marriage counseling
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC If you read part one to this three-part blog series, you learned about what sons need from their Dads and what daughters need from their Moms. As you can imagine, both of these needs are different, and both Mom and Dad must work together to cover their bases in different ways. An open line of communication regarding meeting the needs of children together as a team is always recommended, and checking…
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC For those of you that know me, you might be thinking “What is she doing writing about parenting, she just became one!” Well, I don’t blame you. Yes, I am new to this, constantly learning and researching to be the best parent that I can be to my new bundle of joy. As a clinician, I take the approach of always keeping myself open to learning. The minute one starts thinking…
Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, NCC, LPC Trauma can influence thoughts, emotions, and daily choices long after an event has passed. Cognitive Processing Therapy offers a structured and evidence-based approach to addressing trauma. It also focuses on the beliefs that often develop in response to those experiences. As a multi-state counseling and psychotherapy practice, Symmetry Counseling works with adolescents and adults who want practical tools for trauma recovery. Our clinicians employ evidence-based methods that meet individuals where they are and…
Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, NCC, LPC The month of October is often known for the beginning of fall, Halloween decor, and pumpkin spice everything; however, it is also known for increasing public awareness of mental health disorders, reducing stigma and prejudice towards individuals living with mental illnesses, and promoting community wellness. The month of October is used for disseminating information and raising awareness about screenings and treatment, as the following is observed throughout the month: National Depression and Mental Health…
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC About two weeks into motherhood, my sister-in-law sent me this “Love Letter from Your Baby” written by Jess Urlichs. While navigating the biggest and most rewarding and exciting, yet challenging thing that’s ever happened to me, also while recovering from a C-section, at the time there was nothing that I needed to read more than this. It can be a scary and confusing time, with lots of firsts and unknowns. Personally,…
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Breastfeeding…if you don’t have kids, you might be freaked out by the idea of it. If you have kids, you might have tried it and had your own experience with it. Has it turned out to be more challenging for you than you initially anticipated? You’re not alone. No matter who you are, or what your experiences entail, you have likely heard someone share their opinions about it. Maternal mental health…
Steven Losardo, LMFT Whether you’re looking to reduce the stress levels of your employees or yourself, managing the way you schedule time makes a significant difference. Our lives are about finding a balance between work, being social, and caring for yourselves. If one of those is out of place or off balance, it reflects in the way we engage in our day to day lives. There are five scheduling techniques that can help keep things in balance…
Steven Losardo, LMFT Sometimes the hardest part of losing someone you care for, isn’t the loss itself, but it’s what happens to you after the loss has occurred. The aftermath is a time to care for yourself and engage in self-care tactics to help get you through this difficult time. There are dozens of self-care methods ranging from something as simple as taking a bath to as extreme as taking that overseas vacation. It really depends on…
Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, NCC, LPC Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is an interactive therapy founded by Francine Shapiro back in 1987. Unlike traditional psychotherapy models, EMDR is nontraditional psychotherapy rooted in mindfulness and non-judgmental awareness, resulting in transformative healing. EMDR is one of the treatment modalities that follows the adaptive information processing (AIP) model. According to AIP, people with PTSD have disturbing thoughts that remain unprocessed over time. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), trauma, negative thoughts, and maladaptive behaviors result from unprocessed memories. In most cases, people fear processing such thoughts because of the high…
Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, NCC, LPC The act of delaying and putting off tasks without any apparent reason is known as procrastination. Tasks may be delayed until the last minute or even when their deadline has already passed. People may feel as though they are delaying doing their work unnecessarily. For example, an individual may have an assignment pending, but instead of doing the actual work, they decide to waste your time on the internet. While they often fully acknowledge the…