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6 Reasons To Go To Therapy

November 30, 2020

Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC Despite what is often depicted in TV shows and movies, therapy involves much more than just laying on a couch and talking about your feelings. Widespread stigmatization of counseling can lead to misconceptions about what exactly therapy is and how it can be helpful. The fact of the matter is, therapy can be an incredibly powerful tool in helping to work through past trauma, better regulate and manage emotions, navigate grief and transition,…

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Why Is Journaling Helpful for My Mental Health?

November 28, 2020

I work with many clients who are anxious and/or depressed related to their personal life or professional life, and sometimes both. My job as their clinician is to better help understand possible reasons why my client is anxious and/or depressed, and then to provide possible coping strategies to better manage their anxiety and/or depression. I often recommend clients to journal in between sessions. Many clients typically respond by saying, “Sure, I’m open to journaling, but how and…

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How Can We Grieve the Loss of a Life We Had Wanted?

November 26, 2020

I’m one of those people who knew what I wanted to do from a young age. I knew I wanted to help people and I knew I wanted to be a mom. Once I had my end goals in place, I began working backwards to see the steps I’d need to take at each stage of my life in order to make my dreams a reality. Through my work I’ve come to realize I am not alone…

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How Can I Become a Better Leader?

November 25, 2020

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC In some ways, we are constantly seeking “the best” from people. We want the best doctors, the best service at a restaurant, or even to get the best advice from friends. We don’t want people who will just tell us what to do, but people who have our best interests in mind. In this way, we are looking for great leadership. And we all have the ability to provide leadership at some point…

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What is Emotional Intelligence and How Can We Increase It?

November 22, 2020

Emotional intelligence has become a term loosely thrown around in various situations. Whether it’s utilized to praise someone or put someone down it seems evaluating someone’s emotional intelligence has become as commonplace as recognizing an individual’s intellect. Although the terminology has become more commonplace, do we know what we’re actually saying when we refer to emotional intelligence? “Emotional intelligence, also known as EQ, deals with people’s ability to recognize the presence of a negative or ‘hot’ emotional…

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What Can I Expect From My First Therapy Session?

November 21, 2020

Hannah Hopper, LPC, NCC  There are many different reasons why people seek out therapy. Maybe there are things going on in your life right now that are causing you to feel anxious and stressed, or maybe there are some hurts from your past that you haven’t healed from yet. Some people come to therapy hoping to learn more about themselves, while others see it as a way to work on a relationship that is struggling. Whatever the…

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How Can I Build Deeper Intimacy with My Partner?

November 19, 2020

Steven Losardo, AMFT This blog will highlight some ways for a couple to create intimacy. Additionally, the blog will review how a couple can intentionally create rituals to continue these. The practice gives the couple a meaningful way to connect and something that you can look forward to (Gottman, 2017). Finally,  rituals help the couple keep on track with the new behaviors and not revert to old patterns. The “royal road” to intimacy is emotional availability and…

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Relationships: Is Our Conflict Healthy?

November 18, 2020

Hannah Hopper, LPC, NCC Having conflicts is a normal part of being in a relationship. Healthy conflict with your partner can lead to better communication and a stronger relationship as both parties are able to talk about what’s important to them. But having healthy conflict is difficult, and most of us engage in behaviors that can be damaging to our relationship. Below are some ways to learn more about the kind of conflict you’re engaging in.  Healthy…

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Why Is Negative Thinking Detrimental and How Do I Combat It? Part II

November 17, 2020

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC You may have read part one to this blog series, which began discussing the detrimental nature of negative thinking and offering interventions and suggestions for getting out of the unhealthy spiral. Below are some continued things that you can do to work against this corrupt thought process.  Release Judgment  All human beings have the tendency to judge others, as well as themselves – and this usually happens unconsciously. When we are…

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6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Gap Year from School

November 15, 2020

I have worked with many clients who are new graduates from high school and college. Many times, they speak to me about their many concerns, stressors, and anxiety about the many questions centering around, “what am I going to do next in my life?” This recent spring, due to the pandemic, that question has become even harder to answer for my college aged clients. Many are considering taking a gap year either in between their school years…

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