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Spring Cleaning: 3 Simple Steps to Decluttering

February 6, 2019

Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Most of use have too much stuff, and probably do not use even a fraction of it. Our material possessions may bring us comfort and joy, and may even serve practical purposes that can help us be more productive with our time and effort. That said, most of it is probably just clutter. We generally do not truly need any of these things, and in many cases, may not even really want them…

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Maintaining Connection with Different Schedules

February 5, 2019

You may have a special connection with a person. You enjoy each other’s company, get along very well, and you challenge each other. While when you are together it seems like everything is going right in the relationship, you have different schedules that impact your connection, and you begin to question the relationship. If this seems like your relationship, you are not alone! When partners have different schedules, it can often impact the how often they see…

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Blind To Red Flags

February 3, 2019

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling As we enter into a new relationship, we tend to find ourselves under a spell called infatuation. Your significant other appears to be perfect, says and does all the “right” things, you can’t get enough of each other, and you feel head over heels in love. While this phase of love can often be the most exciting and memorable part of a relationship, the red flags may begin to appear.…

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How to Find Meaning Out of Shame

February 1, 2019

I work with many clients who struggle with their self-esteem related to shame they feel either related to their professional or personal life, or perhaps even both. My job as their clinical therapist is to help clients understand the reasons where their low self-esteem is stemming from. After doing that, I help provide the clients tools on how to cope with this shame they are experiencing. Through experiencing the feeling of shame, it is heavily connected with…

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The Importance of Setting Goals for Yourself

February 1, 2019

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Goals are the fuel that help us believe in ourselves, sustain our ambition, motivate us to succeed, and hold us accountable. Without them you may find yourself going through life without having a sense of purpose. For example, you may feel stagnant in your career, bored in your relationship, or feel like there is nothing to look forward to on a day-to-day basis. Over time this can have negative effects…

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“Can We Talk?”: Speak Up With Your Partner

January 30, 2019

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Hearing the phrase, “Can we talk?”, can often invoke an intense feeling of fear and uneasiness. Using your voice in relationships can feel scary as it requires vulnerability. Who would want to speak up when there is a risk of judgement, rejection, or conflict? While these fears are valid, they have most likely been shaped by previous painful experiences and interactions. It may be surprising, but failure to speak up…

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Tips for Following Through

January 29, 2019

Shannon M. Duffy, MFT, LCPC As we start to create goals or generate ideas, we typically feel motivated to complete the task right away. However, we can easily get distracted by our daily lives and put off getting what we need or want to accomplish. In addition to lack of motivation to accomplish tasks, we can also avoid following through as we lack the desire to take the action to complete them. Here are a few ways…

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10 Signs of a Healthy Relationship

January 26, 2019

Everyone has a different idea of what a “perfect” and “happy” relationship is like. Not all relationships are the same, but having an idea of what makes a healthy relationship is important. This blog will provide you some ideas of what a healthy relationship can entail of. Comfortable Pace. Make sure that you are not rushing the relationship due to a “timeline” that you might have for yourself. Making sure that you are taking the time to…

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What are the Physiological Effects of Deep Breathing Exercises and Why is it Helpful?

January 24, 2019

I work with many clients who are experiencing anxiety whether it is due to professional stressors or personal stressors. Part of my job as a clinical therapist is not only to assess reasons why clients are experiencing their symptoms of anxiety, but also to work with them on possible coping strategies to reduce their symptoms. I have read numerous research articles that explain the connections between our mind and body, especially when it comes to anxiety. For…

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The Antidotes of the Four Horsemen

January 21, 2019

In my previous blog, Avoid the Four Horsemen, I discussed details of Dr. John Gottman’s Four Horsemen of communication: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. When these four communication styles were witnessed within a couple, Dr. Gottman’s research was able to determine they can be predictive indicators of the end of a relationship. Although these four communication styles were a predictor of the end of a relationship, recognizing that the Four Horsemen are a part of your communication…

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