mental health
Jessica Pontis, LCSW One thing I see time and time again as a clinician is the anxious mind of my client’s taking over, struggling to recognize and accept their wants and needs. Instinctually we know what we don’t want, we don’t want pain, disappointment, sadness, all the things that make life seem less enjoyable. Oppositely, we aim to fill our lives with joy, meaningful connection, goodness, and fulfillment. The question is, how do we recognize the path…
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Matthew Cuddeback LCSW Dissociation is often discussed in whispers and considered an area many therapists and clients are nervous to approach. So, let’s be not afraid, let’s discuss it because it can be helpful to have some understanding of the context for the mental health issues that you may be struggling with as they often inform how they are approached in therapy. Dissociation is often a scary and isolating experience and one that can unfortunately carry stigma.…
Read MoreBy: Ashlee Stumpf, LPC With the invention of streaming, people are not only being able to consume more content than ever before but from nearly any location. No need to wait to get home to watch that next episode, you can just open up your laptop, tablet, or phone and boom! Get a show in on your lunch hour and maybe another one or two on your commute home and if you stay up a little later…
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By: Danielle Bertini, LPC To be honest, I love to laugh. Whether it’s with friends, family, in my relationship, or even just by myself, laughter is something that is very important to me. And I also use laughter quite often in sessions with clients (when appropriate, of course). So how can you use laughter in your own relationships? And is it even beneficial to do so? For dating couples, the use of positive humor (like using it…
Read MoreBy: Zana Van Der Smissen New therapies are popping up all the time and making sure what therapy works best for you is vital when working with your therapist. So, learning what is out there can be useful when wanting to explore something new in the therapy space! Brainspotting: What Is It and Is It the Right Therapy for You? Today, I will be talking about a brain-based therapy called, Brainspotting. Dr. David Grand developed this therapy…
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By Zana Van Der Smissen, MA, LPC, NCC (TW: Eating Disorders. This article does contain content that might be triggering for some. If you find yourself feeling uncomfortable, please step away from the article and take time for yourself or reach out for help at Symmetry Counseling) Body Checking is the act of compulsively looking into a reflective surface or mirror to scrutinize parts of your body or all of your body. It has become a normative…
Read MoreBy Melanie Lustbader, LPC When individuals thinks of music therapy, it is not often thought of with eating disorder treatment. Music therapy promotes self-determination and collaboration in clients who are experiencing mental health concerns by focusing on an individual’s strengths. Some people may experience decreased stress and lowered anxiety while listening to music, but that goes for playing instruments as well. When an individual plays or listens to music, it may boost self-confidence and self-esteem in playing…
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Steven Topper LCPC The very first signs of life on earth were tiny, single-celled organisms in the ocean. Before that, nothing (that we know of). And since then, all life has come from those protozoa. We are the great great great ancestors of those tiny creatures. Back then, millions of years ago, the organisms could only engage in two behaviors. They could not write disgruntled three-star Yelp reviews, couldn’t halve the recipe from that fancy book, couldn’t…
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Matthew Cuddeback LCSW Frequently when we see a co-worker, friend, or family member working so hard at making something seemingly perfect, we often look at them with admiration and envy. However, it is important to recognize that perfectionism is often deeply rooted in a lot of unhealthy ways of thinking and problematic coping mechanisms. Let’s discuss how to be more mindful of when we are engaging in these problematic patterns and how to unpack them and build…
Read MoreJessica Pontis, LCSW In 1996, Olympic athlete Kerri Shrug made history with her one-legged vault. Having sustained an ankle injury after her first attempt, she rallied for her team and performed her second vault injured. It wasn’t until she landed that the world could see her pain. Not able to stand, Kerri crawled on hands and knees to the arms of her coach who had to carry her off the platform. Kerri’s choice to participate in her…
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