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Aging is not for the faint of heart. While some people approach their senior years eagerly, relishing the thought of retirement and spoiling grandchildren, others may have a hard time accepting the passage of time. It can be challenging for many to deal with medical conditions and limited mobility, find enjoyable, meaningful activities, and reconcile […]
Aging is not for the faint of heart. While some people approach their senior years eagerly, relishing the thought of retirement and spoiling grandchildren, others may have a hard time accepting the passage of time. It can be challenging for many to deal with medical conditions and limited mobility, find enjoyable, meaningful activities, and reconcile with the grief of losing loved ones and their own mortality.
Therapy can be a powerful transformative tool for people of all ages. For older adults, therapy can help them manage their emotions so they can find new meaning and purpose in their Golden years.
Speaking with a therapist can also assist people in working through their grief as friends and family pass on. And it can also be a tremendous help to speak to someone about the fear of their own mortality.
But this is really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the numerous benefits of therapy. For instance, I have some older clients who are still dealing with self-esteem issues. We’d like to think the older we get the more we accept and love ourselves. Some of my clients have been able to finally break free of that critical voice inside themselves to live a fuller and more satisfying life.
Some of my clients use our sessions to build their confidence. Whether it’s putting themself “back out there” to find a new romance or being able to speak up to their well-intentioned family members who think they know what’s best, we work together to build the confidence they have perhaps lacked for many, many years.
I like to think of myself as a friend who happens to know a lot about psychology, human emotions, and how we can more easily reach our goals. If there is something in your life that is causing you grief or fear, perhaps I can help with that.
If you’d like to explore treatment options, please feel free to reach out to me.
SOURCES:
https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/aging
https://positivepsychology.com/geriatric-therapy-older-adults-depression/
You’ve probably heard of “self-care Sunday,” a recent trend that involves devoting one day a week to nourishing your mind and body. Whether you want to start practicing self-care on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays—or every day—good for you! Depending on the practices you adopt, self-care can boost your mental and emotional health, enhance your physical health, […]
You’ve probably heard of “self-care Sunday,” a recent trend that involves devoting one day a week to nourishing your mind and body. Whether you want to start practicing self-care on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays—or every day—good for you! Depending on the practices you adopt, self-care can boost your mental and emotional health, enhance your physical health, strengthen your relationships, and improve your overall quality of life. Here are three tips to consider when starting a self-care routine:
The thought of tackling all areas of your life at once can feel overwhelming, so decide what you’d like to focus on first. Once you’ve identified your goals, consider what activities will help you achieve them and where you can turn for support.
You probably don’t hesitate to set aside time for school, work, and family obligations, but self-care is just as important. Block off a set amount of time—whether it be an hour or a full day—and commit to following through with your plans.
Many people think of self-care as something they do on their own, but speaking to a therapist is one of the best things you can do to improve your mental and emotional health. Luckily, you won’t need to look far to find a qualified therapist near you. Our caring team is highly experienced and can provide you with personalized recommendations that are tailored to your specific goals. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
Every single human being has two voices battling it out inside their head. The one voice is our champion, encouraging us to feel confident and to reach our fullest potential. Then there’s that other voice. The one that is critical of every move we make. The one that looks at all of our perceived flaws […]
Every single human being has two voices battling it out inside their head. The one voice is our champion, encouraging us to feel confident and to reach our fullest potential.
Then there’s that other voice. The one that is critical of every move we make. The one that looks at all of our perceived flaws under a microscope and calls them out with a thunderous voice. The one who tells us we can’t do anything right and we’ll never amount to anything.
Now which voice is doing the most talking in your life? If you’re like most people, your inner critic is running the show. Ever wish you could tell it to just shut up?
Here are some powerful ways you can silence your inner critic once and for all:
Be More Mindful
In order to silence your inner critic, you must first become aware of it. You cannot change what you are not aware of, right? And this is where mindful meditation comes in.
When we practice being mindful, we tune into the here and now and become FULLY aware of the present. The more you practice mindfulness, the more aware you will be when that negative voice inside you begins to speak.
In addition, mindfulness teaches us that we are not our thoughts, we are the observer of them. Soon you will begin to choose which thoughts to focus on more carefully. This is a powerful shift that can change your life!
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
In a world where 24/7 social media would have us believe that everyone else is smarter, thinner, richer and generally better than we are, it’s hard not to compare ourselves to others. But doing so only gives your inner critic weapons to use against you.
Practice Self-Compassion
You would never treat others the way you treat yourself. Begin to treat yourself with the compassion you would a small child or a wounded kitten you find. No one is perfect. But all of us are worthy of love, kindness and respect. We must begin to show ourselves more love, kindness and respect and we can do that by practicing self-compassion.
Hopefully these tips help you to silence that inner critic once and for all. And if you’d like more help on building your confidence and self-esteem, please get in touch with me. I work with people to empower them so they can build the life they dream about.
SOURCES:
https://www.omaritani.com/blog/how-to-silence-your-inner-critic
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201903/silencing-your-inner-critic
https://themindsjournal.com/how-silence-your-inner-critic/
Do you find yourself setting New Year’s resolutions each year, only to forget about them months, weeks, or even days later? If so, you’re not alone. According to statistics published by Forbes, the average resolution lasts only 3.74 months. In fact, so many people abandon their resolutions that January 17 has been declared by many […]
Do you find yourself setting New Year’s resolutions each year, only to forget about them months, weeks, or even days later? If so, you’re not alone. According to statistics published by Forbes, the average resolution lasts only 3.74 months. In fact, so many people abandon their resolutions that January 17 has been declared by many sources as “Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day.”
If you want to stay committed to your New Year’s resolutions this year, you may want to consider setting more realistic goals. Rather than attempting lofty resolutions that will require you to overhaul your entire life, decide to slowly incorporate smaller habits and routines. For example:
Notably, action-oriented resolutions tend to be more successful than avoidance-oriented resolutions. So, if your goal is to eat healthier this year, you may want to resolve to cook one new nutritious meal each week rather than saying that you’re going to stop eating sweets.
Everyone can benefit from speaking to a therapist, so if you don’t already attend therapy, now’s the perfect time to start doing so. The therapists on our team can help you identify areas where you may have room for improvement, show you how to set realistic goals, and guide you toward achieving those objectives. Contact us today to schedule your first therapy session.
Life has been beyond challenging for most of us the last couple of years as we’ve dealt with a global pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. And just when we thought we were all out of the woods and life was back to normal, we now find ourselves facing sky high inflation, a recession, and the threat […]
Life has been beyond challenging for most of us the last couple of years as we’ve dealt with a global pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. And just when we thought we were all out of the woods and life was back to normal, we now find ourselves facing sky high inflation, a recession, and the threat of WW III. Needless to say, these events can trigger some pretty strong emotions in us.
We never want to fully deny our emotions. Feeling them is how we process the events of our lives. But there comes the point where we need to figure out a way to move through the emotions and get safely to the other side. One of the most effective ways to do this is through mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a simple, non-judgmental awareness of the present moment. It is a powerful way to connect with our bodies and emotions, but in a higher state of awareness.
Mindfulness helps us regulate our emotions by putting us in a calm and relaxed state of presence. From here we can have a more mature and sensible point of view of the events in our lives.
Second, when practiced regularly, mindfulness can help us develop skills that promote emotional maturity and self-regulation. These skills include self-awareness and attentional control.
And finally, mindfulness can increase the time between trigger and response. In this way, mindfulness acts a bit like an advanced warning system, alerting us to a potential ugly scene, giving us time to engage in emotional self-monitoring. This gives us the opportunity to choose our emotional response very, very carefully.
There are many online resources for getting started with a mindfulness meditation practice. Spend some time searching Google and exploring Youtube for some helpful sites and videos.
If you are interested in working privately with someone on regulating your emotions, please reach out to me. I use mindfulness in my practice with clients and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Sources:
https://blog.taylorstudymethod.com/mindfulness-and-emotional-regulation/
https://mentalhealthmatch.com/articles/skills/what-is-mindfulness-and-how-to-use-it-to-regulate-emotions
You’ve probably heard of meditation, a practice that focuses on clearing your mind to improve your overall well-being. But how familiar are you with it? Here are three things you never knew about meditation. 1. Meditation Has Been Around for Thousands of Years While meditation has grown increasingly popular in the United States over the […]
You’ve probably heard of meditation, a practice that focuses on clearing your mind to improve your overall well-being. But how familiar are you with it? Here are three things you never knew about meditation.
While meditation has grown increasingly popular in the United States over the past few decades, it has a much longer history. In fact, according to an article published by Psychology Today, wall art from the Indus Valley indicates that meditation may have been used as early as 5,000 B.C.E.
It’s common for people to turn to meditation when they’re already feeling stressed. But studies suggest that meditation doesn’t just relieve stress in the moment—consistently practicing meditation over a long period of time can reduce the inflammatory response to psychological stressors, making someone less reactive to stress and better able to recover from it.
Many people think of meditation as being something that you do on your own, but therapists often use meditation to treat patients who are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sleep problems, anger management, and various other issues. An experienced therapist can guide patients through meditation sessions and offer advice for how to practice mindfulness at home.
Fortunately, residents of this area won’t need to look far for professional help with meditation. Our therapists regularly incorporate meditation into their practice, and they can recommend the approach that’s most appropriate for your needs. Contact us today to learn more and schedule your initial consultation.
If you regularly experience anxiety, you may have researched ways to relieve your symptoms and come across a coping mechanism known as the “333 rule.” But how does it work? The next time you’re feeling anxious, try: Naming three things you see Naming three sounds you hear Moving three body parts How Does the 333 […]
If you regularly experience anxiety, you may have researched ways to relieve your symptoms and come across a coping mechanism known as the “333 rule.” But how does it work? The next time you’re feeling anxious, try:
Although the 333 rule doesn’t work in every situation, many therapists recommend it to patients living with anxiety because it helps to ground them. By concentrating on sights, sounds, and movements, patients can stop fixating on their worries and instead focus on the present moment. One of the benefits of the 333 rule is that it doesn’t require someone to be in a certain place or have access to a certain object—instead, they can use it virtually anytime and from almost anywhere. Patients can even practice the 333 rule when they’re not feeling anxious to start establishing it as a habit.
If you’d like to know more about how the 333 rule can help combat anxiety, contact us today. Our therapists have experience using the 333 rule and various other techniques to treat anxiety, and we can develop a care approach that’s customized to your specific needs. When you reach out, we’ll tell you more about our practice, answer your questions, and arrange a time for you to attend an initial therapy session. We look forward to meeting with you and helping you take the next step toward an anxiety-free life.
Being a working mom comes with immense responsibilities. Juggling career demands, family obligations, and personal needs can leave little time for self-care. This constant balancing act often leads to stress, burnout, and feelings of overwhelm. Therapy can play a crucial role in helping professional women manage stress, regain balance, and build resilience. Common Challenges for […]
Being a working mom comes with immense responsibilities. Juggling career demands, family obligations, and personal needs can leave little time for self-care. This constant balancing act often leads to stress, burnout, and feelings of overwhelm. Therapy can play a crucial role in helping professional women manage stress, regain balance, and build resilience.
Working moms often feel pulled in multiple directions. The pressure to excel professionally while being fully present for their families can be exhausting. Some common stressors include:
These challenges can take a toll on mental and emotional well-being, making stress management essential for professional women.
Therapy provides a safe and supportive space for working moms to express their concerns and identify strategies to cope with stress. Through evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques, therapists help professional women:
Therapy empowers working moms to prioritize their mental health while navigating their professional and personal lives with greater ease.
When professional women take the time to care for their mental health, the benefits extend to their families, workplaces, and relationships. By managing stress through therapy, working moms can feel more present, energized, and fulfilled.
If you’re a working mom struggling to manage stress, therapy can help. Contact Marsh Psychology Group and start prioritizing your well-being. We proudly work with clients throughout the Huntington Woods, MI, area.
The holidays are often a complex time for many people. On the one hand, there is a sense of joy in the air, while on the other hand, sorrow and grief because of either a loss or dysfunctional family dynamic. The following are some ways you can deal with family trauma around the holidays. Have […]
The holidays are often a complex time for many people. On the one hand, there is a sense of joy in the air, while on the other hand, sorrow and grief because of either a loss or dysfunctional family dynamic.
The following are some ways you can deal with family trauma around the holidays.
It’s important to not isolate over the holidays. Being around loved ones who support and care for you can be a comfort. Having said that, you’ll also want to have a plan that will allow you to get away from crowds and holiday festivities when you feel yourself become triggered or emotional. This may mean you drive separately to an event so you can leave when YOU want and need. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries and stick to them.
The holidays mean everyone is supposed to ‘put on a good face’ and act merry and jolly, right? No. It’s important to really feel your feelings, not ignore them or pretend they don’t exist. We can only heal from trauma by facing the full extent of our darkness. If you had plans to spend time with loved ones but suddenly feel angry, overwhelmed, anxious or depressed, do not deny these feelings and try to put on a good face so others have a good time. It’s better to gracefully bow out of the plans and be 100% genuine with your feelings.
When we relive our trauma and deal with big emotions, it’s easy to let self-care slip and eat poorly, drink too much and get far too little sleep. Dealing with trauma takes energy and mental clarity, and that will require you to treat your heart, mind, AND body with gentleness and care.
You may also want to speak with someone during this time. A therapist can help you navigate your feelings and offer coping strategies. If you’d like to explore treatment options, please feel free to call or email me.
SOURCES:
Rumination involves obsessively thinking about negative experiences and feelings. Some people replay events that occurred in the past, while others worry about situations that could potentially occur in the future. Rumination tends to have a snowball effect—certain mental health conditions (including generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder) can cause someone to ruminate, and rumination can […]
Rumination involves obsessively thinking about negative experiences and feelings. Some people replay events that occurred in the past, while others worry about situations that could potentially occur in the future.
Rumination tends to have a snowball effect—certain mental health conditions (including generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder) can cause someone to ruminate, and rumination can in turn worsen the symptoms of those conditions. Rumination often causes people to feel anxious, stressed, and depressed and makes it difficult for them to think, process their emotions, and sleep.
Rumination often becomes more intense over time, so when you start experiencing negative thoughts, it’s important that you attempt to stop them from progressing. You may want to try:
You should also pay attention to triggers that cause you to start ruminating and take steps to avoid them. For example, if you tend to ruminate late at night, try going to bed earlier or participating in an evening activity that will distract you from your thoughts. And when you do start to ruminate, acknowledge what’s occurring and remind yourself that it’s not healthy.
If you’ve tried the strategies listed above but still find yourself ruminating, you may want to consider reaching out to a professional. The therapists on our team are highly experienced with rumination and can provide you with personalized advice designed to help you stop ruminating and start living a healthier, happier life. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at a date and time that fits into your schedule.