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How Can I Decrease My Screen Time? Part 1

January 4, 2021
How Can I Decrease My Screen Time Part 1

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  Phones, TVs, and computers are a large part of your life, and that’s unlikely to change. Yet, spending too much time on these devices can have a negative impact on your mental health. They may cause anxiety, loneliness, fatigue, insomnia, and stress. Screen time is defined as any activity that involves a screen, such as watching TV/movies, playing video games, searching the internet/scrolling, or connecting with social media.  Do you need…

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6 Ways to Feel Better Right Now About Your Body

January 1, 2021

Megan Mulroy, LPC, NCC It’s no secret that body image and low self-esteem is an issue that many people struggle with every single day. It’s also no secret that we are plagued by unrealistic images in the media that portray thin models or photoshopped celebrities as the norm. It can be really easy to compare yourself with these unrealistic images, and in turn feel pretty crummy about your body.  Often times, when we feel bad about our…

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For the Love of Money? Part II

December 27, 2020

By Eric Dean JD MBA MA MA LPC CADC In the first blog post of this series, I focused on topics such as: relative vs. absolute wealth, spending money on experiences vs. products, income vs. net worth, and financial insecurity during COVID. This blog post will focus on one prominent emotional driver of spending: fear.   Fear is a powerful and universal human emotion that relates to worry, stress, anticipatory anxiety, catastrophizing, and negativity bias. According to Amy…

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4 Ways to Stay Sober While Social Distancing – Part 1

December 25, 2020

Ashlee Stumpf, LPC Sobriety is hard in the best of times; add a global pandemic in the mix and it can almost seem as if the world is wanting you to relapse. However, for many with substance use history, COVID-19 is not the most difficult time of their lives. They have and/or continue to battle against a more personal foe. And many people have adapted before to achieve a healthier, sober lifestyle, here are five ways to…

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5 Great Film Portrayals of Addiction

December 24, 2020

Ashlee Stumpf, LPC Being a mental health worker and movie lover can be difficult. Mostly because Hollywood is typically more preoccupied with telling a story than accurately portraying how addiction can impact those addicted and their relationships. Many times, the person with the substance use problem is solely defined by their substance use. Ignoring the complexities, experiences, etc. which makes up a person. Therefore, when I view a film which accurately shows people dealing with addiction, I…

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Present Over Perfect, Part I: How Is Therapy Similar to Vinegar?

December 22, 2020

Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Has anyone ever told you that it’s okay to see a therapist? Yes, it is okay to see a therapist. Read that again. In fact, 48% of Americans seek counseling and the stigma around mental health has decreased in recent years. Unfortunately, because of the stigma with mental health, many people seem to be ashamed to admit that they do in fact see a therapist.  When our stomachs hurt, when we break…

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What Is Traumatic Grief and How Can I Cope With It? Part 2

December 16, 2020
What Is Traumatic Grief and How Can I Cope With It

If you read my last blog post titled, “What is traumatic grief and how can I cope with it?” referencing the article from Funeral Basics titled, “7 Tips for coping with traumatic grief” highlighting Dr. Wolfelt’s grief counseling techniques, you may be wondering what the additional 5 coping mechanisms are.  Below highlights Dr. Wolfelt’s remaining coping mechanisms.      Don’t run or be scared of your feelings. It is encouraged to take a mindfulness stance when experiencing your…

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What Is Traumatic Grief and How Can I Cope With It? Part 1

December 15, 2020
What Is Traumatic Grief and How Can I Cope With It Part 1

I work with many clients who have experienced grief in their life. Whether it is a loss of a family member, loss of an event in their life, loss of a relationship, or maybe a loss of someone they cared about who unfortunately passed away in a traumatic way. My job as my clients’ clinician is to help identify terms for them, such as traumatic loss, with the hopes that identifying terms, the client and I can…

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How Can I Redefine Success?

December 14, 2020

I work with many clients who are experiencing anxiety related to the current state of the world in 2020. Prior to the pandemic, many clients in sessions would speak to what their goals were, what success looked like to them, and how they could reach their goals.   I recently have been speaking to my clients about the idea of redefining success right now. There are certain things in life that are much more challenging than prior to…

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How A Good Book Improves Your Mental Health

December 6, 2020

Ashlee Stumpf, LPC It’s unlikely you will go to a doctor’s office and come out with a prescription of J.R.R. Tolkien, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t help. Storytelling is an art form as old as time. We grow up on stories to learn morals, culture, history, and the human experience. Sometimes they may take place in a fantastical world or have characters living lives extraordinarily different to our own, however that doesn’t mean we can gain…

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