Solution-Focused Therapy
Shannon M. Duffy, MFT, LCPC Reaching out for therapeutic services can feel overwhelming and at times individuals will feel as though their presenting concerns are not severe enough for long term therapy. However, that is not necessarily the case and even the more situational concerns are appropriate for therapeutic services. Specifically, those concerns would be…
Read MoreHow our Mental Health Impacts Sexual Intimacy
Sexual intimacy and mental health are more intertwined than you may think. For many, sexual health and intimacy is a very important aspect of life. How we interact with our partner(s) sexually is largely influenced by how our mental health is doing. There are so many different life experiences that impact our mental health and…
Read MoreThe Hardest Person to Forgive: Myself
Steven Topper When I was young, I learned about forgiveness. My teachers and parents explained that when someone wrongs me in some way, it’s up to me to say, “I forgive you.” In fact, adults would typically place the person in front of me, ask them to say, “Sorry,” and wait for that very response.…
Read MoreOn Attempting to Answer the Questions of Purpose
Steven Topper At some point in our lives, the questions we ask about the world grow in magnitude. When we are little ones, we love to ask big questions about what we’re all doing here. However, as we grow up, this curiosity often vanishes. For many of us, as children we find order and structure…
Read More5 Ways to Connect with Your Inner Child
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR “In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play” -Friedrich Nietzsche Do you remember the child that you used to be? I hope that you do. But if you don’t, that kid hasn’t left you. Your inner child lives inside you and needs to be acknowledged and nourished.…
Read MoreHow Can You Tell if You’re in a Toxic Relationship?
Humans are social creatures, and most of us seek comfort and belonging through human relationships and connection. Through our lifetimes, we may experience amazing relationships and also unhealthy, volatile ones. But because our relationships tend to be important to us and we crave that connection, we sometimes are blinded from the signs and behaviors that…
Read MoreDestigmatizing Self-Injury: What to Know and How to Help
While so much of mental illness is stigmatized through movies, television, and news, few topics are as divisive as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). In critically acclaimed movies such as Black Swan and The Wrestler, depictions of NSSI often come from wounded protagonists who clearly suffer from profound mental health issues. Clinical definitions of nonsuicidal self-injury describe…
Read MoreThe Dangers of Always Wanting More Self-Improvements
I work with many clients who are truly struggling in their life, whether it is in their professional or personal life, or perhaps both at the same time. These clients many times are experiencing depression and/or anxiety. They likely are seeking therapy to find a way to cope with these many life stressors. My job…
Read MoreInjecting the Wonder of Childhood into Adult Life
How often have you heard an adult say, “I wish I could be a kid again?” Most kids don’t have a true understanding of the responsibilities of adulthood, so many adults look back on their childhood with a desire to gain some of the wonder, freedom, lightness, and playfulness they experienced as kids. We are…
Read MoreHow to Manage Conflict When Your Children Are Present
Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW Conflict in relationships is not inherently bad. In fact, it can be a very helpful way to gauge the health of your relationship. However, how you handle that conflict can have a profound effect on the people around you. Specifically, arguing in front of your children can be damaging and can result…
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