mental health
Hannah Hopper, LPC, NCC With so much loss in our world right now, many of those around us (and maybe even we) are struggling to cope. And yet, when others in our life come to us and are struggling, we often try to focus on the positive things and say something like “look on the bright side” or “it could be worse.” We are a “good vibes only” culture, and when others are truly struggling, we may…
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Jessica Pontis, LCSW It may be safe to say that we all have had those moments, whether by ourselves in our beds or with a group of friends, where we feel completely lonely. This of course is difference from being alone. Being alone is simply being by ourselves, whereas being lonely is a pervasive feeling of isolation. Loneliness can be a sadness associated with this isolation, and feelings of persistent loneliness are often connected with feelings…
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Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Change is hard. No matter how much motivation you may have, change is difficult to establish and maintain. If you’re trying to make a change in your life and are feeling stuck, you should consider secondary gains, which may be obstacles in your way. Secondary gains are anything that you gain from your current psychological and/or physiological conditions. These gains could be both good and bad. For example, let’s say that…
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Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, NCC, MA When most of us think of trauma, our mind likely flashes to the most extreme circumstances, including war; however, many of us, whether knowingly or unknowingly, have experienced a traumatic event in our lifetime. Losing friends and family members, witnessing violence, incurring abuse, and living through a natural disaster are just a few of the ever growing list of experiences and events that can cause distress and in some cases, inflict injury to…
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Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, NCC, MA Some people may find the idea of therapy a bit unsettling if they have never actually tried it. The idea that the client is expected to tell their life story to a complete stranger might make a person uncomfortable to say the least. Despite this initial awkwardness, many people will still seek out the help of a mental health counselor in hopes that they can provide support, encouragement, and advice as they navigate…
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Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC The quotation, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about” carries more truth than most of us may comprehend. 1 in every 4 people will experience mental health issues over the course of their lifetime, which begs the question: how many people are then impacted peripherally? With spouses, children, parents, friends, coworkers and colleagues all playing a vital role in a person’s life, it is important to…
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Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC Since the start of the pandemic, many of us have found ourselves in the same cart as the roller coaster of emotions barrels rapidly and relentlessly through the air and back down to earth, over and over again, feeling an overwhelming sense of powerlessness to stop or even slow its course. Whether fueled by fears for our health and safety, exhaustion from a lack of routine, or sadness over loss of connection, lowered…
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While the connection between nature and mental health may not be entirely shocking, just how strong the connection is, and how much of an impact nature has on emotional well-being can be enlightening to many individuals. While this concept may seem simple, there’s actually more to this process of connection than simply standing outside and staring at a tree. Today’s fast paced world where many things are easily accessible to us leaves few things to be awed…
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Jessica Pontis, LCSW Humans are innately social creatures, we depend on one another for interaction, support, and community. We live in intricate social structures that we must navigate day in and day out. Our relationships with one another, while rewarding, can also be complex. As a result of these complexities, we can feel hurt by the words or actions of others, sometimes ever our own. Others may make us feel disappointed, unheard, unvalidated. All these things can…
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Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR certified What is a work-life balance? Think of it this way: you have one gallon of water per day. You have to invest some of this water to work obligations and some to your life outside of work. How much would you invest in each? 50/50? 60/40? Everyone has to decide how to balance their work with other aspects of their lives. A 50/50 balance, for example, doesn’t work for everyone. The…
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