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Coping with Societal Trauma in the News

October 4, 2017

The twenty-four-hour news cycle, covering what can feel like an increasingly violent and chaotic world, is enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed, depressed, and disheartened. This blog entry is written in the immediate aftermath of the Las Vegas mass shooting, yet it is entirely possible that by its posting, another tragic event will have unfolded. While some outlets do take special care to honor victims, a significant portion is often devoted to analyzing details about the horrific…

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Is My Anxiety a Problem?

October 4, 2017

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Feeling anxious is a common experience—and at times, it’s even a good thing, helping us to increase our motivation, awareness, and competitiveness. But other times, anxiety can feel overwhelming and even unmanageable. How do you know when your anxiety has become problematic? As a therapist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety, I’ve seen many clients whose anxiety has grown into a life-changing problem. This can happen gradually over years or as quickly…

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Re-Entering The Dating World After Divorce

September 20, 2017

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Divorce is often a painful and stressful life event that leaves many men and women feeling alone, wondering how to get back into the dating scene. These individuals may have been married 2, 10, 20, or even 50 years before they decide to end their marriage, and are now facing the difficult task of re-building their lives. After some time has passed and you have processed your divorce, the thought…

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Dr. Malec Featured on “Connect the Dots” Podcast

September 18, 2017

On a recent episode of the tastytrade podcast “Connect the Dots,” Dr. Anne Malec visited the studio to explain financial therapy. As a leading financial therapist, Dr. Malec offers a wealth of information to listeners about what financial therapy can offer them. What is Financial Therapy? As Dr. Malec explains in the podcast, financial therapy is the unpacking of thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that can lead to poor financial choices through the use of a professional therapist. As…

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Article Summary: How to Have the 'Inheritance Talk' with Your Parents

September 15, 2017

Last week, an article by Nathalie Lagerfeld was published in The Week that quotes our own Dr. Anne Malec as a financial therapist. This piece focuses on giving practical advice for having the “inheritance” talk with your parents. This is a common conversation that is becoming increasingly more important for adult children to have with their parents, as Social Security gradually depletes and more and more young adults have come to depend on inheritance for their retirement…

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When It Feels Like Everyone is Getting Married, Except You

September 10, 2017

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling In today’s world, social media makes it convenient to become invested in other people’s relationships and compare yourself to them. It is easy to start to panic when every day you open your Instagram account and you see a new engagement announcement. Feelings of discomfort, sadness, or anxiety may arise. You may start to ask yourself, “Why am I not there yet?” or think, “I should have found the one…

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5 Symptoms of Infatuation

September 5, 2017

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Infatuation is a strong, overwhelming, and powerful feeling that we all have felt at some point. You have just met the “perfect” person and you have fallen head over heels for them. You would give anything to be with this person, you get butterflies every time you think about them, and everything feels like a fairytale. If you are currently feeling this way about your new love interest, you may…

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Is It Love or Lust?

September 1, 2017

In the beginning of a relationship, or what therapists refer to as the “infatuation stage”, it can be difficult to differentiate between love and infatuation or lust. The infatuation stage can last anywhere between 6 months and 2 years, which is quite a long time. The relationship may seem “perfect.” You may be spending all of your time together, having great sex, and see this person and relationship as the most important thing in your life. While…

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Demystifying 12-Step Groups

August 25, 2017

There is a multitude of 12-step groups for various issues, including (but not limited to) Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Overeaters Anonymous (OA), and Gamblers Anonymous (GA). While they may display slight variations in name, all programs have the same basic foundation and components based on the 12 steps listed below. The steps move from a sense of powerlessness and loneliness to empowerment and community. The steps below mention alcohol and alcoholics since the first 12-step…

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Why Being Single After a Break-Up is So Important

August 20, 2017

Going through a break-up, especially with a long-term partner, can be a traumatic and deeply sad experience. Break-ups, separations, and divorces can feel as severe as experiencing the death of a loved one. When you experience a deep and profound loss, it is important to allow yourself time to grieve and process the loss in order to heal. It is necessary to allow yourself time and space to not only grieve the relationship and the loss of…

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