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Stuck in a Work Rut? Here’s How to Get Out

July 31, 2021

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR  It’s official, you’re in a rut. You feel stuck in your boring daily routine at work. You might feel as if you’re living in an endless loop or treadmill as each workday feels the same. Being in a rut can negatively impact your mood causing sadness, hopelessness, boredom, irritability, and a lack of motivation to name a few. When leaving your job isn’t the answer, you need to find ways to get…

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Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand: What Matters in Life?

July 30, 2021

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC You’re probably wondering how on earth rocks, pebbles and sand have anything to do with what matters in life. It turns out that these elements and what they represent are relevant to mental health, too. Go figure! This lesson by a professor might surprise you and make you healthily reflect upon your own life.  A philosophy professor stood before his class and picked up a large, empty mayonnaise jar which he…

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Mental Health Awareness Month: How Can I Celebrate?

July 29, 2021

By: Bridgette W. Gottwad, LPC, NCC  Since 1949, May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S. Throughout life, mental health can vary based upon our circumstances and the state of the world. Amidst 2020 and 2021, mental health in general as society has taken a general decline. It is beneficial to observe mental health awareness month to reduce the stigma that surrounds psychological illness. Additionally, it can be beneficial in bringing the community…

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Languishing: Have You Been Feeling Blah?

July 28, 2021

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Have you ever heard of languishing? Perhaps it’s the dominant emotion of 2021 and you’re not alone in what you are feeling – according to the New York Times, “we all have a lot of symptoms in common right now.” Have you had trouble focusing or noticed that there have been things you aren’t looking forward to in 2021, even though vaccines have been attainable and on the horizon? What is…

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Is Your Grandparent Depressed? Part II

July 27, 2021

Megan Mulroy, LPC            In the first part of this series, I discussed ways in which you can identify and help seniors who may be struggling with a mental health issue. In Part II, I want to discuss how you can support yourself as well as your older loved one while taking care of them. For the purpose of this blog, I’ll assume that there is a parent or grandparent/child dynamic taking place. As parents and grandparents…

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How Can I Stop Being a People Pleaser

July 17, 2021

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC             The truth is, we all need to try our best to get along with one another. This is how we are able to keep humanity (for the most part) to stay intact. However, some people work extra hard. People pleasers. People pleasers rely on others’ approval to feel good about themselves and struggle to say no to people for fear of feeling guilty or worrying that others might think they’re selfish. In…

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How Can I Feel Happier?

July 14, 2021

By Eric Dean, JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC Americans are unhappier now than they have ever been in the last 50 years. Let that sink in for a moment. This is paradoxical in that over the past 50 years there has been a substantial increase in inflation-adjusted per capita income, an improved standard of living, and a proliferation of digital technologies that have given us unprecedented levels of convenience and connectedness. Perhaps, one could reasonably argue…

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How Can I Cope with Post-Covid Social Anxiety? Part 2

July 13, 2021

In part 1 of this blog post we discussed what social anxiety is, why it may be happening and whether or not we may be experiencing it. As a refresher, social anxiety is when anxious feelings are present as a result of interacting with others. The presence of social anxiety has grown due to spending 12+ months barely speaking to or interacting with anyone, leading to the thought of socializing becoming incredibly daunting and overwhelming for many…

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How Can I Cope with Post-Covid Social Anxiety? Part 1

July 12, 2021

As more people receive the Covid-19 vaccine and begin to feel safer reconnecting with friends and family, I’ve found many clients remain apprehensive about reaching out or scheduling plans. While much of this is likely related to the mindset, we’ve developed over the past year of what it means to keep ourselves and others safe, a new hurdle seems to have developed. Regardless of having struggled with a mental health disorder in the past or not, many…

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How Can Creating a Plan Keep Socializing from Exhausting Us?

July 11, 2021

If you feel like you went from having no social plans to your calendar being booked solid, you’re not alone. It seems people have found themselves with two years’ worth of plans crammed into a couple of months. After over a year of isolation, jumping back into a jammed pack social schedule can feel incredibly overwhelming and draining. There’s no shame in starting slowly and listening to your mind and body when they tell you you’ve had…

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