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Understanding Schemas

August 31, 2020

By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC Our perspectives are constantly being shaped by a plethora of environmental, genetic, and behavioral factors. Our perception of what we experience, has a significant impact on how we feel and behave as a result. Being exposed to a vast amount of information daily, we often use cognitive shortcuts to make assessments about situations. The mental models we use to classify and organize myriad ideas and information are called…

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Positive Mental and Physical Impacts of Practicing Gratitude

August 29, 2020

Growing up, it’s not uncommon for children to be told to be thankful for what they have and be aware that others are not as fortunate. This is an incredibly important sentiment, but one that is often forgotten as we get older. While you may acknowledge the things you’re thankful for, how frequently do you practice gratitude? To answer this question, it’s necessary to understand what gratitude really means. Robert Emmons in his book, ‘Why Gratitude is…

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Practical Tips to Help Children Fall Asleep

August 27, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  There are many emotional reasons why children struggle to fall asleep. They might feel excited, worried, bored, or distracted, which can make it difficult to wind down. Try these tips to help a child to fall asleep:  Meet Comfort Needs What does the child need to feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed at night? You can identify these needs by asking the child, or you can experiment by providing these needs and…

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How to Pace Yourself

August 25, 2020

Matthew Cuddeback LCSW There are a few common themes behind most aspects of therapy and mental health. Generally, a few of these themes are intention, attention, space, and pace. The last one, pace, is in some ways the trickiest of these areas to pin down. Below are a few key considerations about what pacing is and how to manage it well. Pace here refers to monitoring the speed at which you are experiencing or navigating a given…

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What questions Should I Ask My Prospective Therapist?

August 23, 2020

Many individuals are currently struggling with their mental health related to the unprecedented times we are all living in today. Whether it is related to loneliness, depression, isolation, grief, anxiety, depression, or a combination of all of those things, the current state of our country is certainly affecting everyone’s mental health. As an individual embarking in therapy, finding the right therapist is such an important step in starting to feel better or to better manage the symptoms…

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I Just Want To Be Happy, But How Do I Do That?

August 21, 2020

I work with many clients who struggle with feeling anxious and depressed. As their clinical therapist, I ask clients what contributing factors are occurring to increase their depression and/or anxiety, and then I help provide possible coping mechanisms to help manage their depression. I recently read an article from The New York Times that touched on this very topic, “How to be happy” by author Tara Parker-Pope.  Below are Tara’s key recommendations on how to be happy.…

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Disney Pixar’s Inside Out: Not Just for Kids

August 19, 2020

Megan Mulroy, LPC  During a recent session, a client and I started talking about the movie Inside Out. We had been discussing this client’s different emotions and why they are equally important, and all have a seat at the table. I hadn’t seen the movie in quite some time and decided that I would watch it that night. The first time I saw the movie, I wasn’t working in mental health, and didn’t think too much about…

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How To Turn Casual Friends Into Lifetime Friends

August 17, 2020

I’m sure we’ve all been there: mentally sitting on the sidelines, hoping and wishing that a casual friendship that we have with someone we admire or respect will evolve into something more lasting or meaningful. In my work with clients, I often find that this process ends with hope versus something actionable, and an opportunity is lost. We become afraid of initiating, we become afraid that we’re the only one wanting, we’re afraid of rejection and judgment.…

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How to Get Yourself to Exercise

August 15, 2020

DISCLAIMER: I am not a fitness guru and do not have any education in it, so please consult with your doctor prior to engaging in any exercise. Every year, every month, every week, I tell myself I am going to start exercising and eating healthy, but that ends up never sticking. During the last few months, and since the beginning of 2020 really, I have tried hard to stick to new lifestyle goals (I do not like…

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Are You In a Toxic Relationship?

August 13, 2020

Kaitlin Broderick LCPC Ideally, relationships make us feel safe, supported, and add something positive to our lives. Unfortunately, many people find themselves in relationships where the exact opposite is true. If you are constantly feeling depleted of energy, anxious, and insecure in your relationship this could be a sign that you are in a toxic relationship. What defines a toxic relationship? This could be any relationship that decreases your self-esteem, makes you feel unsafe or unsupported, and…

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