Common Defense Mechanisms: What Are You Defending and Why?

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…

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Can’t Fall Asleep? Avoid These Behaviors

Amanda Gregory, LCPC You have to get good sleep. If not, you’re risking your physical and emotional health. But, what if you simply cannot fall asleep in the first place. Perhaps you’ve tried new methods to improve your sleep. Yet, you may need to focus on cutting out certain aspects that could be hindering her…

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Can Texting Increase Our Stress Levels? Part 2

As discussed in part 1 of this blog post understanding the relationship between our stress levels and texting can allow us to provide ourselves with grace. Instead of throwing our phones across the room when we receive a text, take a pause acknowledge the validity of our feelings. The more we understand our emotional responses…

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Can Texting Increase Our Stress Levels? Part 1

As we deal with the ongoing pandemic of Covid-19, social distancing and isolation remain ways to ensure the safety of ourselves and loved ones. Because of this reality, texting, group chats, phone calls and facetimes have become our only connection to friends, family and loved ones. So, if our phones are a way to seek…

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Can Some Stress Be Good for You?

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC             Stress definitely has a bad reputation, and for good reasons. When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, not many people are wishing for “more stress” in the year to come. And there is science to back this up, as stress is often linked with negative health and well-being…

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Can I Break Problematic Relationship Patterns?

Jessica Pontis, LCSW             As we move from winter into spring, we experience change, almost as if the sunlight and blossoms inspire an emotional renaissance.  With this change in season let us take the time to do some spring cleaning, to look at ourselves and our relationships and determine what patterns we would like to…

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Understanding Bipolar I and II

Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, LPC, NCC  Every now and then, everyone will have a “bad day”. We may cry, feel depressed, overwhelmed and tired. We also will have other days where we are energetic, full of life and happy. A certain population, however, experiences unusual mood disorders which amplify more common mood swings. In fact, this population…

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Are You Celebrating Small Victories?

Matthew Cuddeback LCSW            Something that I have been hearing more and more recently is a reluctance from people to admit that they feel good about something small. We all do this at times, we feel awkward admitting that something felt good, or we are proud of a certain achievement but feel we cannot indulge…

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Are These Common Mistakes Ruining Your Morning Routine? Part 2

In part one of this blog post, we began to discuss the importance of routines and the likelihood that individuals will begin to reimplement structures that worked for them prior to the pandemic. However, now that we’ve had the time to step away from these routines, we have the ability to make some changes and…

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Are These Common Mistakes Ruining Your Morning Routine? Part 1

I’m sure I’m not alone in consistently hearing about the importance of a morning routine. Apparently, a good morning routine can change your life. Sounds pretty nice, huh? Routines in general have seemingly gone out the window during the pandemic and for good reason. However, as we approach what will eventually be our new normal,…

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