When pets become sick or injured, it causes considerable stress and anxiety for the owners. People often don’t think of the impact it has on the doctors, nurses, and other support staff that are treating the beloved fur-babies. Those professionals enter the field because of their love, passion, and commitment to the creatures that enter through their office doors. While in school, I had the opportunity to work in this area and have first-hand experience behind the scenes.

Allow me to introduce you to a treatment called EMDR. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. I know… it’s a mouthful! Stay with me for a moment, as this is just a fancy title for a treatment that helps our traumatic memories become less disturbing. The memory of a troubling event (or phobia) can get “stuck” in our mind or body.

The pain born of such suffering can paralyze us, leaving us broken inside and barely getting by with the motions of life. Whether we remain stuck or move forward is determined in large part by our resilience.

Are you filling in the blanks for others? Knowing and accepting that we cannot control other’s thoughts and feelings have been part of my process, and they might be a part of yours too.

10 Ideas for Successful at Home School Learning

While everyone is affected by COVID-19 differently, there are at least two ways in which this pandemic has impacted us all. It is important to understand how COVID has influenced us to better understand effective strategies and ways to cope with this new life stressor.

My running partner and I have covered a lot of miles together. I have come to realize she is often the motivator and I’m the detractor. She is like sunshine and I’m like the rain. She soars and I drag my Asics. As we near the top of a steep hill I think “this is where I die” and she shouts “we got this!”

The most frequently expressed concern about Play Therapy is the perception that there is no apparent treatment goal and that activities are purely about play. This could not be further from the truth!

Research strongly supports the use of agonist medications, such as Suboxone or buprenorphine, to reduce opioid use and help clients stay in therapy (Connery, H. S., 2015). When someone becomes physically dependent on opioids, excruciating withdrawal symptoms can keep them stuck in the cycle of addiction. Medications, such as Suboxone, block the receptor cites eliminating drug cravings and painful withdrawal symptoms, allowing that person the freedom to return to normal functioning.

I am writing to spark a critical conversation on the topic of childhood sexual trauma. I care very deeply about the lives I am fortunate enough to be a part of through my therapy profession. After many interactions with clients, colleagues, and individuals in my personal life, it became clear that the conversation needs amplifying.

“Anxiety” can refer to many experiences. Nervousness before taking an exam or going to a job interview. Worrying about whether you made a good impression on your date. A general feeling of dread and ‘what-ifs’ not attached to any specific event. A sudden surge of fear, with a trigger or without, that can’t be reasoned out of. With so much falling under the heading of ‘anxiety,’ it’s no wonder that generalized statements such as ‘everyone gets anxious, don’t worry!’ or ‘anxiety should always be medicated!’ can produce misunderstandings, frustration, and the sense that you’re not being listened to.

Katrina believes each client has the potential for transformation and growth. Her approach to counseling is holistic, collaborative and client centered taking into consideration that the mind, body and spirit influence an individual’s view of the world. Her areas of focus are working with adults and adolescents experiencing anxiety and depression and individuals who need guidance with life transitions (i.e., divorce, midlife changes, parenthood). Clients can expect a non-judgmental and warm environment that seeks to promote empowerment and meaningful change.

We can’t judge, criticize or be angry at others as we are not all experiencing the same crisis. This is not the time to politicize this issue, pass judgement, condemn or ridicule anyone. This is the time to be caring, helpful, mindful, thoughtful, and most importantly understanding. We may all be navigating through the same rough waters, our destination may be the same, but we are all traveling a different journey.

During this unique global moment, it is evermore clear we cannot control external forces – what happens out there. Never has it been more evident that what we do for ourselves, we do for one another. While we collaborate, as a human race - by home sheltering and making healthy choices - the onus is on every person to engage in self-care. It is important to remember that wellness is a holistic state of being which calls upon mind-body synergy. Simple daily choices genuinely impact what is going on inside each of us. Immune systems can be bolstered with a three-prong approach focusing on gut health, mood stability and overall mindfulness.

It’s said that absence makes the heart grow fonder. When hearing that said, one immediately thinks of a sweetheart, a spouse, family member, loved one or lifelong friend. But during this extended period of time when we have to be isolated from one another, we’re also hearing about similar feelings from sports fans who are saying that they can’t wait for things like baseball, hockey and football to start up once again. Many say that they are having withdrawal pains without March Madness, The Kentucky Derby or The Masters Golf Tournament.

To begin, I’d like to state that “Parent Guilt” is real and it often stems from institutional and societal pressures conveyed to us all. This phenomenon can manifest into torturous, cruel thoughts and beliefs, often accompanied by high-stress levels. Parent guilt is defined as the strong emotions one experiences when feeling inadequate in the lives of our children.

It is amazing to me how quickly our perspectives can change. While I still prefer face to face therapy, telebehavioral health has literally been lifesaving. I am able to continue to serve my clients while we remain safely quarantined so our community can be a part of the solution…stopping the transmission of the Corona Virus.

Taking Care of Your Child’s Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty. Inspired by psychologist Dr. Doreen Marshall’s “Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty,” here are five steps that we can take to help our children navigate the stress of a global pandemic.

Many clients who come to therapy are hesitant to explore family of origin issues that impact their current level of functioning. Many therapists use theory that is forward-focused and does not have an emphasis on past issues, but it is important to get a clear history of adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) to know how best to help our patients.

Anxiety is the number one mental health issue affecting children and adolescents today. Children suffering from anxiety have persistent fears or worries that significantly impact their personal, academic, and social lives, and if left untreated, can hinder their adult lives as well. While some fears and worries in children are natural, others can develop into diagnosable disorders, including but not limited to, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety disorder, illness anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.