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Family Enmeshment: Part 2

October 23, 2020

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC In Part one of this blog, I discussed the topic of enmeshment within family systems, including what it is and signs for noticing it is occurring. As discussed, growing up in an enmeshed family might mean that you now have replicated enmeshment and codependency in other relationships in your life. In part two of this blog we will discuss four components of reversing enmeshment and becoming a healthier, more authentic version of yourself. …

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Shifting from Self-Esteem to Self-Compassion

October 21, 2020

Hannah Hopper  Over the past several decades, psychological research has focused on the benefits of having high self-esteem. There are countless books, podcasts, and articles that promise to give tips for increasing your self-esteem, so much so that high self-esteem seems like the most important thing when it comes to good mental health. But psychology professor and researcher Kristen Neff says that boosting your ego won’t necessarily make you feel better in the long run. The problem…

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Family Enmeshment: Part 2

October 19, 2020

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC In Part one of this blog, I discussed the topic of enmeshment within family systems, including what it is and signs for noticing it is occurring. As discussed, growing up in an enmeshed family might mean that you now have replicated enmeshment and codependency in other relationships in your life. In part two of this blog we will discuss four components of reversing enmeshment and becoming a healthier, more authentic version of yourself. …

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5 Ways to Help Your Child Cope with Depression

October 18, 2020

By Hannah Hopper The National Alliance on Mental Health highlights that many children struggle with depression in their teenage years, but it’s often undetected by parents. Teenage depression can look different than adults struggling with depression, and this blog gives several ways that you can help your child cope.  1) Pay attention to the warning signs Teens go through a lot of different stages, and this can make it harder to pinpoint if your child is feeling…

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What Causes Anxiety?

October 16, 2020

As we are at home more often lately and working from home, I have noticed my anxiety increase along with some of my clients. I struggle with anxiety and not being able to see friends and have to plan outings such as grocery shopping has increased my anxiety. So what is triggering your anxiety lately?  Continue reading to find common triggers for peoples triggers. Health Issues I think right now we are seeing a lot of anxiety…

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Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Dogs (And Other Pets)

October 11, 2020

As of about three weeks ago I officially joined the group of individuals who adopted a puppy during quarantine. For some time, I’ve been playing with the idea of whether getting a puppy was a good or bad idea based on my lifestyle. Switching to working from home gave me the final push to take the plunge and get a dog. This is easily one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Dog’s truly are human’s best…

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Family Enmeshment: Part 1

October 5, 2020

By: Danielle Bertini Being close with your family is not an inherently negative thing. For me, coming from a large Italian family meant that I was constantly around family, sharing stories, food, and details about my life. So, what does it mean to be too close? Enmeshment within family systems describes a lack of boundaries in which roles and expectations are confused, parents are overly reliant on their children for support, and children are not allowed to…

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The Importance of Listening: Ways to Improve Your Listening Skills

September 28, 2020

While it may seem silly to talk about a skill, we practice each and every day, many of us don’t realize how difficult it is to truly master the art of listening. There’s a large difference between listening to respond and listening to understand. Rehearsing and thinking about what you’re going to say when the individual stops talking prevents you from truly hearing what they have to say. When difficult situations arise in the home, workplace or…

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Jumping Off the High Dive: What Are My Anxiety and Body Telling Me?

September 21, 2020

Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Often people think their anxiety comes out of nowhere, but what if it was trying to get your attention and tell you something?  Typically, underneath any undesirable feeling that we experience, there is something beneath the surface that’s been left unaddressed. Most of our fears and worries revolve around what we can’t control and unfortunately, sometimes it ends up controlling us. Anxiety sets in, we are able to regulate less and less,…

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Grieving the Loss of a Pet

September 18, 2020

Hannah Hopper, LPC Losing a pet is devastating and heart-wrenching, and some pet owners find it an even more difficult loss than the loss of another person. Your pet is the one you leave in the morning, and come home to in the evening; they are a constant companion. But people who don’t have pets or have never experienced this constant companionship may have trouble empathizing with someone who’s lost a pet, and invalidate just how deep…

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