Brainspotting (BSP) is a new form of therapy that can help people process and overcome trauma. Developed by a psychotherapist who has spent years working with survivors of trauma, brainspotting has been used by many mental health professionals to effectively treat a variety of mental health issues. How Does it Work? Brainspotting is akin to EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Essentially, the direction in which people look or hold their gaze affects the way they feel.  During a brainspotting session, the therapist helps the client position their eyes in ways that allow ..read more

The holidays are just around the corner, and that means many of us will forego our diets – and common sense – and indulge in a variety of food and spirits. And while it may seem harmless to “live it up” once in a while, drinking too much alcohol can have some pretty dramatic effects on the body. Here are some of the things alcohol does to your health, and why you will want to limit how much you drink over the holidays: Brain Fog Alcohol disrupts the communication pathways inside your brain and can even affect the way your brain looks and works. Not only will you have trouble with clear thinkin ..read more

The holidays are often a complex time for many people. On the one hand, there is a sense of joy in the air, while on the other hand, sorrow and grief because of either a loss or dysfunctional family dynamic. The following are some ways you can deal with family trauma around the holidays. Have an Escape Plan It’s important to not isolate over the holidays. Being around loved ones who support and care for you can be a comfort. Having said that, you’ll also want to have a plan that will allow you to get away from crowds and holiday festivities when you feel yourself become triggered or emotional ..read more

According to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in this country, claiming more than 47,000 people’s lives in 2019. In fact, there was nearly double the rate of suicides that year as homicides (19,141). Suicide prevention is an incredibly important agenda, and the reason Lifeline and other mental health organizations have come together to raise awareness of the issue during September, which has officially become National Suicide Prevention Month.  Suicide is still a stigmatized and taboo topic, and this ..read more

For a year now, most of us have been unhappy with living a life in quarantine, wondering when the world would finally get back to normal. With vaccines rolling out and most towns and cities reaching herd immunity, society is beginning to open back up. Now if you are like some Americans, part of you is happy for life to return to normal, and another part of you is experiencing what some psychologists call “re-entry anxiety.” According to a report from the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly 50% of Americans have expressed that they feel some anxiety regarding re ..read more

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect roughly 40 million people over the age of 18 in the United States. Though these disorders are highly treatable, only 36.9% of those with anxiety seek treatment. Perhaps this is because of busy schedules or a lack of insurance that causes so many people with anxiety to suffer in silence. But there are proven strategies you can do that don’t cost a penny and take little time. In fact, you could do any of the following strategies on your lunch or coffee break. Here are some ways to reduce your anxiety: Breath ..read more

“God, you can be so stupid sometimes.” “Why would he be attracted to YOU?” “You’re just going to screw this up.” These are things you would probably never say to another human being unless you’re a real jerk. But how many of us have that inner critic that says these kinds of things all the time. Most of us treat ourselves far more harshly than we would anyone else. And that’s a shame. In my experience, so much of the depression and anxiety my clients feel stems from a dysfunctional relationship they have with themselves. But every day is a chance for you to develop a loving relationship w ..read more

If you struggle to set goals, let alone reach them, you are definitely not alone. In fact, it is thought that roughly 92% of the population has found it hard to stick to goals. This constant cycle of trying to set beneficial life or health goals, but never quite reaching them, can ultimately lead to depression. That’s because reaching goals is empowering and helps us feel we are in charge of our life. When we don’t reach goals, we feel powerless and even hopeless that our lives can change for the better! How Counseling Can Help Just as you must follow a recipe to the proverbial “T” to end up w ..read more

Life has been very challenging this past year and a half or more! The impact of Covid-19 and wildfires affects us. We are not robots! You are feeling tense and overwhelmed. You keep forgetting things even when you put reminders on your phone and your “to do” list. You wonder if you are losing your mind. The thoughts in your mind keep whirling around and it seems impossible to put the brakes on them. You need effective tools. Stress can trigger the “fight, flight, freeze” part of our brain. When that happens the part of our brain that can think things through, and problem solve doesn’t work as ..read more

When we’re young, life transitions are fun and empowering. We go from crawling to walking, walking to running. We start with training wheels but soon no longer need them. As we age we graduate into higher grades and become more independent. But as adults, life transitions can feel not so fun and far from empowering, because life transitions can often include loss: loss of a job, a marriage, and loved ones. During these life transitions, we can feel out to sea, completely at the mercy of the tides that seem to be tossing our lifeboat around. If you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed right now ..read more