Can Volunteering Strengthen My Mental Health?

By: Zana Van Der Smissen As human beings, we are always trying to find activities and hobbies that can be helpful to our mental health. We talk about self-care and how we can include it in our daily routine. Whether it’s taking a bath, making ourselves a homemade meal, or even talking to an old…

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The Cost and Pain of Loneliness

the cost and pain of loneliness

Steven Topper LCPC In our modern world, we appear to be connected at all times. Our phones, social media, and the rise of Zoom during the pandemic have all led to the ability to constantly interact with other people. At the same time, many of us have struggled with social isolation during the pandemic, resulting…

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5 Tips To Be Proactive With Depression

Steven Losardo, LMFT A recent study notes “depression is projected to increase by 2030 to a position of the most significant contributor to illness burden (Irwin & Piber, 2018). Further, the article highlights that only 30% of depressed adults achieve remission (Irwin & Piber, 2018). As a result, The National Academy of Medicine recommends efforts…

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What Type of Yoga Best Supports My Mental Health?

yoga

By: Ashlee Stumpf, LPC Nearly two years ago, I enrolled in a yoga teaching program for educators and counselors. I wasn’t particularly fit, coordinated, or practiced yoga on a regular basis. I was just a counselor who read enough to know yoga has a high correlation with good mental health, more than most other exercises,…

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Can I Become Too Obsessed With Dieting?

dieting

Jessica Pontis, LCSW Are you the type to find yourself counting calories, being mindful of eating healthy to the point that it causes anxiety?  Does the idea of not “eating clean” cause you to miss out of the joy of sharing meals with others?  If the answer to these questions is yes it may indicate…

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What Is Narrative Therapy and How Can It Help Me?

narrative therapy

Jessica Pontis, LCSW What’s your story?  Do you consider the way in which you connect with your history impacts your present?  How many times have you been asked that in your life?  For those seeking to better understand themselves and their values these questions are important to ponder.  There’s a therapeutic approach to help answer…

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What Are the Stages of Change? Part 1

Jessica Pontis, LCSW As a provider one thing that I see that can significantly impact a client’s ability to meet their goals is ambivalence.  It’s not uncommon for someone to question whether or not changing certain behaviors is really necessary to hit certain goals, and this type of thinking can be a normal process during…

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Trauma: Little t or Big T?

Trauma

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC When it comes to psychotherapy, trauma is a popular word. Within treatment, I often refer to trauma and the event experienced as a trauma with a little t or a capital t, depending on the gravity of the event. Little t traumas are highly distressing events that affect the…

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10 Ideas For In-home Winter Date Nights

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  Date nights are opportunities for partners to affirm, strengthen, and renew their connection to one another. Some partners will schedule date nights weekly or monthly. In the winter, however, date nights can be difficult due to inclement weather. But since date nights are fun and beneficial, it’s a shame…

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The Power of Group Therapy

group therapy

By: Zana Van Der Smissen Firstly, I have to disclose that I have always been a fan of group therapy. It has always been so interesting to watch people from all kinds of backgrounds come together to share their story in the hopes that others can relate. Group therapy has been an effective tool for…

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