How to Fight (Part 2 of 3)
All couples fight— in fact, the process of rupture and repair can actually be strength building. The key as to whether an argument or difficult conversation makes a pair stronger lies in HOW a couple fights. Maladaptive Disagreement Strategies: Defense Mechanisms Common defense mechanisms employed in arguments include (but are not limited to): Acting out:…
Read MoreHow to Handle Tough Holidays
Holidays are not always the happiest of times for everyone. If loved ones have passed during the year, the holidays are always a part of the “firsts” which is of course hard to handle. If you have to work and are unable to get to your family or friends is also difficult. When feeling down…
Read MoreLove Yourself Unconditionally
We tend to forget about ourselves and not love ourselves as much as maybe we should. No one else will love you, more than yourself. When you learn to love yourself unconditionally, you will have a more positive outlook on life and will be happier, which in turn reflects on how you treat others. Channel…
Read MoreBreak the Stigma!
Mental health has a very bad stigma that we need to break. There is nothing wrong with mental health or having to see a therapist or taking medications. Why do we feel like we cannot talk about what is honestly happening in our lives? Being honest with ourselves and with others about mental health can…
Read MoreA Brief Overview of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Paula Gonzalez MA, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is more widely known as DBT and is an evidence based therapy that teaches a broad range of behavioral skills. The skills DBT teaches are to help clients reduce their symptoms and change their behavior. DBT is a form of talk therapy that resembles Cognitive…
Read MoreHow To Limit Social Media Use
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling We are all guilty of it. Many of us overuse Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat to fill most of our free time. If there is some extra down time at the office, on the commute home, or on our days off it feels basically automatic to pull out our…
Read MoreGetting Through A Difficult Heartbreak
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Every breakup takes it toll one way or another but there are certain heartbreaks that leave you feeling utterly devastated. During this kind of heartache it seems impossible to eat, sleep, see people, or even be happy or laugh. All you really want to do is isolate from…
Read MorePatience is Key!
As a therapist, I often see in session the struggles my clients have with patience. I have experienced couples being frustrated with one another about their conflict cycles continuing, or annoyed with their partner for not doing household chores when asked. I have also heard individuals get frustrated with the traffic that made them late…
Read MoreThe Ice Cube Trick
Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW When you experience trauma, there are a lot of ways that it takes a toll mentally. Frequently people experience agitation, mistrust, anger, depression, and many other symptoms. One of the most difficult results of trauma is often described as not feeling like yourself, feeling distant from your life and others, or a…
Read More5 Low-Cost Ways to Mark the Transition from Work to Home
For many of us, the transition from the workplace to home can be stressful and bring less relief than we’d like. For workers who feel unable to turn off a stream of negative thoughts, feelings, and memories from the workday, home may feel less relaxing than it should. Feeling as if you have no control…
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