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Quick Tips for Surviving the Holidays

December 15, 2017

The holiday season can be busy and stressful, but it can also be filled with joy and gratitude. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to have a positive and healthy holiday season. Just because it’s the holidays, doesn’t mean you have to overindulge. The parties and dinners are food-focused but you can keep on program with your meal regimen by setting structure and planning. Being prepared by having a plan for each event, such…

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Three Techniques to Understanding Your Teen

December 15, 2017

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Provider, Symmetry Counseling Audio Version They may not pay bills, have full-time jobs, or experience all the stress associated with being an adult, but that doesn’t mean teenagers have it easy. In fact, teens can experience significant daily stress. Their stressful experiences can be difficult for adults to understand, and this lack of understanding makes it challenging for adults to empathize and connect with teens. Here are three ways to better understand the…

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How to Deal with Sexual Rejection from Your Partner

December 12, 2017

You are in a great mood and feeling confident about your body. You decide that you would like to initiate sex with your partner. However, when you reach for them and suggest you go to the bedroom, they recoil and say they aren’t in the mood. Regardless of whether they do so because they are genuinely tired or they don’t desire you for other reasons, this can be quite painful to face. You don’t want to take…

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Calm Your Body, Calm Your Mind

December 12, 2017

Amanda Gregory, LCPC If you can relax your body, your mind will follow. Whether you’re experiencing a full panic attack or mild anxiety, you can’t always will yourself into a state of calm. You might already be using calming methods focused on the mind, such as identifying why you feel anxious, reasoning with yourself, or challenging your negative thought patterns. These techniques often work well, but other times you might continue to feel anxious despite your best…

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How to Talk to Your Boyfriend About His Trust Issues

December 5, 2017

In this video series, readers submit their questions for the therapists at Symmetry Counseling. In this blog, the letter writers asks Dr. Malec about the best way to talk to her boyfriend when he gets sulky and mistrustful at her going out with her friends. Watch the video above for Dr. Malec’s response, and read below for a summary of her advice. Dr. Malec says that in a relationship, we all need a balance of connection with…

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4 Methods to Manage Sibling Rivalry

December 4, 2017

Amanda Gregory, LCPC Sibling rivalry is a healthy aspect of child development. Interacting with siblings helps children practice navigating conflicts in relationships. But excessive sibling rivalry can have a detrimental impact on brothers and sisters as well as their caregivers. How can you tell when the rivalry between siblings has become a problem? Ask yourself these questions: Do they initiate physical aggression that has caused injuries on more than one occasion? Does one of the siblings appear…

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Keeping The Score

December 3, 2017

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling  Whether we do it consciously or subconsciously, we all keep score in our relationships to some degree. When we start keeping score in intimate relationships, we may tend to notice when we clean the house more, make more money, or take care of the kids more than our significant other. A study completed by Michael Ross and Fiore Sicoly in 1979 found nearly 75% of married couples overemphasized their contribution…

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Antidepressant 411

November 28, 2017

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Antidepressants are a medication commonly used to treat individuals struggling with symptoms of depression. Some of these symptoms include lack of interest, fatigue, hopelessness, sadness, and even suicidal thoughts. The decision to take an antidepressant, engage in outpatient psychological therapy, or combine the two is entirely up to the individual and their needs. If you and your doctor have decided it may be best to begin taking an antidepressant medication,…

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The Benefits of Pets

November 21, 2017

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Have you ever been curious as to why you smile at a dog every time one walks past you on the sidewalk? Do you notice that after you come home from a long, stressful day at work and play with your pet, you are in a better mood? It turns out that all pets, not just therapy pets, can boost your mood in many ways. While it’s easy to notice…

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Learn to Manage Anxiety by Prioritizing Your Worries

November 14, 2017

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner “Try not to worry.” “Stop worrying!” “Why don’t you just relax?” Such advice rarely provides any relief. It’s always difficult—and at times impossible—to stop worrying. Worrying is a common response when we encounter situations that we care deeply about. It can even be productive, as worrying can lead to increased focus, motivation, and action that can resolve problems. But worrying about too many things at once is often counterproductive. Anxiety can be…

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