to compare and judge themselves and others, yet we have no place to.…
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By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Have you been struggling to stay productive or get things done recently? Well, you’re not alone! This time of year when temperatures continue to drop, we spend countless hours of the day inside. As we continue to work remotely amidst the global pandemic, it can be particularly challenging to stay productive. This blog will introduce and discuss the following three productivity methods: The Pomodoro Method, the Getting Things Done (GTD) Method,…
Read MoreBridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Has anyone ever told you that it’s okay to see a therapist? Yes, it is okay to see a therapist. Read that again. In fact, 48% of Americans seek counseling and the stigma around mental health has decreased in recent years. Unfortunately, because of the stigma with mental health, many people seem to be ashamed to admit that they do in fact see a therapist. When our stomachs hurt, when we break…
Read MoreBridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Here we are still talking about that negative thought loop and thinking errors that we refer to as cognitive distortions. Remember my last blog post that included examples of ten common cognitive distortions? I left off discussing magnifying or minimizing, and here’s part two and the continued list of cognitive distortions. Mental filter With a mental filter, negative events are focused on and positive events are disregarded or filtered out. We have…
Read MoreBridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Next time you are experiencing negative thinking, take a moment to check your thoughts, notice, and make some observations. More often than not, you will find that your brain is full of negativity. There is a huge correlation between what we think and feel, and when are struggling or feeling unhappy, our thoughts can be rather dramatic or absolute – such as “I can’t do anything right” or “no one likes me.”…
Read MoreBy: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC You may have read part one to this blog series, which began discussing the detrimental nature of negative thinking and offering interventions and suggestions for getting out of the unhealthy spiral. Below are some continued things that you can do to work against this corrupt thought process. Release Judgment All human beings have the tendency to judge others, as well as themselves – and this usually happens unconsciously. When we are…
Read MoreBridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC It’s no secret that 2020 has taken an emotional toll on all of us. Our lives have been disrupted, plans have been destroyed and or delayed, we’re worried about our loved ones and many of us are experiencing loneliness from prolonged isolation. When life is busy, it’s easy for feelings of disorganization, panic and despair to be kept at bay, but many people are learning that amidst this pandemic, some undesirable things…
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