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…
Steven Losardo, AMFT You may be wondering how to sustain a wellness routine at home. The good news is that it is achievable with commitment and accountability. If you are a remote worker, you may have already settled into a wellness routine during the pandemic. Many people have successfully taken up fitness programs at home, and utilized their home environment for their wellness routine. If sustaining a wellness routine is something you struggle with, don’t despair;…
Children often form their first deep bonds with the pets they grow up alongside. These relationships aren’t only about fun and companionship. Research shows that the benefits of family dogs for child development stretch into emotional growth, resilience, empathy, and responsibility. A family dog can be more than a friend. It can act as a teacher, a comforter, and a steady presence during both joyful and challenging times. How Family Dogs Shape Child Development The family dog…
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Your attachment style was developed with your primary caregiver when you were an infant. Before understanding attachment, we must know how to recognize it and how it affects relationships and connections amidst our lives. What is Attachment? Attachment, also known as attachment bonds, is the “emotional connection you formed as an infant with your primary caregiver – probably your mother.” Typically, the quality of bonding you experienced during this first relationship…
Hannah Hopper, LPC Self-harm is something that happens often, and yet, like many other mental health challenges, there’s a lot of stigma around it. If you’ve never struggled with it before, it might be hard to understand why someone would engage in self-harm. But even though it’s hard to talk about self-harm, we can begin to break down the stigma by understanding why some people engage in it. So why do people self-harm? To feel present People…
Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, LPC, NCC Do you hear people use the terms Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder interchangeably? Well, though they are somewhat similar, both mental health conditions are distinct in their own way. It is quite normal to feel overwhelmed from time to time, whether about home life, job stress, relationships, and kids; However, when these worries turn to ruminating thoughts that are difficult to turn off and even impact daily functioning, it can certainly be…
Steven Losardo, AMFT You may be feeling a lot of apprehension about returning to work after months of working at home or unemployment while knowing we are still in the pandemic. You may be experiencing anxiety about what comes next for you. Feeling this way is common; anxiety has increased for many people during this time. One research study on Google trends discovered that more people have been searching for “worry” and “anxiety” as well as techniques…
By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC Anger is an emotion that is both universal and misunderstood. Like any emotion, anger is not good or bad in and of itself. The amount, timing, and purpose of anger factor into whether it will be constructive. This post will review some of the pros and cons of anger: Pros Anger Can Be A Strong Indication of the Perception of Unfairness Our emotions are signals that provide valuable…
Matthew Cuddeback LCSW When I am working with people on changing a behavior that has been identified as unhealthy or problematic, we often focus on two areas that help with this change, 1. Addressing the underlying issues that led to this behavior, and 2. Specific skills needed to manage this behavior change. When we get to this second one, I often discuss with client’s the power of the sticky note as a tool to help with changing…
Steven Losardo, AMFT Negotiation of salaries is a tricky endeavor for anyone, but it can be a more complicated process for certain personality types. This dilemma is why understanding your personality characteristics can come in handy when it comes to essential decision-making processes such as asking for a raise. Agreeableness as a personality trait. According to the five-factor model of personality, agreeableness refers to one of five personality traits that we possess in varying degrees. The other…