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Bridgette W. Gottwald LPC NCC

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Present Over Perfect, Part II: How Do I Re-Make My Life?

December 23, 2020

Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC You may have read part one to this blog series, which was titled “Present Over Perfect, Part I: How Is Therapy Similar to Vinegar?” which discussed the similarities between therapy and vinegar, and the many benefits the therapeutic relationship can bring to someone’s life. This blog continues to share some of Shauna Niequist’s ideas and concepts from her book, Present Over Perfect that are worth living by.  Stillness As we rush through…

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Navigating Romantic Relationships, Part II

December 20, 2020

Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Life is all about the connections we make and the relationships we sustain that bring joy and happiness into our lives. One of the most important relationships we will have is the one with the person that we choose to spend the rest of our life with. Choosing a life partner is difficult, and following and having trust within your own path with this is key. You’re not late, you’re not early,…

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Navigating Romantic Relationships, Part I

December 19, 2020

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC My clientele ranges from age eighteen to people in their forties and fifties, so romantic relationships come up in just about every session. The dating world can be confusing, and many clients wonder what to do when they are ready for the next step, but the partner fails to commit and wants to wait and see how and where it goes. Navigating Romantic Relationships: What If They Aren’t Certain About a…

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The Power of Pets

October 15, 2020

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC “In an age of research when it is tempting to reduce emotions to biochemical reactions and to rely heavily on the technology of medicine, it is refreshing to find that a person’s health and well-being may be improved by prescribing contact with other living things.” — Michael J. McCulloch, MD, co-founder of Pet Partners When it comes to mental health, research proves that there are many benefits behind pet ownership and interaction.…

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The Anatomy of Gratitude

October 14, 2020

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC “Today is a wonderful day…I haven’t seen this one before” – Maya Angelou  Recently, I listened to an insightful podcast titled “The Anatomy of Gratitude” with David Steindl-Rast, a ninety-three-year-old Benedictine monk and teacher on the subject of gratitude. He makes useful distinctions about experiences that are “life-giving” and “resilience-making.” He shares interesting perspectives on the ideas of gratefulness, joy and anxiety. If you haven’t listened to it yet, I highly…

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Jumping Off the High Dive: What Are My Anxiety and Body Telling Me?

September 21, 2020

Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Often people think their anxiety comes out of nowhere, but what if it was trying to get your attention and tell you something?  Typically, underneath any undesirable feeling that we experience, there is something beneath the surface that’s been left unaddressed. Most of our fears and worries revolve around what we can’t control and unfortunately, sometimes it ends up controlling us. Anxiety sets in, we are able to regulate less and less,…

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Get Grounded: Easy Techniques to Feel Balanced

September 17, 2020

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC During 2020, all of us have quickly learned that feeling unbalanced has become the new normal. All of our plans have been disrupted and destroyed, schedules have changed immensely, and things that used to be fairly simple have become more difficult. Particularly after traumas, it’s completely normal to experience flashbacks, anxiety, and symptoms that bring about discomfort. These grounding techniques serve people positively in that they help to control symptoms by…

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