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What Is Narrative Therapy and How Can It Help Me?

January 9, 2022

Jessica Pontis, LCSW What’s your story?  Do you consider the way in which you connect with your history impacts your present?  How many times have you been asked that in your life?  For those seeking to better understand themselves and their values these questions are important to ponder.  There’s a therapeutic approach to help answer these questions, narrative therapy.  Narrative therapy helps us discover opportunities for growth, empowerment, and the discovery of meaning on our past.   While…

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What Are the Stages of Change? Part 1

January 8, 2022

Jessica Pontis, LCSW As a provider one thing that I see that can significantly impact a client’s ability to meet their goals is ambivalence.  It’s not uncommon for someone to question whether or not changing certain behaviors is really necessary to hit certain goals, and this type of thinking can be a normal process during therapy.  After all, humans are typically creatures of habit, and any type of change (even positive change) disrupts our homeostasis and can…

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Trauma: Little t or Big T?

January 7, 2022

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC When it comes to psychotherapy, trauma is a popular word. Within treatment, I often refer to trauma and the event experienced as a trauma with a little t or a capital t, depending on the gravity of the event. Little t traumas are highly distressing events that affect the individual on a personal level. Some examples are non-threatening injuries, emotional abuse, the death of a pet, bullying, or harassment. Big T…

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10 Ideas For In-home Winter Date Nights

January 6, 2022

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  Date nights are opportunities for partners to affirm, strengthen, and renew their connection to one another. Some partners will schedule date nights weekly or monthly. In the winter, however, date nights can be difficult due to inclement weather. But since date nights are fun and beneficial, it’s a shame to skip them due to the season. When the weather turns harsh, consider these ten creative ideas for date nights indoors.  Too…

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The Power of Group Therapy

January 5, 2022

By: Zana Van Der Smissen Firstly, I have to disclose that I have always been a fan of group therapy. It has always been so interesting to watch people from all kinds of backgrounds come together to share their story in the hopes that others can relate. Group therapy has been an effective tool for many whether that means bringing a sense of community or giving an individual a space to be heard. But how do you…

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Is Setting Boundaries Important In Relationships?

January 4, 2022

Erin Ameri, LPC One of the main sources of anxiety I find clients struggling with is about setting boundaries in their relationships. Many of us tend to fall on the “people pleasing” scale and often feel guilty or selfish when we put our needs first. The problem with this is it leads to feelings of resentment and unmet needs, which don’t allow us to show up authentically in relationships. Social connection and support are powerful tools when…

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Raising Great Kids: What Does the Research Say? Part III

January 3, 2022

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC It’s important to recognize that not all kids are raised by two parents, or by their biological parents at all. These children are not at a disadvantage. This blog series has articulated a large body of research within and across genders that highlight the needs that mothers and fathers (or other guardians) can fulfill as children. But don’t fret, if one or some of these needs go unmet, it does not…

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Raising Great Kids: What Does the Research Say? Part II

January 2, 2022

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC If you read part one to this three-part blog series, you learned about what sons need from their Dads and what daughters need from their Moms. As you can imagine, both of these needs are different, and both Mom and Dad must work together to cover their bases in different ways. An open line of communication regarding meeting the needs of children together as a team is always recommended, and checking…

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Raising Great Kids: What Does the Research Say? Part I

January 1, 2022

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC For those of you that know me, you might be thinking “What is she doing writing about parenting, she just became one!” Well, I don’t blame you. Yes, I am new to this, constantly learning and researching to be the best parent that I can be to my new bundle of joy. As a clinician, I take the approach of always keeping myself open to learning. The minute one starts thinking…

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What is Cognitive Processing Therapy?

December 31, 2021

Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, NCC, LPC  CPT or Cognitive Processing Therapy is a type of behavioral therapy that focuses specifically on patients who are survivors of trauma. This may include child abuse, domestic abuse, rape, natural disasters, major accidents, combat, among others. What is Cognitive Processing Therapy and How Does it Help in The Treatment of Trauma?  This particular therapeutic process is conducted for an average of 12 sessions and gradually helps the patients to address the root of their trauma and the…

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