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Is It Toxic Positivity or a Positive Mindset?

July 3, 2022

Andromeda Peters, LICSW  Mental health is becoming more widely accepted on a global level. Cultures that have once deemed therapy as taboo are becoming more open to professional help. With that, therapy has become a space where one can simultaneously receive validation of their emotional experiences and a framework for shifting one’s thoughts to a healthier mindset. However, how do we know if we are leaning towards toxic positivity or just shifting to a healthier way of…

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How To Keep Moving Forward Through Grief

July 2, 2022

Andromeda Peters, LICSW Grief is something that everyone will experience at some point in their lives. With that being said, grief looks different for everyone and our experiences with grief may look different for each experience we have. Although we may find ourselves at a point of radical acceptance, grief is not something one can always plan ahead for. We know we will come face-to-face with challenges, but we may experience emotional decompensation, challenges in day-to-day functioning,…

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How Can I Feel Better About My Body Image On Social Media?

July 1, 2022

Andromeda Peters, LICSW As we are approaching the warmer months, going into summer, mental health professionals note an increase in dopamine levels. We are able to spend more time outdoors, feel the nurturing energy of the sun, and even experience more physical activity. However, the warmer months are also accompanied by more emphasis on our physical bodies. Both the general media and social media have hindered the way we view our bodies in a society with a…

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Will They Stay Married or Choose Divorce?

June 30, 2022

Plascilla Foster, LPC, NCC As Season 14 of Married at First Sight ends soon, making predictions on which couples will say “yes” on decision day or choose to get a divorce can be remarkably interesting. Based on what I saw this season, I predict that only two couples will say “yes” on decision day, and here is why. Lindsey and Mark  According to Gottman and Silver (2015), the biggest predictor of divorce is contempt. Contempt in a…

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What Is Psychological Trauma?

June 29, 2022

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Therapist  Over the past several decades, there has been more awareness of the prevalence of psychological trauma and of how trauma impacts individuals. Unfortunately, trauma has become a buzzword that tends to be used too often and incorrectly. Here are some facts to help you conceptualize psychological trauma correctly:  Psychological Trauma Is Not an Event or Experience  The most common mistake people make in defining psychological trauma is their sole focus…

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What Is Forgiveness?

June 28, 2022

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  You’ve heard of forgiveness, but what does it actually mean? Harpercollins’ Dictionary (1989) defines “to forgive” as “to grant pardon for or remission of an offense, granting pardon to a person, ceasing to feel resentment, and canceling an indebtedness or liability.” However, forgiveness tends to be more complicated when it’s applied to real-life relationships.   Marriage and family therapist Bren Chasse described forgiveness from an evolutionary standpoint. He reports that “in early…

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What Is Grief and How Do We Move Through It?

June 27, 2022

Shannon Keating When you think of grief, what likely comes to mind? Death is most likely. This is completely understandable and valid because the two are almost always synonymous.  But there are other forms of grief, a myriad of them with many layers. Grief is a complicated, multi-dimensional, individual process that can never be generalized in five steps” (TLC Group, 2006).  A person who loses their job, despite the reason, may feel the grief of lost income,…

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What Are the Different Boundaries We Need to Set?

June 26, 2022

By: Zana Van Der Smissen, LPC Hello, and welcome back to another blog post! This week we will be discussing the different boundaries we need to set depending on the situation we are in. Boundaries are one of the most popular and important conversations that happen in therapy because as humans we are constantly wanting to find the perfect balance between taking care of ourselves and being a part of a community. That being said, we don’t…

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What Are 5 Things to Know Before Starting Therapy?

June 25, 2022

Zoe Mittman Licensed Social Worker If you are considering therapy for the first time, here are some helpful hints: Finding a Therapist That Is the Right Fit May Take Time. The therapeutic alliance is at the foundation of a successful therapeutic journey. There is nothing wrong with taking your time to find a therapist that you feel is best for you. I totally understand; this can be discouraging, but believe me, it is worth it. With strong…

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Understanding Communication Styles: What’s Yours? Part II

June 24, 2022

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC If you read my previous blog post, you learned about passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive communicators. This second and final part of this two-part blog series about communication will discuss assertive communicators and the fluidity of communication styles. “To get to the next level of greatness depends on the quality of our culture, which depends on the quality of our relationships, which depends on the quality of our conversations. Everything happens through…

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