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How Do We Deal with Overwhelming Exhaustion? Part 1

April 16, 2021

When I initially sat down to write this blog post, it was early in the first week of January. I had been hearing from clients returning from break that their breaks were not as relaxing and rejuvenating as they’d hope they would be. It was the first Monday of the year and they were already exhausted, tired, and wondering how they were going to make it to Friday. Honestly, I was feeling the same way. I had…

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How Do We Break Free from People-Pleasing?

April 15, 2021

People pleasing is something that’s difficult for many of us to avoid doing. We find joy in making other people happy and being there to support them when times are difficult. But when does being a good person cross over into being a people pleaser? I believe this happens when putting others first comes at a detriment to ourselves. Choosing other people’s joy over our own. Hurting ourselves to avoid hurting others. People pleasers eventually lose themselves…

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How To Be Mindful of What Others Are Going Through

April 9, 2021

We never know what other people are going through on any given day. At the very least, we do know, everyone is living through a global pandemic that will have lasted over a year. We know people have made accommodations in order to work from home, learning an entire new set of skills to manage Zoom fatigue and boundaries. We know people wear masks everywhere to prevent themselves from harming themselves or others. We know life feels…

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Where Can I Find Online Mental Health Resources

April 4, 2021

Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, LPC, NCC  If you or a loved one is struggling with issues pertaining to mental health and are seeking trustworthy resources, you have come to the right place. Below, you will find a list of notable mental health websites which provide valuable, research-based information to assist you as you navigate your personal mental health journey. Online Mental Health Resources: What are They and Where can I Find Them?  SAMHSA          The Substance Abuse and Mental…

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What Are Mental Health Apps And How Can They Help?

April 3, 2021

Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC Mental health apps are software tools designed to facilitate you regarding your mental health and well-being. They are easily accessible on your smartphone or mobile devices and focus on improving different facets of your mental health. These apps are designed to work on a wide range of areas associated with your mental well-being like stress management, improving mood, relaxation, enhancing sleep, reviving your thoughts, etc. Mental health apps offer you with therapeutic activities,…

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Compassion Fatigue: What Is It and How Can I Prevent It?

March 27, 2021

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC            Have you ever heard of compassion fatigue? Maybe you heard it from the job you work at or from a family member. Maybe you’ve actually never heard of it before. Compassion fatigue can be a serious hazard, especially for those working in helping professions. This isn’t surprising, as those with the most empathy are the most at risk.            So, what is it? Compassion fatigue is characterized by “physical and emotional exhaustion…

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What Happens To My Brain When I’m Anxious?

March 26, 2021

Ariannah Hood, LMSW Everyone deals with anxiety to varying degrees and if you find yourself dealing with intense and consistent anxiety it can be helpful to know what is going on inside your brain and what you can do to counter it.  Anxiety is a response to perceived danger and stressful events. We can actually credit stress and anxiety for helping our primitive ancestors survive by staying vigilant and responding appropriately to dangerous situations. However, today we…

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Common Defense Mechanisms: What Are You Defending and Why?

March 25, 2021

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC More often than not, we defend ourselves and our actions – sometimes without even realizing it. Maybe if we weren’t so busy explaining ourselves to others, we’d have more room for important things like compassion, understanding, and empathy.  What Are the Id, Ego, and Superego?  Often when the word “ego” is used, many people think that we are referring to the way someone feels about themselves. In psychology, the id, ego,…

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What is the “Understanding Game” and How Can it be Helpful?

March 5, 2021

Kyle Lawell, Licensed Professional Counselor It is common for people in relationships to develop routines and habits that we find familiarity and comfort in. We have Friday movie nights, scheduled Netflix dates, and other ways of connecting that can be incredibly beneficial and meaningful. Similarly, people in relationships slowly develop a cadence in how they communicate and engage with one another. We slowly notice and derive meaning from our partner’s body movement, voice inflexions, hand gestures, pauses…

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What’s the Difference Between Having Empathy and Being an Empath?

March 2, 2021

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC            Most people have heard of the word empathy, maybe even using it to describe themselves. Empathy is when you are in tune to other people’s feelings and life circumstances. For example, empathy might be when you give an appropriate, understanding response when someone loses their job, or when you show excitement to a friend’s pregnancy announcement—even if you have never been personally impacted by either of those situations.            So, now what…

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