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Trust and Commitment Within a Relationship

May 18, 2020
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John and Julie Gottman, known somewhat as the leaders in the couples’ therapy world, created a book consisting of eight dates essential for every couple to have. Each date is a different topic consisting of varying questions for both self-exploration and conversation starters. Each topic of conversation is crucial for the continued development of a healthy relationship. Regardless of what stage of a relationship you’re in, whether you’ve been married for 30 years or recently began dating,…

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What’s Your Attachment Style?

May 12, 2020
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Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  If you want to improve your relationships, it might be helpful to identify your style of attachment. Your attachment style usually manifests in childhood and impacts your attachment patterns as an adult. The four types of attachment styles are secure, avoidant, anxious, and disorganized.  Do you know which style of attachment is yours? In order to identify your style, you should look for patterns of how you function and feel in…

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Attachment Figures Who Aren’t Your Parents

May 10, 2020
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Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified An “attachment figure” is just what it sounds like: a figure to whom you attach. It was once thought that your main attachment figures were your parents. But the more we learn about attachment, the more we realize that people don’t just attach to their parents but attach to a variety of different figures in their lives. In fact, some people do not attach to their biological parents at all. Why?…

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Fact vs. Fiction: We Can’t Always Decode Nonverbals

May 8, 2020
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Danielle Bertini, LPC There are countless examples in the media, especially related to celebrities, in which a story is posted about something they are doing and make reaching judgments about what is going on. For example, a story was posted about Prince William in which he was “caught” giving the middle finger to onlookers. A journalist wrote, “You can even see a look of smug confidence on his face too.” Oops; that was actually a profile shot.…

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The Impact of Screen Time on Families and Relationships

April 30, 2020
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It’s no secret we’ve entered a completely new era in terms of technology. Twenty years ago, there were no iPhones, there was dial up internet and the only social media site was Myspace. Today, family and relationship dynamics look very different because technology has changed the way we communicate. How often do we go out to dinner and spend at least part of the meal on our phones? If you were to look up, would you see other people…

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Book Recommendation: “Breaking up with Sugar" by Molly Carmel

April 28, 2020
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Shannon M. Duffy, MFT, LCPC When a former colleague writes a book, of course it’s exciting and a must read in support. However, this read is so much more and I feel I must share it and recommend it to all. In my private practice I work with disordered eating and eating disorders and this book really focuses in on how to look at your relationship food and find peace with it. It also presents what we…

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What To Do If You Think Your Partner Is Cheating

April 6, 2020
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It is often a terrible gut-wrenching feeling when you start suspecting your significant other might be cheating on you. Maybe there was an unexplained situation that put you on high alert or possibly a comment from him/her/them or a friend that made you start suspecting. Whatever the situation might be, it is often discouraging, saddening, and isolating. Here are some suggestions to try and navigate the situation.  Consider what you are feeling.  You are the expert of…

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How To Get Others to Open Up

March 27, 2020
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We often times meet individuals that feel more open and talkative and ones that are quieter and harder to have a discussion with.  When we are trying to get people to open up, it can be hard to get them to talk.  So how can we try to have a conversation with someone who is not going to talk?  In this blog, I help you identify ways to help someone open up, but also to help you…

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Different Types of Mental Health Professionals

March 25, 2020
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Mental Health Professionals are in various settings, such as private practices, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, schools, mental health clinics, etc. They perform different types of work and have similar but distinct educational backgrounds. When searching for the perfect therapist for yourself, you might see a few different letters behind their name, such as LPC, LCPC, MSW, LCSW, LMFT PsyD, PhD, MD, or even Dr. before their name. What do these letters mean, and should you consider them when…

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Healthy Ways to Move Forward While Going Through a Breakup

March 23, 2020
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It’s no secret that going through a breakup feels terrible no matter which side you’re on. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most universal experiences humans encounter throughout their lifespan. If going through a breakup seems inevitable at some point, it’s important to understand the healthiest ways to begin to move forward when this stressful time occurs. Transitioning from being in a relationship to being single can be an uncomfortable change as individuals in your life will…

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