How 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…
Read MoreSelf-Care for Millennials
Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW The ideas that millennials are too disengaged or unwilling to put in hard work have unfortunately been taken as fact for years, regardless of the fact that nobody can agree on exactly what a millennial is or that those who make these arguments are ignoring how the world is so completely different…
Read MoreWhy People have Negative Thinking Patterns and the Secret Tool to Stop it
I work with many clients who struggle with anxiety and/or depression for a variety of reasons, whether they are struggling in their personal or professional life, or maybe a significant life transition. I have come to notice that many clients who struggle with their anxiety and/or depression have a tendency to have negative thoughts which…
Read MoreCompassionate Self-Talk: How to Talk to Yourself Like You Talk to Your Friends
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Are you more compassionate to your friends than you are to yourself? Many of us are. Imagine a conversation that you might have with a friend in which they come to you and say, “I should be doing more. I’ve gotten little accomplished at work this past month. What’s wrong with…
Read MoreThe Single Life
Have you heard messages from your friends such as, “So, have you met anyone yet?” or “How is your dating life?” Have family functions become constant family members asking, “When are you going to get married? I want grandchildren!” As a therapist, I have heard several clients share that they have received these messages while…
Read MoreDating While Evaluating?
Steven Losardo In a recent blog, I reviewed how research continues to confirm that emerging adults are positioning marriage later in life while shifting their focus to college, higher education, and their careers (Fincham & Cui (2010). Additionally, there is diminishing support from social institutions and norms to get married. Meanwhile, more recent data from…
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