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Breaking Up With A Friend

June 25, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling As you move through the stages of life, there may be friends you just seem to have outgrown. These are the friends who hurt you, make you feel bad about yourself, constantly complain, only talk about themselves, bring you down, or consume too much of your time and energy. While you may be aware this friend is not healthy for you the most difficult part of wanting to break up…

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How To Motivate Yourself for Change

June 17, 2018

In the blog post “Stages of Change in SMART Recovery,” you might have thought to yourself that I should/want to make a certain change in my life but I do not even know where to start. You might also be wanting to help someone else make a change in their lifestyle and they are needing your help. As a recap, the Stages of Change are Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, and Termination. Also relapse can occur at…

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6 Simple Ways to Practice Self-Compassion and Overcome Regret

June 6, 2018

Have you ever done something that you regret? I am not sure that I have ever met someone that has not regret something in his or her past. Everyone makes mistakes, and those mistakes can create that dreaded feeling of guilt and/or shame. How can I move forward after making a mistake? You can start by practicing self-compassion. While it can be challenging to love others, sometimes it can be more challenging to love yourself. Dr. Brown…

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Checking In: Four Questions to Ask Your Therapist

May 27, 2018

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner If you’re participating in therapy, it’s a good idea to check in with your therapist from time to time about how it’s going. Check-ins can provide you with valuable feedback about your progress, treatment planning, and time frames, all of which can help you to make informed decisions about your treatment. Many people expect their therapists to initiate check-ins, but therapists do not always know when their clients need an update. As…

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Tips for Emotional Regulation

May 23, 2018

“I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” — Oscar Wilde As adults, we are expected to manage the emotions that we experience and to not let them be the driving force behind our behavior and decisions. That being said, everyone experiences moments when they feel overwhelmed with feeling. Unfortunately, not being able to control feelings, such as anger or anxiety, often…

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Traveling Together

May 14, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling As the saying goes, “If you want to learn if you are compatible with someone, travel together.” Traveling with your significant other is an opportunity to discover/rediscover aspects of their personality that you wouldn’t otherwise see. Being under the stress of buying plane tickets, finding places to stay, experiencing delayed or canceled flights, and being together 24/7 can display character traits that you have never imagined. You may experience a…

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10 Logistical Questions You Should Ask When You’re Choosing a Therapist

May 8, 2018

Amanda Gregory, LPCP, EMDR Practitioner It’s important to find a therapist who’s a good match for your personality and needs. The first step in this process is figuring out the logistics: who, what, when, where, how much. This essential information can often be found on agency websites or other online sources, but if you’re unable to find answers to certain questions, you’ll need to ask potential therapists directly. Here are 10 questions you should ask prospective therapists:…

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How to Break a Bad Habit

May 2, 2018

Old habits die hard, but when it comes to bad ones, die they must. Bad habits suck your time and energy. They make it impossible to achieve your goals and they are mentally and physically toxic. When you’re trying to move away from certain behaviors, there are ways to set yourself up for success. Identify Your Reason Habits are hard to break, so you need something to motivate you to break one. Before you take action, think…

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Are Negative Core Beliefs Shaping Your Choices?

April 23, 2018

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner I’m not good enough. I’m unlovable. I’m worthless. No one wants to believe these things. But they are common core beliefs. Dr. Greensberger and Dr. Padesky state that “core beliefs are absolute statements about ourselves, others or the world.” Core beliefs, they say, are “the deepest level of cognition.” In short, core beliefs are powerful. They dictate our emotions and actions, often without our awareness. These beliefs are created in childhood and…

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Empathy Exercises: Two Strategies to Help You Connect with Others

April 8, 2018

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner Empathy is one of the most powerful ways we can connect with others. Alfred Adler, founder of the school of individual psychology, wrote, “Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another.” The experience of stepping into someone else’s shoes without judgment and letting ourselves feel what they’re feeling is vital to experiencing intimacy in our relationships. But often it…

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