mental health
Many holiday celebrations incorporate sharing a meal amongst members of a community, big or small. Food can serve as a beautiful way to bond and to unite. In fact, there may even be an evolutionary basis to the concept that food is love. Several types of monkeys have been observed to use food in order to strengthen social bonds with other monkeys both within and outside of their kinship network (Hamilton, 2013). Yet for those struggling to…
It is not easy being single during the holidays because all the movies on the Hallmark channel (and really, all channels) are romantic movies and we just want to be cuddled up on the couch with someone watching those movies together, instead of alone. Your friends are all going to their significant others’ homes for the holidays and you are at home alone. None of your friends are free as they are doing “cute” stuff with their…
When we are listening to someone talk, we sometimes tend to day dream and not listen to what they are saying due to many reasons. We tend to get bored, or not agree with what they are saying, and then we tend to go into our own thoughts. Often enough, that individual might as us a question about what they said, and we are unable to answer back because we have not actually been listening. Active listening…
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Let’s say you’ve discovered a new method to cope with a problematic emotion or behavior, such as anxiety, depression, irritability, impulsivity, or procrastination, to name a few. Perhaps you’ve learned about a new technique such as meditation, from a therapist, friend, podcast, or blog, and you want to see if meditating would be good for you. Now what? As a therapist, I’ve seen many clients who struggle to implement new coping skills once…
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling You have worked all day, commuted home, made dinner, did some cleaning up around the house, and you feel exhausted. Chances are you probably then hang out on the couch, watch some TV, or scroll through social media on your phone until bed. When you repeat this routine every day of the week, it can feel like all you have done is work and did nothing for yourself. The reality…
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Your mood, health, and productivity are directly connected to your ability to sleep. But what if you’re having trouble getting to sleep because of racing thoughts? Racing thoughts are thoughts you experience that just won’t stop, especially at night. They might be worries, lists of what you need to do tomorrow, ideas about financial planning, future goals, or anything else that’s difficult to stop thinking about. These thoughts can prevent you from falling…
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling We all have our personal boundaries when it comes to dating; however, there are times when our boundaries can get in the way of making the connection we desire. Ideally, our boundaries should be flexible, yet firm. They should not be so rigid that emotional intimacy is prevented, but they shouldn’t be so loose that you risk getting hurt. When you are dating, you want to pace the rate at…
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Conversations about burnout, stress, and emotional fatigue often circle back to one essential concept: self-care practices. These routines are not indulgent extras. They are intentional habits that help people reset, recharge, and stay connected to what matters most. At Symmetry Counseling, self-care practices are woven into our own lives as clinicians. Curiosity often comes up in sessions. Clients ask what therapists actually do to take care of themselves. Life can feel busy and…
Many of my clients discuss a lack of satisfaction within their jobs. Through talking to them, I can help uncover why they aren’t finding meaning in their career. For some, their career was chosen simply to pay their bills and provide for their family, which is why they may not be fully happy; they feel contempt for their current position and are simply looking to add more value to their day-to-day lives. Others are unsure and looking…
Have you noticed that the conflicts in your relationships tend to be fought the same way? Whether the conflict is with your parent, your sibling, your friend, or your partner, you often will fight with them the same way every single time. This is not surprising, because when couples begin to engage in conflict behavior with one another, usually they will fall into a cycle. Understand Your Pattern Our conflict cycles often begin with a trigger. The…