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Holding Healthy Boundaries with Family

December 3, 2019
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Hannah Hopper Many of my clients come into counseling frustrated with family relationships and feeling that they were pushed into agreeing to too much, feeling like they could not ask for what they needed, being unable to say “no” to certain requests from family members, or having trouble staying calm and in control of their emotions when family starts to get under their skin. Whether it is the family you grew up with or your extended family…

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Parenting Strategies to Set Your Child Up for Success

October 2, 2019
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Throughout our upbringing and early adulthood two of our main goals are for happiness and success. These words can mean different things to various individuals and one person’s version of success may not be another’s but overall, these are the two things most individuals work towards throughout their lives. Despite this being a priority for many years, there comes a time in individual’s life where their goals shift. This is typically when a man or woman decide…

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Reframing “Others Had it Worse” With Childhood Abuse

October 1, 2019
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Childhood is a critical time for becoming who we are, and our lives are undefined potential. Our dependence on others and need for nurturing are pivotal; the way in which we experience this support in childhood determines our ability to ask for help later. Sometimes our caregivers and communities are very good to us when we’re young, and other times we are not so lucky. When someone is abused it can cast a shadow through the rest…

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A Parent’s Guide to Sibling Battles

September 29, 2019
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Danielle Bertini Parents are often seeking ways to make sibling conflict stop, and understandably so. Unfortunately, this is generally unrealistic as sibling conflict is normal and to be expected. Home is a safe testing ground for social dynamics, and it can take skill and patience for siblings to learn to play together, especially when they are difference ages. Psychotherapist Heather Turgeon writes about the importance of being a Sportscaster rather than a Referee when it comes to…

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The Unexpected Importance of Getting Boo-Boos Kissed: On Sharing the Difficult Feelings

September 24, 2019

The image of a parent kissing their child’s scraped knee is as timeless and iconic as it is heartwarming. Though some might say the act is more symbolic or just a placebo, there are some good brain reasons why this actually works. Louis Cozalino writes in his book, The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy, “This biochemical cascade stimulate the secretion of oxytocin, prolactin, endorphins, and dopamine, resulting in warm, positive, and rewarding feelings.” He goes on to say, ”It…

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Helping Your Kids Deal with Bullying: A New Approach

August 26, 2019
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Estelle Eramus at The New York Times recently wrote about a new approach to bullying; her findings are summarized below. If you are a parent, chances are you’ve worried about the possibility of your kid being bullied or bullying someone else, if you haven’t already experienced it with your child. It’s likely that there was less conversation about bullying when you were younger, but nowadays you frequently hear reports of bullying and theories about how to stop…

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Setting Healthy Boundaries With Family

July 14, 2019
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor Sometimes those we are closest to are the ones who are most difficult to set boundaries with, and family is no exception. Our family usually knows how to cheer us up, motivate us, and care for us, however, sometimes they also know how to hurt us. Even if your family is healthy and functional there may be a few family members who cross the line when it comes to your boundaries. By…

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How Can Parents Help Their Children With Anxiety?

July 10, 2019
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I work with many clients who are living with anxiety whether it be related to their personal or professional life, or perhaps both. My job as their clinical therapist is to help the clients understand possible factors/triggers/reasons why they are feeling anxious. Once we work together to figure that out, I help them with possible coping skills to manage their anxiety. Some of my clients are not only addressing their own anxiety, but they also have children…

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A New Approach for Managing your Child’s Anxiety

June 28, 2019
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Parenting is one of the most complex journeys that an individual can experience in their lifetime. As people begin their parenting journey, they likely have ideas and hopes for what their children will be like and how they will fit into the world. If you are a parent, you can maybe remember a time when you envisioned a certain parenthood experience that you thought you wanted, for yourself and for your child(ren). If you’ve had some experience…

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Keeping Calm While Parenting

May 12, 2019
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As a parent, do you ever feel like you get overwhelmed?  Or do you feel like you forget the “simplicity” of life before you had a child?  Or do you wish that you could get back the quiet and calm times you had prior to being a parent?  If you can relate to any of these questions, then here are a few ideas to bring you back some peace of mind. 1.Take a breath. Pause and intentionally…

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