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Basic Steps to Positive Communication

December 18, 2018

Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Let’s face it, we all would benefit from improving our communication with each other. While I recommend therapy for anyone seeking to improve their communication skills, this blog will present a basic overview on some of the styles and techniques that can be used to improve your communication. The Four Communication Styles Passive communication occurs when we do not directly communicate our preferences and put the needs of others ahead of our own.…

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Dealing With a Breakup: Cope with Post-Split Stress

December 13, 2018

Break-ups are never easy, whether it’s a romantic relationship, friendship, a work break-up, or even breaking up with your therapist. There are often mixed emotions of frustration, anger, sadness, happiness, not knowing what the future will hold, etc. A good cry can help, but also talking to a therapist to process what has occurred is helpful. Breaking up with your partner, no matter how long you have been together, is always painful. This blog post will help…

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5 Negative Effects of Being a News Junkie and What To Do Instead

December 10, 2018

Maggie Reynolds, LCPC Mainstream media, right-wing media, political art, radio, social media…there is a lot of media available in our modern lives. With smartphones always in hand, our news diets can be to our brains what walking around with endlessly full plates of food hung from our necks would be to our stomachs: unhealthy and unproductive. It can wreak havoc on your mental and physical health, starting with your posture. Here are some of the costs of…

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Everything In Moderation

December 8, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling As many of you already know, “Everything in moderation”, is much easier said than done. It is common for individuals to struggle with moderation in at least one area of their life, if not more. Whether it be food, alcohol, emotions, sex, love, or gambling, it can be difficult to obtain a happy medium. When you look at it on a spectrum, some people fall in the middle and are…

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8 Ways in Creating Successful Morning Routines and Why It is Important

December 5, 2018

If you read my recent blog post, “Creating Nightly Routines and Why It Is Important,” about how to implement an effective nightly routine, you may have been wondering what the morning routine you set yourself up for looks likes. As a therapist, I see many clients who struggle with starting their day off on “the right side of the bed” due to many stressors. If you had a productive evening routine the night prior, below is a…

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Supporting Your Partner Through Depression

December 3, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Watching your partner battle the ugly symptoms of depression can feel like a devastating and helpless experience. They can’t seem to get out of bed, are irritable, angry, unmotivated, and sad all the time. Where do you even begin? While you try to help in the ways you know how, you may feel like every attempt you make is met with rejection. As their partner you may feel obligated to…

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How to Date Mindfully

December 1, 2018

Shannon M. Duffy, MFT, LCPC Audio Version When discussing the approaches to take towards being open to dating, they typically entail setting expectations and addressing your wants and needs out of a relationship. This mentality can at times bring on anxiety, self-doubt, and feelings of desperation. Taking a different type of approach to dating by incorporating the Dialectic Behavior skill of Mindfulness can create a more present moment focus towards patience in the dating process. The main…

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What To Do When Your Routine Feels Repetitive

November 29, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Wake up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, go to bed, repeat. Our days seem so full that we tend to repeat this cycle over and over again throughout our weeks, months, and even sometimes years of our lives. When we engage in such a consistent work-week routine, it can tend to feel like our lives have become “automatic,” “monotonous,” and “exhausting.” When this occurs, we tend to work…

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Adjusting to the Single Life

November 26, 2018

Your relationship just ended. You may have been dating for a couple of months, a couple of years, engaged, or married. You may be feeling sadness, relief, joy, devastation, or a combination of many emotions. Even with the end of an intimate relationship, you may have to maintain a platonic relationship due to sharing children or being in the same friend group. Regardless of your circumstance, the transition from being in a relationship to being single can…

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Ground Yourself in Moments of Anxiety

November 22, 2018

Anxiety is a common emotion that we all share and, at times, it is actually useful. Its helpful functions are to alert you to danger or threat and to increase your awareness and motivation of a task that needs your attention (preparing for a presentation, or checking on your sleeping child). It is when anxiety gets out of control that it can become problematic and dominate the emotional state. High anxiety can manifest in many different ways,…

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