counselor
The transition from childhood into adolescence is never easy – it’s not easy for the transitioning teen, the parents/caregiver(s), or the whole family. As teens’ mental, physical, emotional, and social development changes, so do their behaviors. Understanding and experiencing these changes is not always a clear and simple journey. Sometimes, more complicated issues can happen for teens. Adolescents often experience an overall shift in their mental health during this developmental phase, and concerns such as depression, may…
Hannah Hopper We know that what happens to us as children matters. We still feel hurt by experiences we had growing up, and have trouble escaping the mistakes our parents made, whether it’s through repeating the same patterns we saw or because we can’t seem to get away from troubling memories. But is it possible that our negative early life experiences could also have an impact on our health and physical wellbeing today? Adverse Childhood Experiences, or…
Danielle Bertini As I sit down to write this blog, my phone, laptop, and iPad all light up and simultaneously ding with notifications. It’s hard to imagine life before our world became dominated with smartphones and other devices that make us so accessible, but more importantly, so easily distracted. Although this constant fragmentation of our time and concentration has become the new normal, more and more experts are telling us that these interruptions might be eroding our…
If you happened to stumble upon this blog post, there’s a strong chance that you are familiar with the mental health field to some capacity. Perhaps you have received your own therapeutic services in the past, or are currently curious about entering into a mental health service. You may also be in a position where you are in crisis or seeking mental health services for a loved one. One area in the mental health field that needs…
Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW Have you ever experienced a moment that felt as though it came completely out of nowhere, in which you suddenly became anxious, sweaty, shaky? This can happen when you are at home, out with friends, etc. For example, let’s say you are at a crowded bar and all of the sudden you start to get anxious, sweaty, and are having a hard time breathing. In this scenario, let’s say you go to the hospital…
Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW We’ve all been there, someone has done something hurtful and you have been able to work through your emotions and process what happened and in order to feel as though it can be all wrapped up and everyone can move on, what you need next is an apology. Maybe you hint at the need for an apology, and they don’t pick up on what you are asking for. Maybe you ask for an apology…
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…
Childhood influences how we see ourselves and how we connect with others. Many people carry hidden wounds from emotional abuse in childhood, and these wounds influence relationships, communication, and daily life. Some memories feel vague and confusing, which leads many people to question their own experiences. This doubt creates a cycle that blocks healing and keeps old stories alive. Understanding Emotional Abuse in Childhood Emotional abuse in childhood can show up in subtle ways. A parent may…
Let’s face it – no matter how helpful our coping skills, self-care, supports, and therapists can be, we are all be bound to have an emotionally or mentally overwhelming week (or month(s)!). We are human beings and life stressors, triggers, and transitions can all interfere with our balanced day-to-functioning. Sometimes, there is simply no avoiding or suppressing an emotional or mental breakdown. These breakdowns can look very different from person to person. For one, a breakdown may…
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…