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By Zana Van Der Smissen, MA, LPC, NCC (TW: Eating Disorders. This article does contain content that might be triggering for some. If you find yourself feeling uncomfortable, please step away from the article and take time for yourself or reach out for help at Symmetry Counseling) Body Checking is the act of compulsively looking into a reflective surface or mirror to scrutinize parts of your body or all of your body. It has become a normative…
Read MoreBy Melanie Lustbader, LPC When individuals thinks of music therapy, it is not often thought of with eating disorder treatment. Music therapy promotes self-determination and collaboration in clients who are experiencing mental health concerns by focusing on an individual’s strengths. Some people may experience decreased stress and lowered anxiety while listening to music, but that goes for playing instruments as well. When an individual plays or listens to music, it may boost self-confidence and self-esteem in playing…
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Steven Topper LCPC The very first signs of life on earth were tiny, single-celled organisms in the ocean. Before that, nothing (that we know of). And since then, all life has come from those protozoa. We are the great great great ancestors of those tiny creatures. Back then, millions of years ago, the organisms could only engage in two behaviors. They could not write disgruntled three-star Yelp reviews, couldn’t halve the recipe from that fancy book, couldn’t…
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Matthew Cuddeback LCSW Frequently when we see a co-worker, friend, or family member working so hard at making something seemingly perfect, we often look at them with admiration and envy. However, it is important to recognize that perfectionism is often deeply rooted in a lot of unhealthy ways of thinking and problematic coping mechanisms. Let’s discuss how to be more mindful of when we are engaging in these problematic patterns and how to unpack them and build…
Read MoreJessica Pontis, LCSW In 1996, Olympic athlete Kerri Shrug made history with her one-legged vault. Having sustained an ankle injury after her first attempt, she rallied for her team and performed her second vault injured. It wasn’t until she landed that the world could see her pain. Not able to stand, Kerri crawled on hands and knees to the arms of her coach who had to carry her off the platform. Kerri’s choice to participate in her…
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By: Maggie Reynolds, LCPC Reading this title probably brings to mind a picture of chaos…pandemic, climate change, international and domestic conflict, and the non-sensical political debates on the internet or even the family dinner table. For a few minutes that it takes to read this article, I encourage you to turn down the volume on the noise of the chaos. Don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere. Just take a few minutes and tap into an openness to…
Read MoreBy Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC Fighting about money is one of the leading causes of divorce in the United States. As a therapist who does Financial Counseling, I work with couples to create financial goals, facilitate open communication about finances, and explore emotions associated with money and financial decisions. In my experience most couples, even partners who have been together for a long time, have had very few substantive conversations about finances or…
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By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC “What brings you to therapy?” Often the first question your therapist will ask you. There are numerous reasons why couples seek therapy, including resolving communication issues, building trust, and being more collaborative, among others. Some couples begin therapy with a specific goal in mind while others have more general ideas about aspects of the relationship that they want to look at more closely. Unsure About Couples Therapy? 4…
Read MoreBy Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC Most workers in the US are unhappy in their careers. Despite feeling consistently unhappy and unsatisfied in their current line of work, many folks find it difficult to change careers. If you are thinking about making a career change, but having trouble deciding, here are some signs that it may be a good time to go for it. Should I Stay or Should I Go? Signs That it…
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By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC If you have been in therapy before, odds are you have talked about boundaries at some point. This post will describe what boundaries are, why we should set them, and the importance of enforcing them. Future posts will review ways to set healthy personal boundaries. A personal boundary is a limit or rule that we set for ourself or others. Let’s start off with some examples: John sets…
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