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Written by Kara Thompson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker In a previous blog post “Calming Down: “What Do You Need From Me?’”, we explored how we can provide support to our loved ones by seeking to better understand their needs. It was recommended that instead of trying to assume what our loved ones need in a moment of high emotions, we could ask the question, “What do you need from me?” As explained in that article, one of…
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC If you read my previous blog post, you learned about the value of listening, the improv approach, leadership, and motivation. Part two of the lost art of listening blog series will discuss the never-ending learning curve and go over some helpful dos and don’ts to listening that you can implement into your own life. Rather than just sitting quietly, make an active effort to show the person that you are listening…
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC It’s likely that when you feel cut off while speaking, it’s by your closest family members, friends, and or colleagues. Have you ever wondered what it is that keeps so many of us from really listening? This two-part blog series will help you to understand and provide you with helpful reasons people tend to not hear one another, as well as easy-to-learn techniques that can help you to become a better…
I Am Miserable at Work: Why Can’t I Leave My Job? By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC James was completely unhappy in his job as an associate litigation attorney at a large law firm. After joining the firm right out of law school he was excited, proud, and driven to make partner. However, after two years of working 80-hour weeks, he felt burnt out and unmotivated as his levels of dissatisfaction, stress, and anxiety were…
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC For those of you that have worked in a restaurant before, you may resonate with this blog. It’ll paint a picture for you to get a good understanding of what it means to experience the emotions of stress and overwhelm, not only in the restaurant industry but in normal everyday life as well. What Is Stress? We feel “stressed” when we “evaluate environmental demand as beyond our ability to cope successfully.…
Shannon Keating, LAC A person can feel drained in many ways and the trick is to decipher what is zapping their energy. There is a standard trifecta of categories one can examine for possible answers: emotional, physical, and mental health. Sometimes, a person can be experiencing “leaks of energy” in more than one of these categories. All three are intricately intertwined, so it is important to analyze each one to optimize a person’s health and well-being. A…
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC If you’re my client, then you have heard me talk extensively about the body and mind being exquisitely interconnected and in constant dialogue with one another. That makes sense, right? Well, surprisingly we tend to overlook this important fact. To be able to find our way back to ourselves and each other, we must understand how our emotions shape our thoughts and decisions. If we don’t do this, we become “disembodied”…
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Are you attached to being a people pleaser and avoiding conflict to maintain peace and harmony? Sometimes the constant need for harmony can cause more harm than good. Many people believe that agreeableness is always a reliable asset, but that is not necessarily true. Some of this tendency can stem from biology or personality traits, while culture and upbringing also play significant roles. People often associate disagreeableness to loneliness or rejection,…
Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC, LPC Scrolling through social media or chatting with other parents can quietly spark parental guilt, even during moments that once felt joyful. Comparison sneaks in fast, and suddenly, questions surface about effort, patience, and parenting choices. That inner pressure leads many parents to believe they fall short, even when they deliver daily care and love. Parental guilt shows up across households, schedules, and family structures, and it often grows louder during the early…
Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC, LPC Everyone at least once in their lifetime will face disappointment from their family or friends. Although it is a common human emotion, avoiding disappointment can be impossible at times. The latter can even negatively affect one’s life and lead to mental distress. Therefore, it is necessary to learn to accept disappointment in order to minimize its potential emotional consequences. This article will share the top three techniques to help you navigate disappointment.…