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What is SMART Recovery? Part 1

March 6, 2021

By Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC SMART Recovery is a secular, evidence-based recovery program that emphasizes an individual’s ability to gain empowerment through making better choices. SMART is an acronym that stands for Self Management And Recovery Training, with a strong emphasis on “self management,” (you will also find that this program loves its acronyms!).  SMART is a program of personal accountability by learning how to identify, challenge, and reframe patterns of thinking to make lasting behavior changes.…

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Helpful Ways to Improve Efficiency and Productivity

February 26, 2021

Productivity and efficiency are things individuals strive for in both their work and home environments. It’s frequently thought that the more productive you are the more successful you’ll be. Or the more productive you are the more leisure time you’ll be able to have at the end of the day. It can be frustrating when others are seemingly more productive than we are despite what we feel are our best efforts to stay on task and make…

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How to Destress When Everything Feels Stressful

February 25, 2021

I think it’s safe to assume most, if not all, of us are currently experiencing higher levels of stress than we may previously have been used to. We are living through “unprecedented” times, as I’ve heard people repeat time and time again. But what are we doing to account for these times? From my perspective, we’ve been expected to adapt to working from home, potentially home school our children, isolate from friends and family, and continue working…

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What Are Signs of Childhood Emotional Neglect?

February 24, 2021

Hannah Hopper, LPC, NCC “I don’t know why, but I often feel so empty and numb inside.” “I had a good childhood, so I don’t know why I can’t just be happier.” “I’m not sure who I am, what I like, or what I want.”  Do any of these statements above hold true for you? One of the misconceptions about childhood emotional neglect is that if you can’t see any scars from it, then it won’t leave…

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What Are Love Maps and Why Are They Important?

February 23, 2021

Kyle Lawell, Licensed Professional Counselor Your partner asks you to pick up some groceries on your way home from work: ice cream, paper towels, cereal, eggs, and flour. You go to the store, quickly breeze through the aisles and grab these groceries before making your way home. Upon putting the groceries away and settling down after a long day of work, your partner comes to you and expresses frustration about the groceries that you bought. While you…

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Remedies to the Four Horsemen

February 18, 2021

Hannah Hopper, LPC, NCC In my last blog I described what the Four Horsemen are, and how they can show up in romantic relationships. To recap, the Four Horsemen are unhealthy patterns that couples can fall into with communication, and once these patterns are identified they can be replaced with productive and respectful ways of responding. The name comes from the end times described in the New Testament where there are Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse that…

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Planes, Trains, Automobiles, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

February 17, 2021

Matthew Cuddeback LCSW This is part II of a series about mental health in media. If you are so inclined, please be sure to read Part I- They Really Were on A Break: Couples Therapy with Ross and Rachel. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, the perennial holiday classic by John Hughes is a classic for many reasons, the indomitable comedy everyman John Candy, and the absurdist humor embodied by Steve Martin to name a few. However, one aspect…

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How to Suggest Therapy to Your Partner or a Loved One?

February 13, 2021

Erin Ameri, LPC There is no question that times are tough right now, and everyone could use some extra support. Therapy can feel like a daunting experience to those who have never done it before. Often we find ourselves in therapy once we’ve hit a breaking point, rather than as a preventative measure. In the past, therapy was a taboo topic to suggest to a loved one. Nowadays, I find clients wanting to suggest therapy to a…

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How To Be Accountable In A Partnership Even When You Are “Right?”

February 10, 2021

Steven Losardo, AMFT  Schultheis et al. 2010 note that you may divert attention, give excuses, or justify when not being accountable for something you have done or are still doing. In a committed relationship, this often results in arguments or conflicts and, if not addressed, perpetual gridlock (Gottman, 2017).  This blog will review a couple exercises that help highlight places where you have not been accountable or need help developing accountability, if not present. For the blog’s…

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How Do Men and Women Differ in Suicide?

February 9, 2021

By: Ashlee Stumpf, LPC While working in a men’s group for the past four years, I have heard of numerous hardships. One which continues to strike me is the number of these men who had suicidal thoughts or made previous attempts to take their own life. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. As a result, much study has been done…

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