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Coping Mechanisms for a Bad Day

February 25, 2019

Laura Cox In the famous words of Dr. Seuss, “when you’re in a slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.” Bad days can happen to all of us. Whether your bad day is brought on by an interpersonal conflict, a disappointing circumstance, or you are just feeling “off,” there are ways to cope with your bad day and improve your mood. I love Dr. Seuss’s quote because it validates that bad…

Battling with Body Image

February 22, 2019

It can be difficult to feel content in your body, particularly when living in our thin-obsessed culture which insists bodies need constant monitoring and modification. Between social media scrolling, comments from others about their bodies, and potentially your own negative self-talk, it seems as if this unhelpful feedback is coming from all angles. Body image dissatisfaction can feel so pervasive that it can be overwhelming to know where to start with changing body image thoughts. If you…

The Interrelated Relationship Between Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviors

February 19, 2019

The interrelated relationship between one’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors creates a loop. Sometimes the thoughts, feelings, behaviors (TFB) loop can be informative and helpful. For example, the thought: I’m a good person who cares about others invokes the feeling: pride (because I’m a good person for caring about others) which informs an aligning behavior: donate to crisis relief. And the cycle continues. I think I’m a good person, which makes me feel good about myself, so I…

What Does “LGBTQ” Mean?

February 18, 2019

LGBTQ is a commonly used term identifying individuals who are gay, lesbian, transgender, queer, bisexual (and there many other terms out there can be added on). LGBTQ has become more recognizable in our society, and you might also hear the words “queer community” to identify these individuals. In this post, I want to explain to you what each letter means. Lesbian Lesbian is a female identifying homosexual who has an attraction for other female identified in a…

Common Questions About LGBTQIA

February 16, 2019

This post will answer some LGBTQIA questions and the concept behind this. This is not a comprehensive list and there are many questions/answers still out there. Everyone also has their own interpretation of certain questions, so please be mindful and not judgmental to others. What does “gay” mean? Gay means loving/having an interest in someone that is the same gender as you. Examples would include a gay man wanting to have a special connection with another man,…

Meet Our Therapists — Paula Gonzalez

February 11, 2019

At Symmetry Counseling, we are proud of our staff of highly trained and experienced licensed mental health professionals. In the above video, meet Paula Gonzalez, a Licensed Professional Counselor here at Symmetry Counseling. What made you decide to be a therapist? I knew I wanted to become a therapist at a very young age after witnessing a homeless man who appeared to be experiencing some kind of psychosis or schizophrenia. So at that point, I was pretty…

Spring Cleaning: 3 Simple Steps to Decluttering

February 6, 2019

Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Most of use have too much stuff, and probably do not use even a fraction of it. Our material possessions may bring us comfort and joy, and may even serve practical purposes that can help us be more productive with our time and effort. That said, most of it is probably just clutter. We generally do not truly need any of these things, and in many cases, may not even really want them…

How to Stay Connected With a Busy Partner: Building Stronger Bonds Despite Busy Lives

February 5, 2019

Long days, late nights, and conflicting schedules can create distance in even the most loving relationships. You might be asking yourself how to stay connected with a busy partner when every week feels like a puzzle of meetings, deadlines, and responsibilities. Yet connection is about how you spend that time. Couples who commit to intentional communication and meaningful interaction can thrive even when life feels chaotic. Instead of viewing different schedules as a roadblock, you can see…

Blind To Red Flags

February 3, 2019

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling As we enter into a new relationship, we tend to find ourselves under a spell called infatuation. Your significant other appears to be perfect, says and does all the “right” things, you can’t get enough of each other, and you feel head over heels in love. While this phase of love can often be the most exciting and memorable part of a relationship, the red flags may begin to appear.…

How to Find Meaning Out of Shame

February 1, 2019

I work with many clients who struggle with their self-esteem related to shame they feel either related to their professional or personal life, or perhaps even both. My job as their clinical therapist is to help clients understand the reasons where their low self-esteem is stemming from. After doing that, I help provide the clients tools on how to cope with this shame they are experiencing. Through experiencing the feeling of shame, it is heavily connected with…