Holiday Anxiety
Home for the holidays can often present a great deal of anxiety. What is supposed to be a joyous time of sitting around the fireplace with hot cocoa and laughter can quickly become a dredging up of painful childhood memories. Why? This happens to my clients all the time. In one environment a client may…
Science Proves the Benefits of Being Thankful
Well it’s taken a few thousand years, but neuroscience has figured out the reason for the biblical mandate to be thankful. According to a study by psychologists Dr. Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis and Dr. Michael McCullough of the University of Miami those that practiced gratitude reported feeling more optimistic and…
Pit Stop Therapy
What is Short Term Therapy (STT)? Often called brief therapy or time-limited therapy, STT is ideal for someone who has one issue they are trying to resolve that requires only a few therapy sessions, typically one to seven. Is Short Term Therapy for me? Whether it be a new life stressor or challenge that needs…
Anxiety and Children
Starting anything new can be stressful, but it is even more so for young children who lack the experiences associated with new beginnings. Perhaps nothing brings about more anxiety than starting a new school year. Stress is brought on due to so many unknowns- Students I’ve never met before Environments I’m unfamiliar with Teachers who…
Ask the Therapist-Is My Teen Suicidal?
Teen suicides are on the rise in America, with a 24% increase between 1999 and 2014; the highest rate recorded in 28 years. Why? Perhaps they are keeping better records, but regardless, you have to ask what makes a young person with an entire life ahead of them decide that life isn’t worth living at…
Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
Blood is thicker than water. I’ve often hear that idiom used to describe the required commitment to family regardless of competing influences. The problem with this idea is that not all families have healthy ways of doing things. Sometimes conflict arises when an individual tries to move beyond family expectations and try something new or…