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Divided Americans and Couples Therapy: Reducing Conflict within Relationships, Pt. 1

June 18, 2020

Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC When it comes to politics, friends, relatives and strangers are consistently shouting at each other as opposed to engaging in discussions. Emotionally charged exchanges seem to be more of the norm these days “in venues ranging from local governments to national ruling bodies across the world.” Sometimes you may be reminded of a struggling marriage when you witness these shout-fests. Couples therapists would agree and utilize many interventions that have scientifically proven…

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Asserting Needs

June 14, 2020

Danielle Bertini, LPC It can be hard expressing needs directly to someone, especially when our wishes aren’t aligned with the other person’s. Asking for what we need is the principle behind assertiveness (Gillihan, 2018). Being assertive often gets confused with being aggressive, as if being assertive means demanding that others give you what you want. However, according to Alberti and Emmons, being assertive actually falls between being passive or being aggressive. It’s a fine line to walk,…

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So, Can Nature Actually Help Reduce My Anxiety?

June 10, 2020

I work with many clients who are stressed and overwhelmed related to their jobs. My job as their clinical therapist is to better understand why the client is anxious at their job and then possible coping strategies to better manage their anxiety at work. One thing I often recommend to clients is utilizing a holistic approach in managing their anxiety, specifically using nature as a way to help reduce their anxiety. I recently read an article from…

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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: A Lesson in Unhealthy Communication Styles

June 8, 2020

Kyle Lawell, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) It’s safe to say that nearly all couples have arguments at some point in their relationship. We may argue about whose in-laws we’re going to see for the holidays, who took out the garbage last week, or what color we should paint the kitchen. In the best-case scenario, these arguments are resolved in an adaptive, healthy, and respectful manner between the two partners. Other times, however, these arguments are filled with…

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It’s Us and We, Not You and Me

June 6, 2020

Kyle Lawell, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Relationships, even the best ones, can be difficult. We often make sacrifices in our lives to make our partners happy. We might change our work schedule so we can pick up the kids after school or agree to take on more responsibility with the newborn so that our spouse can go back to work. In these times of need, it is crucial that people within a relationship remember that they are…

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Post COVID-19 Pandemic Preparation

June 1, 2020

Steven Losardo, Marriage and Family Therapist In a variety of ways, the impact of COVID-19 has been devastating to many people. Most of us are in a season of transition while waiting to get back to some kind of “normal.” The postponement of life as we know it has been a difficult adjustment. While we cannot control when COVID-19 stay-at-home ends, we can prepare to be successful when the day arrives. Most of us have been in…

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Why You Should Cook with Your Partner

May 30, 2020

Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW There are many things that couples can do together to strengthen their relationship, but one I often recommend and have found to be highly helpful is cooking together. Cooking together can help bring people closer together and help them better understand and appreciate each other. Below are a few reasons why it is worth a try: Teamwork: One of the key reasons cooking together can be so useful is because you are working together.…

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Trust and Commitment Within a Relationship

May 18, 2020

John and Julie Gottman, known somewhat as the leaders in the couples’ therapy world, created a book consisting of eight dates essential for every couple to have. Each date is a different topic consisting of varying questions for both self-exploration and conversation starters. Each topic of conversation is crucial for the continued development of a healthy relationship. Regardless of what stage of a relationship you’re in, whether you’ve been married for 30 years or recently began dating,…

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What’s Your Attachment Style?

May 12, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  If you want to improve your relationships, it might be helpful to identify your style of attachment. Your attachment style usually manifests in childhood and impacts your attachment patterns as an adult. The four types of attachment styles are secure, avoidant, anxious, and disorganized.  Do you know which style of attachment is yours? In order to identify your style, you should look for patterns of how you function and feel in…

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Attachment Figures Who Aren’t Your Parents

May 10, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified An “attachment figure” is just what it sounds like: a figure to whom you attach. It was once thought that your main attachment figures were your parents. But the more we learn about attachment, the more we realize that people don’t just attach to their parents but attach to a variety of different figures in their lives. In fact, some people do not attach to their biological parents at all. Why?…

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