Counselor
By: Zana Van Der Smissen Today I will be exploring the concept of self-worth. A concept that comes up in many therapy rooms and can be hard to address at times. There is a perception that perhaps talking about self-worth means that we are being egotistical if we feel like we are telling ourselves that we are “worthy”. While in other instances of lower self-worth, we might believe that people will take pity on us and sympathize…
Read MoreJessica Pontis, LCSW Have there ever been times when your life has felt out of control? Where no matter what you do nothing seems to change and you begin to feel powerless over your own circumstances? If the answer to these questions is yes, then it may be worthwhile exploring the topic of self-determination, and how that impacts our ability to motivate ourselves to change. Self-determination refers to the person’s feelings about the control that they have…
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Jessica Pontis, LCSW In my previous post about the stages of change, I discussed the different stages of change and how they may present within the context of a person’s experience with smoking. Having outlined the stages, let’s focus our attention in part two of this discussion on how a clinician can appropriately assess where a client is in the change model and stage-appropriate strategies that could be applied. Assessing and Assisting in Precontemplation. When a clinician…
Read MoreZoe Mittman, LSW Did you know that there is a connection between your mental health and physical health? This is called the mind-body connection. Your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors impact your physiological functioning and vice versa. For example, have you ever noticed your palms and underarms getting sweaty, your heart beating rapidly, or your cheeks flushing red when you feel anxious or nervous? Has your stomach felt like it is in knots? If so, you are not…
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By: Danielle Bertini, LPC Decisions, decisions, decisions. Choices, choices, choices. Why is it so hard to make decisions nowadays? And why are specifically millennials struggling with making decisions? I have heard many younger clients I work with discuss how there are literally TOO many choices, and they can’t decide what to do, which makes them feel anxious that they might make the wrong choice. Yes, decision fatigue is a real thing, especially in today’s world where we…
Read MoreAmanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Therapist Neuroplasticity is one of the reasons I became a trauma psychotherapist. The brain’s amazing ability to transform and heal itself gives me hope that any trauma, no matter how entrenched in the brain, can be processed, integrated, and healed. What Is Neuroplasticity? Britannica defines neuroplasticity as the “capacity of neurons and neural networks in the brain to change their connections and behavior in response to new information, sensory stimulation, development,…
Read MoreAmanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Your loved one is participating in therapy, and you desperately want to talk to their therapist. How can you do this? As a therapist, I encounter this question often. There are many reasons why you might want to connect with a loved one’s therapist. Here are some the most common that I’ve encountered: You feel that your loved one is not being honest with their therapist. You want to provide information…
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By: Danielle Bertini, LPC We all have that little voice inside of our head. This inner dialogue can either be a powerful motivation tool or a major obstacle to reaching your goals. What does yours usually sound like? If you constantly have negative thoughts like, “I just know I’m going to fail,” or you call yourself hurtful names, your self-talk will drain you of mental strength. Thoughts can be powerful in the sense that they can affect…
Read MoreJessica Pontis, LCSW One thing I see time and time again as a clinician is the anxious mind of my client’s taking over, struggling to recognize and accept their wants and needs. Instinctually we know what we don’t want, we don’t want pain, disappointment, sadness, all the things that make life seem less enjoyable. Oppositely, we aim to fill our lives with joy, meaningful connection, goodness, and fulfillment. The question is, how do we recognize the path…
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Matthew Cuddeback LCSW Dissociation is often discussed in whispers and considered an area many therapists and clients are nervous to approach. So, let’s be not afraid, let’s discuss it because it can be helpful to have some understanding of the context for the mental health issues that you may be struggling with as they often inform how they are approached in therapy. Dissociation is often a scary and isolating experience and one that can unfortunately carry stigma.…
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