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Jessica Pontis, LCSW It may be safe to say that we all have had those moments, whether by ourselves in our beds or with a group of friends, where we feel completely lonely. This of course is difference from being alone. Being alone is simply being by ourselves, whereas being lonely is a pervasive feeling of isolation. Loneliness can be a sadness associated with this isolation, and feelings of persistent loneliness are often connected with feelings…
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Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC Nearly 70%-80% of children who receive mental health services access these services through school-based programs; however, bullying, depression, anxiety, social isolation, peer victimization, and suicidal ideation are still rampant among high school adolescents. According to the World Health Organization, 16% of global disease for individuals aged 10-19 is attributable to mental health conditions, suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents aged 15-19, and 50% of mental health conditions begin by…
Read MoreMatthew Cuddeback LCSW If there is one thing 2020 has taught us, it is that we need to do more work on how to navigate differences in opinions and especially differences in values. As we get older, we often see our perspectives or opinions have evolved and may not match up with our families of origin. This is of course nothing new, but in 2020 it does feel more potent. Let’s talk about the ways in which…
Read MoreMegan Mulroy, LPC, NCC It’s no secret that body image and low self-esteem is an issue that many people struggle with every single day. It’s also no secret that we are plagued by unrealistic images in the media that portray thin models or photoshopped celebrities as the norm. It can be really easy to compare yourself with these unrealistic images, and in turn feel pretty crummy about your body. Often times, when we feel bad about our…
Read MoreMatthew Cuddeback LCSW The reactions and effects of current global affairs have ebbed and flowed for most of 2020. We have all had our ups and downs of some variety, and with a highly contentious political season in full swing and various other highly challenging social issues continuing to have serious effects it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the weather is changing and in a few months time it will be snowing. This…
Read MoreBy Eric Dean JD MBA MA MA LPC CADC In the first blog post of this series, I focused on topics such as: relative vs. absolute wealth, spending money on experiences vs. products, income vs. net worth, and financial insecurity during COVID. This blog post will focus on one prominent emotional driver of spending: fear. Fear is a powerful and universal human emotion that relates to worry, stress, anticipatory anxiety, catastrophizing, and negativity bias. According to Amy…
Read MoreAshlee Stumpf, LPC Sobriety is hard in the best of times; add a global pandemic in the mix and it can almost seem as if the world is wanting you to relapse. However, for many with substance use history, COVID-19 is not the most difficult time of their lives. They have and/or continue to battle against a more personal foe. And many people have adapted before to achieve a healthier, sober lifestyle, here are five ways to…
Read MoreAshlee Stumpf, LPC Being a mental health worker and movie lover can be difficult. Mostly because Hollywood is typically more preoccupied with telling a story than accurately portraying how addiction can impact those addicted and their relationships. Many times, the person with the substance use problem is solely defined by their substance use. Ignoring the complexities, experiences, etc. which makes up a person. Therefore, when I view a film which accurately shows people dealing with addiction, I…
Read MoreBridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Has anyone ever told you that it’s okay to see a therapist? Yes, it is okay to see a therapist. Read that again. In fact, 48% of Americans seek counseling and the stigma around mental health has decreased in recent years. Unfortunately, because of the stigma with mental health, many people seem to be ashamed to admit that they do in fact see a therapist. When our stomachs hurt, when we break…
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If you read my last blog post titled, “What is traumatic grief and how can I cope with it?” referencing the article from Funeral Basics titled, “7 Tips for coping with traumatic grief” highlighting Dr. Wolfelt’s grief counseling techniques, you may be wondering what the additional 5 coping mechanisms are. Below highlights Dr. Wolfelt’s remaining coping mechanisms. Don’t run or be scared of your feelings. It is encouraged to take a mindfulness stance when experiencing your…
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