Friendships are important but not always easy to create. When people say they want a friend, I am guessing they want a meaningful relationship as opposed to some shallow one. So if meaningful friendships don’t just happen, what can I do? We explore two important ingredients that are crucial to creating the relationships you want!
Read MoreThe holidays are here and there is this expectation that the only appropriate emotion is to be happy. What if you are not happy? What if you are experiencing sadness, anxiety, or frustration during the holidays? This article is aimed to normalizing these other emotions and provide some better understanding as to why people may not be happy during this time of year. Also how you can make things better for those who are suffering during the holidays.
Read MoreOne of the most frustrating experiences is self-sabotage. What is self-sabotage? It is when you get in the way of your own success,. You do the very thing that sets you up to fail. When the poor decision and consequences are over, often people are left confused and very angry at themselves. Why does self-sabotage happen? How can I make it stop? Having a clearer understanding of self-sabotage may be the key to breaking the vicious cycle.
Read MoreTo feel is to be human. I believe we have a love-hate relationship with our emotions! Sometimes emotions feel great and it gives our lives such depth while other times our emotions cause such distress and creates behavioral destruction. So what is the purpose of our emotions? What are our emotions trying to tell us? By having a better understanding behind our emotions, we are able to understand and communicate more effectively.
Read MoreIf you are in a committed relationship with a lot of conflict and distress, sometimes the intuitive last stop is couples counseling. What if that is not true? What if couples counseling at this present time would make your relationship worse? It is important to know if and when couples counseling is the right for you and your loved one.
Read MoreMany parents or family members are worried that their kid is playing too much video games. They say things like “they aren’t doing anything with their life and I’m scared that they won’t be successful.” Some people may even go as far as to say that they are “addicted” to gaming. Are these concerns really true? They can be but there is more to the story than just playing these electronic games. These online games can fulfill deep psychological and social needs. By understanding these needs, we can build a bridge into a meaningful relationship and using gaming as a clue to getting these psychological and social needs met in other places.
Read MoreThe worst part of parenting is having to discipline and punish your child. A common practice of discipline for centuries has been spanking or some version of corporeal punishment especially with younger kids who “are not reasonable.” Is this the best way to teach our kids a lesson? Are there other ways to train our kids without resorting to physical violence? Maybe it is time to re-think this strategy.
Read MoreNobody likes to feel awkward and definitely not hurt. To speak your truth can sometimes feel impossible to do but you know it needs to be done or else nothing else will change and the relationship suffers. What makes certain conversations so difficult? What can be done about it? We explore the nature of these situations and how we can set up wins in our relationships.
Read MoreYou may be seeking counseling support but asking the question “Should I see a private practice therapist or get an insurance that covers counseling through a hospital or clinic?” Finding the right therapist and setting is crucial to your personal growth and healing. So which one is better or right for you? This article will address the benefits and costs of each kind to help you make the right decision!
Read MoreBeing in the hospital setting has given me a lot of exposure around people’s fear around psych meds. I have the privilege of working alongside some amazing psychiatrists, pediatricians, and nurse practitioners who assist in providing this service but most clients initially do not want it. Why? I want to talk openly about the fears and concerns shared with me over the years and answer some of those questions around psych meds.
Read MoreParenting is so much more than what parents do but a belief about the role of parents. There are so many self-help books on the “best thing for your kids” so what do you believe? I want to break down the basic philosophies behind Science-based parenting and Christian-valued parenting which both have very valuable insights to consider. The desire to be great parents is very honorable and that endeavor is definitely worth the investment!
Read MoreA brand new year for a brand new you. Is that really true? If you are thinking of making some New Year’s resolutions or personal goals (which I highly recommend), I am here to support you! Just wishing for personal growth will result in keeping that reality a wish. To make positive changes for a better version of you requires intention. Here are a few psychological tips to keep in mind for the foundation for your success!
Read MoreWe all know that we shouldn’t “Judge a book by its cover.” The reality is that some sort of judgement is made when we first meet someone and this is no less true with your therapist. So does their race matter to the degree that they can relate to a client? When can too much similarity become a problem? For answers to these questions and more, read on!
Read MoreThe field of psychology is birthed from secular roots as a way to find healing apart from God. So does spirituality play a role in counseling? I make a strong argument that YES it plays a huge role for many people and it is crucial to know your therapist’s worldview too! As an informed consumer, please read on.
Read MorePsychological trauma due to traumatic events can be life changing and the aftermath haunting even years after the experience. So what is trauma? Why does trauma continue to negatively affect people? What can someone do to be healed from their traumatic experience? Be more informed and aware of trauma and what can be done in this article.
Read MoreThere is often some confusion about “Christian Counseling” vs. “A mental health professional who is a Christian.” Does it matter? Should clients who do not identify as Christians be concerned? Should clients who identify as Christians only seek out Christian counseling? Those answers and more will be addressed in today’s article!
Read MoreIndividual therapy is probably the most common form of talk therapy. If you are contemplating and wondering about the purpose of therapy or curious about what a therapist actually can do for you, read on!
Read MoreThere are many levels of mental health treatment. Psychologist LOVE their acronyms (e.g., CBT, ACT) but they can be pretty confusing! In part 2 of this series, we will understand the step down from inpatient which is PHP and IOP.
Read MoreThe wide variety of therapy available can be quite daunting for the average person. This blog series about different kinds of treatment is aimed to clarify some of that! This entry will focus on inpatient hospitalization and crisis residential treatment.
Read MoreSometimes it is confusing to know why someone would use the term counseling in one case but then psychotherapy in another. Is there a difference? Why understanding and using the correct term matters.
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