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What Is Psychodrama and Can It Help Me?

March 8, 2021

Jessica Pontis, LCSW            Widely considered to be one the first forms of group therapy, psychodrama is an experiential based treatment that uses action to explore and correct issues that have been identified in the group.  Jacob Levy Moreno, the individual who developed psychodrama as a therapeutic tool, established this tool in the treatment of trauma, substance use, and family issues.  Often one person, the protagonist, is chosen as their issue may represent the main elements of…

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What is SMART Recovery? Part 2

March 7, 2021

By Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC In the first part of this blog, we explored Point 1 and Point 2 of SMART Recovery’s 4-Point Program for behavior change. Next, let’s look at:  Point 3 – Managing Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors This dives deeper into Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy tools and concepts. The key tool here is the ABC’s. I have written about the ABC’s of REBT previously, but in short, the theory of REBT says that we create…

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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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What is the “Understanding Game” and How Can it be Helpful?

March 5, 2021

Kyle Lawell, Licensed Professional Counselor It is common for people in relationships to develop routines and habits that we find familiarity and comfort in. We have Friday movie nights, scheduled Netflix dates, and other ways of connecting that can be incredibly beneficial and meaningful. Similarly, people in relationships slowly develop a cadence in how they communicate and engage with one another. We slowly notice and derive meaning from our partner’s body movement, voice inflexions, hand gestures, pauses…

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What Resources Are There for Adults with ADHD?

March 4, 2021

Hannah Hopper, LPC  ADHD is typically diagnosed in children, but what if you’re an adult and your ADHD has been under the radar until recent years? Maybe you’ve struggled with it most of your life, but now that you’re working in the office, ADHD is showing up in new ways and beginning to get in the way of your work productivity. And just so we’re on the same page, some of the primary symptoms include fidgeting, difficulty…

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What to Say (and Not Say) to Someone Who’s Grieving

March 3, 2021

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR  When someone in your life is grieving, you want to support them. Yet, you may not know what to say to them or you might be afraid of saying the wrong thing. Consider these tips when supporting your loved ones who are grieving. Be Curious. Does your love one want to discuss their grieving process with you? You may not know, and that’s ok. Allow them to decide what they need in…

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What’s the Difference Between Having Empathy and Being an Empath?

March 2, 2021

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC            Most people have heard of the word empathy, maybe even using it to describe themselves. Empathy is when you are in tune to other people’s feelings and life circumstances. For example, empathy might be when you give an appropriate, understanding response when someone loses their job, or when you show excitement to a friend’s pregnancy announcement—even if you have never been personally impacted by either of those situations.            So, now what…

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Who Are You To Judge?

March 1, 2021

By 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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What is Radical Acceptance, and How Can It Help Me?

February 28, 2021

Jessica Pontis, LCSW            It feels like anxiety and uncertainty are at an all-time high, and that it feels more and more unreasonable to manage.  After living in our current state for months, how can we maintain hope and see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel?  One thing that may be helpful in this fight is the practice of Radical Acceptance.  Radical Acceptance is a distress tolerance skill commonly used in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy,…

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What Is Codependency and How Can I Work Through It?

February 27, 2021

By: Danielle Bertini            What do you think when you hear the word “codependency?” Many people are often very confused by this word. People often hear this term and think that it means someone who is “clingy” or “needy.” However, codependency can actually be a very harmful mental and behavioral trait. So, what is?            Codependency was first recognized by family members of people who were struggling with alcohol, in which a cycle of dysfunctional needs is…

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