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“I do.” Two simple enough words. And when you say them on your wedding day, you really mean them. But “I do” can quickly turn into, “I thought I could” when you don’t know exactly who or what you are committing to. Let’s face it, relationships are tricky and it’s important that you and your partner […]
“I do.” Two simple enough words. And when you say them on your wedding day, you really mean them. But “I do” can quickly turn into, “I thought I could” when you don’t know exactly who or what you are committing to.
Let’s face it, relationships are tricky and it’s important that you and your partner are 100% open and honest with one another before tying the knot. And that’s exactly why premarital counseling is so beneficial.
Premarital counseling helps couples identify and address potential areas of conflict before those issues have a chance to turn into serious problems. Couples also learn effective communication skills and conflict resolution strategies.
Here are some specific benefits of premarital counseling:
Learn More About Each Other
We always think we know our partner until they do or say something that surprises (and irks) us. Premarital counseling is an opportunity to get to know each other on a deeper, more intimate level.
Confront Challenges Head-On
Couples don’t always discuss potential areas of friction at the beginning. And then real life comes at them and arguments happen.
For instance, what do you do if you find out each one of you has a different opinion about how finances should be handled? If one of you wants to home school but the other wants your kid to go to public schools?
Premarital counseling offers couples a space to identify potential challenges head-on.
Make Plans for the Future
The brightest futures are the ones with the best-laid plans. Couples counseling can help you create a clear vision of what you want your future to be. A counselor can help you both discuss your individual goals and dreams and how you can combine these to create a future where both of you reach your potential as individuals, as a couple, and eventually as a family unit.
If you and your partner would be interested in exploring premarital counseling, please reach out to me. I’d be more than happy to discuss how I may be able to help.
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Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that causes someone to excessively worry about leaving an environment that they consider to be safe (in many cases, their home). Oftentimes, individuals with this type of anxiety are concerned that they won’t have help available to them when necessary, or that they won’t be able to escape a dangerous […]
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that causes someone to excessively worry about leaving an environment that they consider to be safe (in many cases, their home). Oftentimes, individuals with this type of anxiety are concerned that they won’t have help available to them when necessary, or that they won’t be able to escape a dangerous or embarrassing situation. Someone who has agoraphobia may fear:
Individuals with agoraphobia often need friends and family members to accompany them to public places, which can make it difficult for them to work, run errands, and socialize. And in severe cases, agoraphobia can prevent someone from leaving their home entirely.
Agoraphobia treatment varies from one person to another, and if a medical provider diagnoses you with this type of anxiety, they’ll recommend the approach that’s best suited to your needs. Many people with agoraphobia benefit from taking medication and attending counseling, where they can identify triggers and learn coping skills.
Do you need help managing your anxiety? Contact us today. We have experience treating numerous types of anxiety—including agoraphobia—and we’ll be happy to tell you about our practice, answer your questions, and schedule your first therapy session.
According to CDC data, 1 in 4 children experiences some form of trauma or abuse in their childhood. More sobering statistics indicate that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have experienced rape at some point in their lives. These numbers suggest that many people, male and female, young and old, have and […]
According to CDC data, 1 in 4 children experiences some form of trauma or abuse in their childhood. More sobering statistics indicate that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have experienced rape at some point in their lives. These numbers suggest that many people, male and female, young and old, have and will experience trauma in their lifetime.
If you’ve ever gone to the doctor or been treated at an emergency room, you know that the entire scenario can feel incredibly invasive. Sensitive questions are often asked, intimate body parts may need to be examined, and the medical treatment may be uncomfortable and even painful.
How can medical professionals provide quality healthcare to people who have experienced some form of trauma in their past? Through trauma-informed care.
Trauma-informed care is an approach to healthcare with a focus on safety, empowerment, and healing. This style of care is particularly helpful for sexual abuse survivors.
Of course, a provider would never ask a prospective or new patient if they have experienced serious trauma in the past. Instead, it is simply assumed that each individual may have experienced some form of trauma and acted accordingly. This can mean many different things but typically it means clear and gentile communication. It means inviting the patient to speak to their needs if they need a break from a painful or embarrassing exam. It also means allowing a family member to be present during the exam if need be.
The bottom line is, that trauma-informed care puts the mental and emotional needs on equal footing with a patient’s physical needs at that moment. It is an approach that requires compassion and a desire to heal the entire person.
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June is gay pride month, a time when people come together to celebrate the freedom to be themselves. And while the dancing, partying and colorful festivities are a wonderful way to celebrate, it’s also a time to commit to being your best self. And that means taking care of your overall mental health and well-being. […]
June is gay pride month, a time when people come together to celebrate the freedom to be themselves. And while the dancing, partying and colorful festivities are a wonderful way to celebrate, it’s also a time to commit to being your best self. And that means taking care of your overall mental health and well-being.
We have come a very long way in this society and members of the LGBTQ community have more freedom to express who they truly are and who they choose to love more than any other time in history. And yet, as LGBTQ members are also members of the human race, they will always experience challenges and traumas, love and loss, illness, depression, anxiety and more. And sometimes, they may have emotional wounds to work through that come from early life shame and guilt connected with their sexuality or gender identity.
LGBTQ-affirmative therapy takes a unique approach to healing because it focuses not only on acceptance of who an individual is but also integration of their sexuality or gender identity into the rest of their life and relationships.
Trained therapists who specialize in serving members of the LGBTQ community help them to feel more comfortable with who they are and what they desire. In many cases, LGBTQ therapists are either LGBTQ themselves or have family members or friends who are. This gives them an intimate view of and understanding of the challenges LGBTQ members face.
This month, it’s important that members of the LGBTQ community make a commitment to their mental health so they can not only create positive change in their own lives, but also in our society as well.
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The sun’s out, the temperature is rising, and… you’re feeling depressed. While people typically experience the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in the fall and winter months, this condition can also cause some individuals to feel depressed in the spring and summer. Whether you have SAD or you’re feeling depressed for another reason, here […]
The sun’s out, the temperature is rising, and… you’re feeling depressed. While people typically experience the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in the fall and winter months, this condition can also cause some individuals to feel depressed in the spring and summer. Whether you have SAD or you’re feeling depressed for another reason, here are five activities you should consider to boost your mental health this summer:
If you’ve tried the summer activities listed above but found that your mental health could still use some improvement, contact us today. We’ll be happy to schedule an appointment with one of the experienced therapists at our practice. Once we’ve learned about the issues you’ve been experiencing, we’ll be able to recommend some strategies that are customized to your unique needs.
No matter how independent you may be, it’s still important to build healthy relationships with your immediate and extended family members, friends, and coworkers. Research suggests that when we foster connections with those around us, it can: Improve our self-esteem Make us more cooperative, empathetic, and trusting Strengthen our immune systems Extend our lives Reduce […]
No matter how independent you may be, it’s still important to build healthy relationships with your immediate and extended family members, friends, and coworkers. Research suggests that when we foster connections with those around us, it can:
Different types of relationships require different approaches. For instance, you should likely treat your coworkers differently than your immediate family members. With that said, taking the following steps may help you to nurture positive relationships with many people in your life:
As noted above, it’s important to have healthy relationships in your life, so if you need help fostering connections, contact us today. We’ll gladly tell you more about our practice, answer your questions, and schedule a therapy session.
Grief is often thought of in terms of death, but it can also extend to other losses, including the loss of a house or personal property. Here are some tips for how to cope with grief after losing your home or an item that held special significance to you: Take your time. After losing your […]
Grief is often thought of in terms of death, but it can also extend to other losses, including the loss of a house or personal property. Here are some tips for how to cope with grief after losing your home or an item that held special significance to you:
Have you lost your home or personal property items that were meaningful to you? We may be able to help you get through this difficult time. Our therapists specialize in grief, and we can provide you with the advice and tools you need to cope with your loss. Contact us today to schedule a therapy appointment.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can cause a person to have recurring, unwanted thoughts and urges (obsessions) and/or repetitively perform certain actions (compulsions). But did you know that there are numerous types of OCD? Below are five of the most common forms of this disorder. 1. Checking OCD This type of OCD causes someone to repeatedly check […]
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can cause a person to have recurring, unwanted thoughts and urges (obsessions) and/or repetitively perform certain actions (compulsions). But did you know that there are numerous types of OCD? Below are five of the most common forms of this disorder.
This type of OCD causes someone to repeatedly check items around their house because they’re worried that being careless could potentially lead to damage. For example, they may feel the urge to keep checking that their stove burners are off or that their door is locked.
Individuals with this type of OCD have the urge to repeatedly wash their hands and clean their home because they’re disgusted by the thought of dirty objects and fear catching an illness.
This type of OCD can cause distressing thoughts to pop into someone’s head at random times. For example, someone may suddenly think about hurting a friend or family member, swerving into oncoming traffic, or jumping from a high building.
Someone with this type of OCD is obsessed with having their things in exactly the right place. For instance, when putting groceries away, they might take the time to make sure that all of the labels face outward. And when hanging pictures, they may be careful to ensure that the frames are perfectly level.
As with intrusive thoughts OCD, this type of OCD can cause ideas to suddenly occur. However, with ruminations OCD, these thoughts typically aren’t distressing. Someone with this type of OCD will feel the urge to continue thinking about these ideas for an extended period of time, often causing them to ignore other responsibilities.
If you think you might have OCD, one of the first things you should do is reach out to a qualified therapist who has experience treating this disorder. Once we’ve spoken with you about your symptoms and medical history, we’ll be able to confirm your diagnosis and supply you with personalized treatment recommendations. Contact us today to schedule a therapy appointment at a date and time that fits into your schedule.
Parents face challenges at every stage of their child’s development, and infancy (birth to 1 year of age) is no exception. Here are some of the obstacles commonly faced when children are at this age, as well as some helpful parenting tips: Exhaustion – Regularly feeding, burping, changing, bathing, and soothing an infant leaves little […]
Parents face challenges at every stage of their child’s development, and infancy (birth to 1 year of age) is no exception. Here are some of the obstacles commonly faced when children are at this age, as well as some helpful parenting tips:
If you have an infant and you’re experiencing any of the parenting challenges described above, we may be able to help. We specialize in effective parenting, and we’ll be happy to discuss the issues you’re having and supply you with customized parenting tips. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Have you recently experienced a financial setback? If so, you may be experiencing sadness, anger, fear, and all the other emotions commonly associated with grief. But isn’t grief usually reserved for illness and death? That’s actually not the case—grief can result from the loss of anyone or anything, including money. Financial grief often tends to […]
Have you recently experienced a financial setback? If so, you may be experiencing sadness, anger, fear, and all the other emotions commonly associated with grief. But isn’t grief usually reserved for illness and death? That’s actually not the case—grief can result from the loss of anyone or anything, including money.
Financial grief often tends to be about more than the money itself—it also centers on the loss of security as well as the loss of dreams that could only have been realized with those assets. For instance, parents may grieve not being able to pay for their children’s schooling, and older individuals may grieve not being able to retire as planned. And if someone is unable to make their mortgage payments, they may also grieve the loss of their family home.
Financial grief can be incredibly difficult to experience, but it’s not an insurmountable obstacle. If you’re grieving a monetary loss, you should:
If you’ve recently suffered the loss of a significant sum of money, contact us today. We specialize in grief and healing from loss, and we can help you move forward with your life. We’ll be happy to tell you more about our practice, schedule a therapy appointment, and answer any questions you might have.