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How to Broach COVID-19 With Children

February 12, 2021

By Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC Living in the midst of a pandemic, we are constantly being inundated with news reports, statistics, and real-life stories about the impact of COVID-19. With a so-called “second wave” of shutdowns, it is no surprise that our children are also starting to feel the effects of pandemic fatigue. Schools have been closed for months, play dates have become a distant memory, and feelings of fear, frustration, and anxiety are likely building if…

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How to Boost Your Self-Esteem

February 11, 2021

Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC Put simply, self-esteem is the way that we view ourselves and our capabilities. For some, their opinion of themselves is very positive; however, for others, they may find that they are stuck in a pit hole of self-criticism. Falling victim to low self-esteem is not an age-related event, as it can happen throughout our lives and can even be a result of trauma, toxic relationships, work stress, or other difficult experiences that make…

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How Do I Separate Work and Home While Working From Home?

February 7, 2021

Ariannah Hood, LMSW If your home has become your workspace, you may have found it difficult to separate your personal and professional life. By no longer having the ability to leave a work building and enter your home at the end of a workday creates blurred lines between those parts of your life. It is vital to set boundaries while working from home so that you can be productive while working while also reclaiming your house as…

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How Do I Give Advice to a Teenager?

February 4, 2021

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  Adults have valuable information and life experiences that can benefit teenagers. Yet, teens often struggle to appreciate, absorb, and implement the advice they receive from adults. If you want to give a teen advice, consider these strategies to improve the chances that the teen will act on it. Ask for Permission Imagine this: A friend sends you a text that reads, “You should read this,” and a link to an article…

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How Can I Motivate Teenagers?

February 3, 2021

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Teenagers have many obligations, such as school attendance and assignments, chores, hygiene practices, social activities, and family events. Teens will usually lack the motivation to meet their obligations if they feel alienated from them for one reason or another; they may struggle to take an interest in certain tasks because they are unable to perceive their importance, or perhaps simply because they feel overwhelmed by them. Thus, teens often avoid completing…

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How Can I Establish Boundaries with My Family During the Holidays?

February 2, 2021

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified The holidays often present situations in which you need to establish and maintain boundaries with your family. This process can be difficult, as setting boundaries can feel frustrating, uncomfortable, and scary. Yet, boundaries are necessary in order to protect yourself and improve your relationships with your family. Consider establishing boundaries with respect to a number of sensitive and potentially inflammatory topics, such as safety, child-rearing, housekeeping, religion and politics, food choices,…

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How To Cope With the Winter Blues During the Pandemic

February 1, 2021

I work with many clients who struggle with anxiety and/or depression whether it is related to their personal life, professional life, the political climate, the pandemic, or the darker and shorter winter-like days. 2020 certainly has been having a significant impact on my clients’ mental and physical health. Many times, around this year I encourage clients to think about ways to be proactive regarding the “winter blues.” The “winter blues” likely is going to be more challenging…

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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): What is it and How Does it Work

January 31, 2021

Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, LPC Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy that encourages people to accept and ultimately let go of their negative feelings and thoughts rather than seeking to avoid or eliminate them. It is a mindfulness-based strategy that invites people to push through the unpleasant situation and regulating their internal state while doing so. ACT has been effectively used to treat stress, depression, anxiety, and other medical illness such as chronic pain, diabetes,…

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How Can I Cope With My Mistakes?

January 30, 2021

Have you recently made a mistake? I am sure you have, as I too have made mistakes. I often work with clients about how to cope with past decisions in order to live their life in a meaningful way in the present moment. Many clients tend to ruminate over and over about something they did in the past. I often encourage them to give themselves a sense of grace and/or self-compassion to soothe that anxiety around their…

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Do You Know How to Navigate Thanksgiving Family Dysfunction?

January 29, 2021

Steven Losardo, AMFT Suppose you are a part of your family’s annual Thanksgiving Day argument. In the past several years, there was effort, and hope was that things would be different. Unfortunately, despite your efforts, you still find yourself caught in the drama. Even knowing the annual Thanksgiving Day dispute was in existence a good twenty years before you were on the scene does not seem to change this. In the end, your family ends up colluding…

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