cognitive behavioral therapy
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling As you move through the stages of life, there may be friends you just seem to have outgrown. These are the friends who hurt you, make you feel bad about yourself, constantly complain, only talk about themselves, bring you down, or consume too much of your time and energy. While you may be aware this friend is not healthy for you the most difficult part of wanting to break up…
Read MoreHave you ever felt so out of control with your own emotions, actions, or thoughts and never had anyone to turn to express your actions, thoughts, or emotions? Have you ever felt alone? Scared? Lonely? Sad? Overly excited? Lack of interest in almost anything? You are not alone in feeling any of these emotions, and many more emotions. Seeking help is completely okay and can help you in many ways (definitely more than you can think about).…
Read MoreAmanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner You look down at your plate and your food is gone, but you can’t remember eating. Sound familiar? This experience is called mindless eating, and it’s become a common practice in our fast-paced culture. Mindless eating can lead to significant physical and psychological issues. The antidote to mindless eating is mindful eating. The Center for Mindful Eating, a U.S-based nonprofit, defines mindful eating as having four parts: 1) Using your senses in…
Read MoreIn the blog post “Stages of Change in SMART Recovery,” you might have thought to yourself that I should/want to make a certain change in my life but I do not even know where to start. You might also be wanting to help someone else make a change in their lifestyle and they are needing your help. As a recap, the Stages of Change are Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, and Termination. Also relapse can occur at…
Read MoreThink about a time in your life when you were wanting to make a change in your life. Was it in regards to being more active? Was it going back to school to advance your career/education? Was it to stop an addictive behavior? Whatever you were wanting to change in your life, without maybe really recognizing it, you were in one of 6 stages of change. The Six Stages of Change were identified by James O. Prochaska.…
Read MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Ending one’s own life has been a frequently discussed topic in the media the past few years. Between celebrity suicides, the making of “13 Reasons Why”, and higher suicide rates in high schools around the country, we are exposed to the idea now more than ever. When we hear some of the devastating stories of those who have struggled with depression and ended their life, we often ask ourselves, “Why…
Read MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling A word as simple as “you” can change the dynamic of a conversation. Using “you” in a sentence such as “You never listen to me” or “You always wait until the last minute” insinuates the other person is at fault. Placing blame on another person is often used as an easy defense to avoid feeling your own pain or recognizing your own faults. When you begin to use tactics to…
Read MoreHave you ever done something that you regret? I am not sure that I have ever met someone that has not regret something in his or her past. Everyone makes mistakes, and those mistakes can create that dreaded feeling of guilt and/or shame. How can I move forward after making a mistake? You can start by practicing self-compassion. While it can be challenging to love others, sometimes it can be more challenging to love yourself. Dr. Brown…
Read MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Where do you feel your anxiety? Do you experience your heart begin to race, muscles tense, shortness of breath, stomach aches, or excessive and intrusive negative thoughts? If you have ever experienced or struggled with symptoms of anxiety, you may have been instructed by others to “calm down” or “just relax”. You also probably know that calming down and relaxing is not as simple as it sounds when you are…
Read MoreAmanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner If you’re participating in therapy, it’s a good idea to check in with your therapist from time to time about how it’s going. Check-ins can provide you with valuable feedback about your progress, treatment planning, and time frames, all of which can help you to make informed decisions about your treatment. Many people expect their therapists to initiate check-ins, but therapists do not always know when their clients need an update. As…
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