Are you often feeling dread or unease? Do you find that your hands are sweating, your heart is racing, or your stomach is constantly in knots? What if I told you these, my friend, are known to be normal symptoms of anxiety? Anxiety is a feeling that arises when your body’s response to danger is activated. You might experience this when thinking about a test or being in a crowded room. What is ironic is that anxiety can manifest in various ways for different people. While it is commonly experienced, it doesn’t have to dominate your life. I want to help you alleviate your pain, calm your anxious mind, and be free from anxiety that interferes with your day-to-day life. Believe it or not, there are many tools within your reach to help relieve anxiety. You just need guidance on how to get there. There is one simple rule for managing anxiety: Change the Channel

There has been a time or two where you have once said “I dont want to watch this” or “I dont want to hear that”. You have the power to say that to anxiety too.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a relatively new form of psychotherapy that aims to quickly and effectively alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Unlike traditional talk therapies, which may take months or even years to yield significant results, ART is designed to produce rapid relief in as few as one to five sessions. At the core of ART lies the belief that traumatic memories are stored in the brain in a way that maintains their emotional intensity, often leading to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts. By engaging in a structured process of visualization and bilateral stimulation, ART seeks to reprogram the way these memories are stored, allowing individuals to process them more adaptively.

Giving yourself grace involves treating yourself with kindness, compassion, and understanding, especially during times of difficulty or failure. It's about recognizing that everyone makes mistakes, experiences setbacks, and has imperfections, but that these do not diminish your worth.

Therapy is a structured and confidential process designed to help individuals address personal challenges, explore emotions, and work towards positive change. Here's what you need to know about therapy and privacy:

You might ask yourself, what is the purpose of asking certain questions in therapy? Therapists ask questions to gain a deeper understanding of your concerns, history, relationships, and goals.

This information helps them provide personalized guidance and support tailored to your needs.

Therapists are trained to maintain professional boundaries and respect your privacy. They will not ask intrusive or inappropriate questions without a valid therapeutic reason. If you feel uncomfortable with any question, you can express that to your therapist.

Taboos in mental health refer to societal stigmas, misconceptions, or cultural norms that discourage open discussion, acknowledgment, or acceptance of mental health issues. These taboos can contribute to feelings of shame, isolation, and reluctance to seek help among individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Reducing these feelings associated with mental health taboos requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses societal attitudes, promotes awareness and education, and fosters supportive environments.

Los tabúes en salud mental se refieren a estigmas sociales, conceptos erróneos o normas culturales que desalientan el debate abierto, el reconocimiento o la aceptación de los problemas de salud mental. Estos tabúes pueden contribuir a sentimientos de vergüenza, aislamiento y renuencia a buscar ayuda entre las personas que experimentan problemas de salud mental. Reducir estos sentimientos asociados con los tabúes de salud mental requiere un enfoque multifacético que aborde las actitudes sociales, promueva la conciencia y la educación y fomente entornos de apoyo.

Positivity is a great way to support a client to become more optimistic that involves providing encouragement, fostering hope, and helping them shift their perspective toward a more positive outlook on life. Our fantastic therapist, Brianna Peed, LPC-A says that she likes to end every one of her sessions on a positive note having the person reflect on a couple of things they feel proud of themselves for from the week or just some things that have been going well. La positividad es una excelente manera de ayudar a un cliente a volverse más optimista, lo que implica brindar aliento, fomentar la esperanza y ayudarlo a cambiar su perspectiva hacia una perspectiva más positiva de la vida. Nuestra fantástica terapeuta, Brianna Peed, LPC-A, dice que le gusta terminar cada una de sus sesiones con una nota positiva, haciendo que la persona reflexione sobre un par de cosas por las que se siente orgullosa de sí misma durante la semana o simplemente sobre algunas cosas que han sido va bien.

Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of therapy and is essential for building trust between the therapist and the client. We understand that coming to counseling requires courage, vulnerability, and trust. You need to feel completely comfortable opening up about personal issues without fear of judgment or breach of privacy. That’s why confidentiality is so important! La confidencialidad es un aspecto fundamental de la terapia y es esencial para generar confianza entre el terapeuta y el cliente. Entendemos que acudir a asesoramiento requiere valentía, vulnerabilidad y confianza. Debe sentirse completamente cómodo hablando de cuestiones personales sin temor a ser juzgado o violar la privacidad. ¡Por eso la confidencialidad es tan importante!

The concept of "parts work" in therapy is often associated with Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, a therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz. Parts work involves exploring and understanding the different parts of an individual's internal system, each representing distinct emotions, beliefs, memories, and functions.

The Anger Iceberg is a therapeutic technique used in mental health counseling to explore and understand the underlying emotions beneath anger. It is based on the idea that anger is often a surface-level emotion that masks deeper, more complex feelings. The iceberg metaphor suggests that just as only a small portion of an iceberg is visible above the waterline, anger is just the tip of the emotional iceberg.

The first step in becoming a better ally to the transgender and nonbinary is to learn more. There are many things you may not know, and you will probably make some mistakes along the way. It is crucial to understand that it is okay to make mistakes along the way as long as we learn from them. To be an ally is to put in some of the work on your own. It is not the responsibility of the LGBTQ+ community to educate you. You must take accountability and put in work/research.

Being a teen is tough stuff. I mean can you remember back to when you were in middle/high school? All of the stress of keeping up with grades, latest trends, parent demands, extracurricular activities, and as if that wasn’t enough, all of the drama! The drama between couples, friends, and home was at times just too much to bear.

It is human nature to want to feel belonging. To want to be a part of something. To feel connected to someone or something. COVID felt very isolating for many people. Many individuals had to seclude themselves to avoid COVID or spreading it to others. It was and may still feel like a very disruptive time in society and an individual’s lives. Since then, for many life has felt very different. So, what changed?

Reducing self-criticism is a valuable step toward improving mental health and fostering a more positive self-image. Identify and challenge negative thoughts about yourself. Consider whether these thoughts are based on facts or distorted perceptions. Replace negative thoughts with more realistic and positive ones.

Take time to reflect on your values, interests, and goals. Consider how your current self aligns with these aspects. This self-awareness can provide a foundation for accepting and understanding your evolving identity. Establish intentions or goals for your self-reflection practice. Outline what you hope to achieve, whether it's personal growth, enhanced self-awareness, or improved decision-making.

Affirmations are positive statements that are repeated to oneself with the intention of fostering a positive mindset and changing one's beliefs or thought patterns. Sylvia Ruiz, LPC-A bilingual spanish therapy latinx latino latina hispanic houston texas 77069

Affirmations are positive statements that are repeated to oneself with the intention of fostering a positive mindset and changing one's beliefs or thought patterns.

Dissociation is a complex psychological phenomenon characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory. It is typically assessed through clinical interviews, self-report measures, and observations of behavior. Dissociative symptoms are associated with various mental health conditions, such as dissociative disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other trauma-related disorders. If you are concerned about dissociative symptoms or are seeking an assessment, it's important to consult with a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker. T

The Just World Myth is a cognitive bias or belief that suggests that people generally get what they deserve and deserve what they get. In other words, it implies that the world is inherently fair, and individuals receive outcomes in life that are in line with their actions and character.

If you’ve never been to therapy, it can be overwhelming and perhaps even scary. Going to therapy for the first time can make a lot of people nervous. That’s totally normal!

But therapy is a great way to improve your mental health or help you reach the goals and dreams you have for your life. There are many different types of therapy, and every therapist has a different approach in treating mental health. That said, there are a few things you can generally expect.

So you had decided to begin therapy. That’s great! You have made a great first step in your mental health journey in your search for a therapist. Sometimes it can get overwhelming while looking for a therapist as you wonder what to look for and who is right for you. Something to consider is an intern as your therapist, also known as practicum students or student counselors.