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Steven Losardo, AMFT Maybe more so than ever, we need safety in our lives, and that includes secure individuals. These people have attributes that include being easy to get close and dependability. Safe people are comfortable depending on others and do not worry about abandonment or someone getting too close to them (Johnson, 2013). How do we know we have these kind-hearted people in our lives? This blog will review the characteristics of a safe person to…
Read MoreHannah Hopper, LPC, NCC If your child has recently gotten an autism diagnosis, you may be feeling overwhelmed and wondering where to even begin with helping them. An ASD diagnosis can feel frightening, particularly if you’re new to the world of autism and worried about whether you’ll be able to provide the tools your child needs to thrive. While children won’t “grow out of” this diagnosis, there are many treatments and tools to help a child overcome…
Read MoreThe transition from high school to college can be a stressful experience, for both young adults and parents. Clinical Psychologist Debby Fogelman offers practical ways that parents can help their college-aged children prepare for their new experience on a college campus. Although college is often an exciting time, it can also be a time that comes with a lot of anxiety and self-doubt. Which is normal! Being away from home can sometimes create a false belief that…
Read MoreMegan Mulroy, LPC Having a hangover is not an uncommon occurrence. Pounding headache, nausea, and fatigue are common symptoms. However, after a night of drinking many people suffer from a phenomenon known as “Hangxiety.” If you are unfamiliar, hangxiety is the intersection between a hangover and anxiety. Many people confuse hangxiety and regret. If you find yourself scrolling through your phone in fear to see what you texted or are worried about what you might have said,…
Read MoreAmanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified The Lost Child Aliases: “The Quiet One” “The Shy One,” “The Independent” The “lost child” is the family member who retreats from family dysfunction due to feeling overwhelmed. They can spend a lot of time alone, pursue singular interests, and/or struggle to establish or maintain relationships with others. The lost child is rarely seen as a stressor in the family (unless they develop a compulsive coping mechanism; see #6, below). For…
Read MoreAmanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified The Scapegoat Aliases: “The Problem,” “The Bad One,” “The Crazy One” The scapegoat is the person in the family who is obviously struggling. They might express unhealthy behaviors, such as participation in illegal activities or acting out in the classroom or in the home. They might be viewed as unstable or as a “rebel.” The scapegoat is often in the family spotlight because they are regarded as the family member who…
Read MoreAmanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Regardless of if your family is biological or chosen, you have a role in your family. Your role may be healthy, unhealthy, or perhaps a combination of both. There are many factors that contribute to which role(s) you adopt and which one(s) you do not. It’s important to assess and change any dysfunctional roles in order to support your emotional health and improve your family relationships. Ask yourself, do I embody…
Read MoreMegan Mulroy, LPC The other day I was speaking with a friend who was going through some pretty heavy feelings and experiencing a very distressing depressed mood. After describing what was going on for her, she looked at me and said something to the affect of, “It must be nice to know how to handle this all.” I almost laughed! I was currently going through some of my own stuff, unbeknownst to her. In reality, I was…
Read MoreKaitlin Broderick LCPC For the majority of people, our childhood and how we were raised have a direct impact on our relationship with money as adults. Beliefs about money that we learned in childhood such as “there is never enough” or “you need to value everything you own” can follow us into adulthood and can induce feelings of guilt about throwing things out that we no longer have use for. What some people don’t realize is that…
Read MoreAnger often gets a bad reputation. From a young age, people are told to calm down, stop yelling, or avoid conflict at all costs. Over time, this messaging creates the belief that anger is always destructive. Yet, the truth about anger is far more complex. Anger is a natural emotion with the potential to create momentum and development. Instead of seeing it only as a problem, we can learn to use it as fuel for healthier boundaries,…
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