4 tips on nurturing the most significant relationship in your life
What is the most important relationship in your life? You might think it is your relationship with your significant other or your children or your parents. But the most meaningful relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself. Having a healthy relationship with yourself is the foundation upon which relationships with…
Read MoreHow Ready Are You to Change?
By Andrew McNaughton LCSW CADC Change is a process, and certainly not an easy one, but the benefits of making positive changes will almost certainly outweigh discomfort felt during the process. We are not, however, always prepared to dive into making changes, or are even able or ready to see that we could benefit from…
Read MoreReal Life Mindfulness 101
If you’ve recently been to a yoga class or read a self-help book, you’re probably familiar with the term mindfulness. During therapy, your counselor may tell you to be mindful of your emotions or behavior in a particular situation. Numerous research studies continue to demonstrate that mindfulness based interventions provide stress reduction and overall symptom…
Read MoreCommon Communication Issues Seen in Couples Therapy
As a marriage and family therapist, a question I often get asked is, “What is the most common issue you see in couples and marriage counseling sessions?” The answer, without a doubt, is communication issues. Couple after couple attend couples therapy and report that they have trouble communicating. Marriage and family therapists see common communication…
Read MoreHow to Respond to a Suicide Risk
By Andrew McNaughton LCSW CADC What determines the significance and urgency of the risk if someone expresses suicidal ideation or intent? It is important to recognize it as a cry for help, not a cry for attention. Assessing for suicide risk requires a trained observer. However, in a crisis situation, it is important to be…
Read MoreAssessing the Role of “Things” in Our Lives
By: Margaret Reynolds, MA, LCPC, NCC Many people seek therapy with a licensed counselor to deal with difficulty and conflict in their relationships, whether it is a relationship with a parent, a child, a partner, or with themselves. Sometimes, it is not just these human relationships that require attention, but also one’s relationship to “things.”…
Read MoreThe Power of Your Breath
If you have ever taken a yoga class, you have probably heard the instructor say things like, “Just breathe,” or “Focus on your breath.” Breathing is an essential element of yoga. Yoga involves intentional breathing – breathing with purpose and in a controlled manner – a technique which may also help with anxiety, depression, and…
Read MoreGetting Out of Your Own Way: The Emotional Process of Studying for Major Tests
Many of us are required to take major tests to further our careers. Why do they push our emotions to the limit? What is so hard about proving what we already know? What makes studying so difficult sometimes? Big tests like the Bar Exam, Licensure Boards, GMAT or GRE usually have a big impact on…
Read MoreCodependency: What is it and where does it come from?
As a counselor, I have been noticing that the term codependency is being overused and misused quite a bit as many mistake the term codependency for dependency. Codependency is characterized by neglecting one’s own needs in favor of meeting the needs of another. The dependency stems from the codependent’s dependence on another person depending on…
Read MoreThe Case for Scheduling “Us Time”
By Maggie Reynolds, LCPC Many therapists recommend that couples schedule regular check-ins and time together to talk through issues in the relationship. Sometimes it is merely a suggestion, and sometimes it is assigned homework stemming from relationship or marriage counseling sessions. Either way, emphasis is put on scheduling concrete time, rather than leaving it as a vague,…
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