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The Hardest Person to Forgive: Myself

April 24, 2019

Steven Topper When I was young, I learned about forgiveness. My teachers and parents explained that when someone wrongs me in some way, it’s up to me to say, “I forgive you.” In fact, adults would typically place the person in front of me, ask them to say, “Sorry,” and wait for that very response. Often the reverse was true too, with me asking for forgiveness from another kid. For me, the conversation stopped there for many…

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On Attempting to Answer the Questions of Purpose

April 22, 2019

Steven Topper At some point in our lives, the questions we ask about the world grow in magnitude. When we are little ones, we love to ask big questions about what we’re all doing here. However, as we grow up, this curiosity often vanishes. For many of us, as children we find order and structure in school, and direction through getting into college and/or looking for work. Then we find direction in seeking connection with others and…

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5 Ways to Connect with Your Inner Child

April 20, 2019

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR “In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play” -Friedrich Nietzsche Do you remember the child that you used to be? I hope that you do. But if you don’t, that kid hasn’t left you. Your inner child lives inside you and needs to be acknowledged and nourished. Some people have a strong connection to their inner child, while others might feel more distant from them. Some adults might believe…

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Destigmatizing Self-Injury: What to Know and How to Help

April 16, 2019

While so much of mental illness is stigmatized through movies, television, and news, few topics are as divisive as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). In critically acclaimed movies such as Black Swan and The Wrestler, depictions of NSSI often come from wounded protagonists who clearly suffer from profound mental health issues. Clinical definitions of nonsuicidal self-injury describe the behavior as: Direct and self-inflicted destruction or alteration of body tissue occurring without suicidal intent or developmental disorder. The most common…

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The Dangers of Always Wanting More Self-Improvements

April 14, 2019

I work with many clients who are truly struggling in their life, whether it is in their professional or personal life, or perhaps both at the same time. These clients many times are experiencing depression and/or anxiety. They likely are seeking therapy to find a way to cope with these many life stressors. My job as their clinical therapist is to help them understand why these aspects in their life are causing stress, anxiety, or depression and…

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Injecting the Wonder of Childhood into Adult Life

April 12, 2019

How often have you heard an adult say, “I wish I could be a kid again?” Most kids don’t have a true understanding of the responsibilities of adulthood, so many adults look back on their childhood with a desire to gain some of the wonder, freedom, lightness, and playfulness they experienced as kids. We are especially prone to thinking this way when we are feeling bogged down by the drudgeries of everyday life, attempting to juggle work,…

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Self-Care for Millennials

April 8, 2019

Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW The ideas that millennials are too disengaged or unwilling to put in hard work have unfortunately been taken as fact for years, regardless of the fact that nobody can agree on exactly what a millennial is or that those who make these arguments are ignoring how the world is so completely different now than it was 20, 30, 40 years ago. We live in a world in which social media looms over all aspects…

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Why People have Negative Thinking Patterns and the Secret Tool to Stop it

April 6, 2019

I work with many clients who struggle with anxiety and/or depression for a variety of reasons, whether they are struggling in their personal or professional life, or maybe a significant life transition. I have come to notice that many clients who struggle with their anxiety and/or depression have a tendency to have negative thoughts which increases their anxiety/depression. As their clinical therapist, I certainly help them discover reasons and triggers for their negative thinking patterns, and then…

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Compassionate Self-Talk: How to Talk to Yourself Like You Talk to Your Friends

April 4, 2019

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Are you more compassionate to your friends than you are to yourself? Many of us are. Imagine a conversation that you might have with a friend in which they come to you and say, “I should be doing more. I’ve gotten little accomplished at work this past month. What’s wrong with me?” You reply, “From what you’ve told me, you’re doing the best you can. You have a lot going on right now…

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The Single Life

April 2, 2019

Have you heard messages from your friends such as, “So, have you met anyone yet?” or “How is your dating life?” Have family functions become constant family members asking, “When are you going to get married? I want grandchildren!” As a therapist, I have heard several clients share that they have received these messages while they have been single. Additionally, I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Mastering the Art of Being Single”…

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