Blog Archives
By: Danielle Bertini, LPC Whether through movies, television, social media, or any other forms of pop culture, we’ve been given the idea of “love at first sight” and “when you know, you know.” These ideas sound super romantic, but in reality, these two concepts blend love and infatuation, which are two very different feelings. So, What Is Infatuation? Infatuation is a strong feeling of attraction, fascination, and fixation towards someone, often without actually knowing them that well.…
Zoe Mittman, LSW You might have heard the term “self-regulation” before, but wondered, what does this really mean or look like? Self-regulation is the ability to control and manage your behaviors, feelings, and emotions. That being said, it is particularly important to have a toolbox of self-regulation skills to utilize when you feel like your body is feeling “out of control.” This could present as thoughts racing in your mind, experiencing physiological symptoms of anxiety (racing heart,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…