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How Do I Apologize?

April 5, 2022
M11381 Symmetry Counseling How Do I Apologize

Jessica Pontis, LCSW Think back to when you were a kid, and mom or dad caught you doing something you weren’t supposed to be doing. Maybe you were picking on a sibling or got caught cheating on a test. Perhaps you were even forced to write a letter to a person who you had hurt saying how sorry you were. Can you recall what it felt like to have to apologize in those moments? Were consequences for…

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How Can I Quiet My Mind?

April 4, 2022
M11381 Symmetry Counseling How Can I Quiet My Mind

Hannah Hopper, LCPC​ You may be familiar with Marie Kondo and her question, “Does this spark joy?” With the introduction of this question, we’ve learned that a decluttered living space can help bring calm and peace into the home. And while a decluttered living space can bring temporary relief to our minds, it only works to a point. While the competition for our attention is at an all-time high, it’s appealing to think of escaping to our…

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How Can I Get More Organized?

April 3, 2022
M11381 Symmetry Counseling How Can I Get More Organized

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC I think most people can relate to the experience of feeling like you blink, and suddenly everything is a mess, and you just can’t seem to remember where you placed that important document that you just saw yesterday, but now has somehow disappeared. Because of this feeling, I made the very adult decision of buying myself a filing cabinet for Christmas. Once I finally got all my important documents organized, I realized what…

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HALT: How Can I Check in With Myself?

April 2, 2022
M11381 Symmetry Counseling HALT How Can I Check in with Myself

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Have you ever heard of the acronym HALT? If you are feeling off but can’t quite put your finger on what might be wrong, it’s a good idea to check in with yourself. Although it seems simple, when our basic needs are not met, we can run into self-destructive behaviors without even realizing it. HALT stands for hunger, anger, loneliness, and tiredness. This blog will help you to understand, utilize and…

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Glossary of Gender Identity Terms

April 1, 2022
M11381 Symmetry Counseling Glossary of Gender Identity Terms

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Therapist  Over the past decade, our society has become sensitive to the complexities of gender identity. This heightened awareness and advocacy has led to the wider understanding and usage of many different terms pertaining to one’s gender identity. Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights provides definitions for the most commonly used gender-identity terms. Here is a summary of their glossary of terms: Gender: refers to the ways that masculinity and…

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DBT: What are Distress Tolerance Skills?

March 29, 2022

Natalia DeSouza, LPC Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a form of therapy developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., ABPP. DBT is taught in four different modules: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation. In this blog post, we will be discussing parts of the distress tolerance module, which focuses on skills to help navigate uncomfortable situations and painful emotions, along with managing the urge to react in unhelpful ways.  The distress tolerance module focuses on teaching…

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What Does It Mean To Be A Yes-Man?

March 28, 2022
M11381 Symmetry Counseling What Does It Mean To Be A ‘Yes Man

By: Danielle Farmer LPC You’ve probably heard the term, but what does it mean to be a yes-man, exactly? A yes-man can be defined as someone who is constantly agreeing to plans, favors, or tasks without checking in with their own needs first. Although helping others can be beneficial to one’s mental health, if someone is taking on more than they can handle, it can become detrimental. There are several tips one can follow to ensure they…

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When Family and Friends Disappoint You

March 27, 2022
M11381 Symmetry Counseling When Family and Friends Disappoint You

Andromeda Peters, LICSW How Can Therapy Help Us Navigate Disappointment in Our Close Relationships? Familial challenges are one of the leading reasons for seeking therapy. We are taught from an early age via societal norms and media that typically, our families and friends represent a safe space that should be reliable, nurturing, and grow with us as we develop into our adulthood, joining us during all of life’s phases. But what happens when our experiences do not…

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What Is An Inner Critic and How Can We Silence It

November 10, 2021

Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, NCC, LPC  The inner critic is an opinion or inner voice, that has a negative and critical pattern of thoughts about ourselves and others. Inner critics are the distressing and disturbing thoughts or voices that lead to self-destructive and maladaptive behavior. Inner critics are like dialogues in head that only criticizes and notices faults of own self and others. The gushing of self-damaging thoughts makes an anti-self that demoralizes and disheartens the individual from giving…

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How Can I Get Closure After a Breakup Without Involving My Ex?

July 16, 2021
How Can I Get Closure After a Breakup Without Involving My Ex

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Relationship closure is the experience of acceptance and resolution once a relationship has ended. Closure is an important experience, but it can be difficult to achieve if one or both partners are unable to participate in interactions that promote closure. There are many factors that determine whether former partners are able to achieve closure together. Here are a few components that need to be present:     Safety. Both partners feel…

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