marriage and family therapist
Have you recently made a mistake? I am sure you have, as I too have made mistakes. I often work with clients about how to cope with past decisions in order to live their life in a meaningful way in the present moment. Many clients tend to ruminate over and over about something they did in the past. I often encourage them to give themselves a sense of grace and/or self-compassion to soothe that anxiety around their…
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Steven Losardo, AMFT Suppose you are a part of your family’s annual Thanksgiving Day argument. In the past several years, there was effort, and hope was that things would be different. Unfortunately, despite your efforts, you still find yourself caught in the drama. Even knowing the annual Thanksgiving Day dispute was in existence a good twenty years before you were on the scene does not seem to change this. In the end, your family ends up colluding…
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As touched upon in part one of this blog post, it is more important than ever to show up for each other and ourselves during this intensely trying time period. Below, I will continue to discuss ways in which we can most effectively be there for those in need, while simultaneously combating compassion fatigue. “When we feel compassion fatigue, it’s because our desire and ability to help are incompatible.” This frequently comes from setting unrealistic expectations for…
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In this new world we’re living, the need for kindness and compassion, both for ourselves and others, is all the more crucial. Whether it’s lending an ear to someone struggling, picking up groceries for someone at a higher risk, or helping to take care of a sick family member, most of us have been in or can relate to these situations. Some days it can seem like everyone wants something from you, which can be incredibly overwhelming…
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Hannah Hopper, LPC, NCC With so much loss in our world right now, many of those around us (and maybe even we) are struggling to cope. And yet, when others in our life come to us and are struggling, we often try to focus on the positive things and say something like “look on the bright side” or “it could be worse.” We are a “good vibes only” culture, and when others are truly struggling, we may…
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Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Change is hard. No matter how much motivation you may have, change is difficult to establish and maintain. If you’re trying to make a change in your life and are feeling stuck, you should consider secondary gains, which may be obstacles in your way. Secondary gains are anything that you gain from your current psychological and/or physiological conditions. These gains could be both good and bad. For example, let’s say that…
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Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, NCC, MA When most of us think of trauma, our mind likely flashes to the most extreme circumstances, including war; however, many of us, whether knowingly or unknowingly, have experienced a traumatic event in our lifetime. Losing friends and family members, witnessing violence, incurring abuse, and living through a natural disaster are just a few of the ever growing list of experiences and events that can cause distress and in some cases, inflict injury to…
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Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC Nearly 70%-80% of children who receive mental health services access these services through school-based programs; however, bullying, depression, anxiety, social isolation, peer victimization, and suicidal ideation are still rampant among high school adolescents. According to the World Health Organization, 16% of global disease for individuals aged 10-19 is attributable to mental health conditions, suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents aged 15-19, and 50% of mental health conditions begin by…
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Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, NCC, MA Some people may find the idea of therapy a bit unsettling if they have never actually tried it. The idea that the client is expected to tell their life story to a complete stranger might make a person uncomfortable to say the least. Despite this initial awkwardness, many people will still seek out the help of a mental health counselor in hopes that they can provide support, encouragement, and advice as they navigate…
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Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC The quotation, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about” carries more truth than most of us may comprehend. 1 in every 4 people will experience mental health issues over the course of their lifetime, which begs the question: how many people are then impacted peripherally? With spouses, children, parents, friends, coworkers and colleagues all playing a vital role in a person’s life, it is important to…
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