mental health
All couples fight— in fact, the process of rupture and repair can actually be strength building. The key as to whether an argument or difficult conversation makes a pair stronger lies in HOW a couple fights. Maladaptive Disagreement Strategies: Defense Mechanisms Common defense mechanisms employed in arguments include (but are not limited to): Acting out: performing a behavior in order to express a thought or emotion that may otherwise feel too difficult to express. (ex: punching a…
Holidays are not always the happiest of times for everyone. If loved ones have passed during the year, the holidays are always a part of the “firsts” which is of course hard to handle. If you have to work and are unable to get to your family or friends is also difficult. When feeling down and having to attend multiple functions can be overwhelming and can lead to toxic relationships. In this post, I will identify 5…
We tend to forget about ourselves and not love ourselves as much as maybe we should. No one else will love you, more than yourself. When you learn to love yourself unconditionally, you will have a more positive outlook on life and will be happier, which in turn reflects on how you treat others. Channel your inner self Remember who you are. Engage in yoga, mindfulness, meditation, anything sort of activity that makes you stay true to…
Mental health has a very bad stigma that we need to break. There is nothing wrong with mental health or having to see a therapist or taking medications. Why do we feel like we cannot talk about what is honestly happening in our lives? Being honest with ourselves and with others about mental health can help break the stigma that we live in. Talk openly about mental health. Be honest and open with friends, co-workers, family, people…
Paula Gonzalez MA, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is more widely known as DBT and is an evidence based therapy that teaches a broad range of behavioral skills. The skills DBT teaches are to help clients reduce their symptoms and change their behavior. DBT is a form of talk therapy that resembles Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) but more of the focus on is changing behavior than on changing cognition. DBT is used to treat borderline…
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling We are all guilty of it. Many of us overuse Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat to fill most of our free time. If there is some extra down time at the office, on the commute home, or on our days off it feels basically automatic to pull out our phones scroll through social media. According to Social Media Today, the average person is spending approximately 2 hours per day on social…
Life rarely slows down on its own. Deadlines press forward, traffic drags on, and daily interactions stretch your limits more than expected. These moments often build tension that spills into relationships, work, and self-talk. Learning how to cultivate patience changes the way you respond, so frustration no longer leads the conversation. Patience becomes a skill you build with intention and consistent daily practices. How to Cultivate Patience: An Intentional Start Understanding how to cultivate patience begins with awareness. Irritation…
Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for support right now. You can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline any time by calling or texting 988. You know the feeling before you have a word for it. You are in the room, but you are also somewhere behind yourself, watching it happen from a step away. Time skips. You lose a few minutes and cannot account for them. Someone…
For many of us, the transition from the workplace to home can be stressful and bring less relief than we’d like. For workers who feel unable to turn off a stream of negative thoughts, feelings, and memories from the workday, home may feel less relaxing than it should. Feeling as if you have no control over the stress of work spilling into your evening at home is a sign that you need stronger boundaries in place to…
I work with many clients who are stressed out for a variety of reasons, whether it is related to school, work, friends, family, or their romantic relationship. Some clients even discuss that due to feeling highly stressed, they have a tendency to become angry quickly and lose their patience with a coworker, friend, partner, or perhaps even themselves. We live in a society where people move fast all of the time. I often encourage clients to practice…