counselor
I work with many clients who struggle with anxiety and/or depression for a variety of reasons, whether they are struggling in their personal or professional life, or maybe a significant life transition. I have come to notice that many clients who struggle with their anxiety and/or depression have a tendency to have negative thoughts which increases their anxiety/depression. As their clinical therapist, I certainly help them discover reasons and triggers for their negative thinking patterns, and then…
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Are you more compassionate to your friends than you are to yourself? Many of us are. Imagine a conversation that you might have with a friend in which they come to you and say, “I should be doing more. I’ve gotten little accomplished at work this past month. What’s wrong with me?” You reply, “From what you’ve told me, you’re doing the best you can. You have a lot going on right now…
Have you felt nudged with comments like, “So, have you met anyone yet?” or “How is your dating life?” Family gatherings often come with similar questions about marriage or grandchildren. Conversations like these tend to create pressure and self-doubt for people who want a different pace or path. At Symmetry Counseling, these themes appear often as we talk with clients and connect with stories like the Wall Street Journal article “Mastering the Art of Being Single” by…
It’s common for couples to come in to therapy together once they’ve reached a breaking point in their relationship. As they progress in their therapy, many will say at some point that they wish they would have come in sooner. The longer you wait to get help for your relationship difficulties, the more time unhealthy dynamics have to become entrenched in your day-to-day lives, and the longer it may take to work through your difficulties in therapy.…
Often times we just feel stuck. It seems as if everything that we have tried is impossible to get out of this rut and we cannot feel any better. We have tried coping skills that we know and that others have encouraged us to use, we have tried to ignore it, we have tried to focus on it, and nothing seems to work. We often times feel stuck when we have a big decision to make and…
If you have read my previous blogs, I have talked a lot about the LGBTQ+ community and gaining a better understanding of what the letters mean and how you can support a loved one who might be “coming out”. In addition to that, you might not know anyone who is Queer or you might just want to learn more about how to support them more. You have come to the right place! In this blog, I am…
Sexual Transmitted Diseases, also known as STDs, are more common that one would think. Educating not only yourself, but also your partner about STDs is very important and making sure that both of you are being tested frequently if you have multiple partners, especially in open relationships, polyamorous relationships, LGTBQ individuals. I would know if my partner had an STD You might think you know your partner(s) well, but unfortunately you cannot tell just by looking at…
Kaitlin Broderick, LCPC Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in America, affecting more than 40 million adults every year (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2018). Anxiety can permeate relationships, jobs, and lessen quality of life. For many, anxiety comes in the form of fear of losing someone or something they love, rumination and shame from the past, or obsessive thoughts that something that may happen in the future that they cannot handle. Anxiety also…
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor We often focus on the problems relationships present and can lose sight of what we are working towards. While many of us can identify conflict, blame, resentment, jealousy, and anger as components of an unhealthy relationship, can you also define a healthy one? People struggle with some of these “ugly” parts of a relationship, but at the end of the day we are all fighting for the healthy and loving relationship we…
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor Spring is here and that means longer days, warmer weather, and a fresh start. It can be a great time to reflect on how your year has gone so far and consider areas for growth. Maybe it’s exercise, healthy eating, your social life, or your relationship, but it is also important to consider adding more positivity to your life. Seeing the positive side to life lifts your mood, the mood of those…