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Without sometimes recognizing it, we self-identity ourselves daily. The clothes we choose to wear, the make-up, the glasses, hats, shoes, hairstyle, body piercings, tattoos, etc., are all ways that we choose to self-identify ourselves on the outside for others to see. Internally, we identity our self through our religion, culture, self-esteem, emotions, etc. We have ways to self-identity ourselves in the public self and in the private self. How do we differentiate between both of those? Aspects…
Read MoreThis post will answer some LGBTQIA questions and the concept behind this. This is not a comprehensive list and there are many questions/answers still out there. Everyone also has their own interpretation of certain questions, so please be mindful and not judgmental to others. What does “gay” mean? Gay means loving/having an interest in someone that is the same gender as you. Examples would include a gay man wanting to have a special connection with another man,…
Read MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Have you ever found yourself saying, “It’s fine” to someone when they did or said something that was not fine to you? In today’s world, the team player gets hired, the nice person gets invited to the party, and the extra work gets put onto the person who doesn’t say “no”. The term agreeable is used to define those who are warm, friendly, and easy going. It may appear that…
Read MoreFrom an early age, many of us have experienced the essence of structure and routine through what our caregivers outlined for our day-to-day schedules. This provided us with an understanding of what our essential tasks were, where we had to be and at what time, and it gave us a sense of stability and security — knowing what could be expected for the day. As adults, it is our responsibility to create and maintain our own structure…
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At Symmetry Counseling, we are proud of our staff of highly trained and experienced licensed mental health professionals. In the above video, meet Paula Gonzalez, a Licensed Professional Counselor here at Symmetry Counseling. What made you decide to be a therapist? I knew I wanted to become a therapist at a very young age after witnessing a homeless man who appeared to be experiencing some kind of psychosis or schizophrenia. So at that point, I was pretty…
Read MoreI work with many clients who not only have stressful jobs, stressful personal lives, but that incredibly one stressful coworker. I have several clients who often discuss a stressful coworker or theirs. As their clinical therapist, my job is to help the clients to cope with this particular frustrating coworker. We talk about reasons why the coworker frustrates them, and then what things they can and cannot do to change the environment in regards to this coworker.…
Read MoreJob satisfaction is often a key piece of feeling satisfied with your life as a whole. Of course you want to feel good about your career and feel fulfilled when you come home after a long day at work. Unfortunately, that may not always be how you feel at the end of the workday. It is important to examine what is going on beneath the surface when we are unhappy with work. As is the case with…
Read MoreAndrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC When we fall victim to our anxieties, we frequently neglect to identify the source of our fear. This hinders our ability to put any consequences into rational perspective. This is a blog on how to identify the source of our anxieties, and how to manage our thoughts and feelings by using Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). What is REBT? Here is a quick refresher on REBT (though you can also see my previous…
Read MoreAndrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Most of use have too much stuff, and probably do not use even a fraction of it. Our material possessions may bring us comfort and joy, and may even serve practical purposes that can help us be more productive with our time and effort. That said, most of it is probably just clutter. We generally do not truly need any of these things, and in many cases, may not even really want them…
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Long days, late nights, and conflicting schedules can create distance in even the most loving relationships. You might be asking yourself how to stay connected with a busy partner when every week feels like a puzzle of meetings, deadlines, and responsibilities. Yet connection is about how you spend that time. Couples who commit to intentional communication and meaningful interaction can thrive even when life feels chaotic. Instead of viewing different schedules as a roadblock, you can see…
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