“Can We Talk?”: Speak Up With Your Partner
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Hearing the phrase, “Can we talk?”, can often invoke an intense feeling of fear and uneasiness. Using your voice in relationships can feel scary as it requires vulnerability. Who would want to speak up when there is a risk of judgement, rejection, or conflict? While these fears are…
Read MoreTips for Following Through
Shannon M. Duffy, MFT, LCPC As we start to create goals or generate ideas, we typically feel motivated to complete the task right away. However, we can easily get distracted by our daily lives and put off getting what we need or want to accomplish. In addition to lack of motivation to accomplish tasks, we…
Read MoreWhen Is It Time for a Mental Health Check-Up?
We go to our primary care doctors when we are not feeling well or annual for a physical check-up. We go to the dentist 1-2 times per year for check-ups or when we are having a tooth ache. We get pedicures and manicures, massages, haircuts, etc. all to make ourselves feel good. But what is…
Read MoreUnderstanding Non-Binary/Genderqueer Pronouns
Understanding non-binary or genderqueer pronouns can be slightly confusing as we are used to using “she/her/hers” or “he/him/his” pronouns, but now including non-binary pronouns need to start becoming a part of your daily vocabulary. Including “they/theirs/them” and others (see end of post) pronouns is very important. In this blog, I will help you understand and…
Read More10 Signs of a Healthy Relationship
Everyone has a different idea of what a “perfect” and “happy” relationship is like. Not all relationships are the same, but having an idea of what makes a healthy relationship is important. This blog will provide you some ideas of what a healthy relationship can entail of. Comfortable Pace. Make sure that you are not…
Read MoreHow to Stop Self-Sabotaging Thoughts and Actions
Self-defeating patterns can take hold fast when stress rises. Many people deal with racing thoughts that disrupt confidence and create anxious loops. These thoughts often pop up in personal or professional moments and prompt reactions that work against their goals. Our work at Symmetry Counseling often focuses on how to stop self-sabotaging thoughts because these…
Read MoreWhat are the Physiological Effects of Deep Breathing Exercises and Why is it Helpful?
I work with many clients who are experiencing anxiety whether it is due to professional stressors or personal stressors. Part of my job as a clinical therapist is not only to assess reasons why clients are experiencing their symptoms of anxiety, but also to work with them on possible coping strategies to reduce their symptoms.…
Read MoreFour Ways Self-Help Books May Not Be Benefiting You
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR In my previous blog, Four Benefits of Self-Help Books, I described how self-help literature may help readers by providing easy interventions, using accessible language to explain scientific data, helping readers recognize that they are not alone, and offering inspiration. However, there are pitfalls of self-help literature of which every potential reader…
Read MoreFour Benefits of Self-Help Books
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Self-help literature is a popular and profitable field. There are books available that address a variety of topics, such as managing emotion, negotiating complex relationships, developing better communication skills, and increasing self-esteem. Have you read self-help literature in the past and now wonder exactly how you benefited? Or have you considered…
Read MoreThe Antidotes of the Four Horsemen
In my previous blog, Avoid the Four Horsemen, I discussed details of Dr. John Gottman’s Four Horsemen of communication: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. When these four communication styles were witnessed within a couple, Dr. Gottman’s research was able to determine they can be predictive indicators of the end of a relationship. Although these four…
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