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Amanda Ann Gregory

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How Do I Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance While Working Remotely?

January 8, 2021

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR certified  What is a work-life balance? Think of it this way: you have one gallon of water per day. You have to invest some of this water to work obligations and some to your life outside of work. How much would you invest in each? 50/50? 60/40? Everyone has to decide how to balance their work with other aspects of their lives. A 50/50 balance, for example, doesn’t work for everyone. The…

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How Can I Decrease My Screen Time? Part 2

January 5, 2021

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  If you need to decrease your screen time, try these additional methods.  Decrease Triggers A trigger is anything that causes you to want to engage in screen time. Triggers can be a time of the day, an activity, an emotion, a visual cue, or anything else. You may not have a thought or desire to check your phone until your phone lights up with a new notification, and then you have…

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How Can I Decrease My Screen Time? Part 1

January 4, 2021

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  Phones, TVs, and computers are a large part of your life, and that’s unlikely to change. Yet, spending too much time on these devices can have a negative impact on your mental health. They may cause anxiety, loneliness, fatigue, insomnia, and stress. Screen time is defined as any activity that involves a screen, such as watching TV/movies, playing video games, searching the internet/scrolling, or connecting with social media.  Do you need…

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Dysfunctional Family Roles Part 3: Are You a Lost Child or A Compulsive?

November 4, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  The Lost Child Aliases: “The Quiet One” “The Shy One,” “The Independent”  The “lost child” is the family member who retreats from family dysfunction due to feeling overwhelmed. They can spend a lot of time alone, pursue singular interests, and/or struggle to establish or maintain relationships with others. The lost child is rarely seen as a stressor in the family (unless they develop a compulsive coping mechanism; see #6, below).  For…

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Dysfunctional Family Roles Part 2: Are You a Scapegoat or A Hero?

November 3, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  The Scapegoat Aliases: “The Problem,” “The Bad One,” “The Crazy One” The scapegoat is the person in the family who is obviously struggling. They might express unhealthy behaviors, such as participation in illegal activities or acting out in the classroom or in the home. They might be viewed as unstable or as a “rebel.” The scapegoat is often in the family spotlight because they are regarded as the family member who…

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Dysfunctional Family Roles Part 1: Are You an Enabler or a Jester?

November 1, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  Regardless of if your family is biological or chosen, you have a role in your family. Your role may be healthy, unhealthy, or perhaps a combination of both. There are many factors that contribute to which role(s) you adopt and which one(s) you do not. It’s important to assess and change any dysfunctional roles in order to support your emotional health and improve your family relationships.  Ask yourself, do I embody…

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6 Ways to Better Utilize Your Mentors

September 10, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  Mentors are all around you. These experienced and trusted advisers can be bosses, coworkers, friends, family members, neighbors, community members, coworkers, and children, to name a few. They provide modeling, education, feedback, and growth in both your professional and personal development. Are you utilizing your mentors? If not, you could be missing out.  Consider these 6 ways to better utilize your mentors: Identify. Who are your mentors? It’s important to be…

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Practical Tips to Help Children Fall Asleep

August 27, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  There are many emotional reasons why children struggle to fall asleep. They might feel excited, worried, bored, or distracted, which can make it difficult to wind down. Try these tips to help a child to fall asleep:  Meet Comfort Needs What does the child need to feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed at night? You can identify these needs by asking the child, or you can experiment by providing these needs and…

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Active Listening Games for Kids

August 3, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  Teaching children active listening skills is vital. These skills can help children improve their social skills and relationships. Here are a few games that you can use to teach active listening skills to a child in your life.  Disclaimer  All children struggle to listen; it’s a fact. Poor listening is a component of healthy child development. Children often interrupt, struggle to remain still, forget, and get easily distracted. Sometimes, adults unknowing…

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