No matter how much you love your family, family gatherings in the holiday season can bring up childhood wounds and heartbreaking grief. This pain, aggravated by a generally stressful and busy season, can create a perfect storm of emotions and stress that incites arguments and hurtful comments. Taking small but powerful steps like assertive communication and healthy boundaries can go a long way in creating healthier family dynamics.
Read MoreDecorations are popping up, seasonal songs are playing, and people are buzzing about their holiday plans. Everyone around you seems happy and excited while you feel completely alone in dreading another holiday without your loved one. You can’t help resenting others’ happiness and ignorance about your loss as you gear up for a heartbreaking and draining holiday season. Memories, both good and bad, with your loved one might be haunting you, and all the holiday “cheer” is just another reminder of another event that you’ll miss celebrating with them. Whether it is your first holiday without your loved one or several years have passed, holidays can feel isolating, painful, and overwhelming. Read through the below suggestions for ideas on how to support yourself through the holiday season.
Read MoreMany of our clients feel hopeless, powerless, and angry about the upcoming election. A constant stream of messages from political parties, heated arguments with family, and lack of control over the outcome create overwhelming stress and anxiety. We work with our clients to find ways to manage their anxiety around the election while empowering them to lead meaningful lives. As the election approaches, use the below tools to help protect yourself from overloading on election anxiety and live in ways that are meaningful to you.
Read MoreJoy and fulfillment paired with debilitating stress and worry are the conflicting feelings that many parents face daily. Parents may find themselves experiencing guilt around the stress or resentment that often comes with parenting. Many parents keep these thoughts to themselves, wondering how it would look to their friends and family if they admitted how difficult it is to just get through the day. The stigma around the topic leads to more stress, delaying many parents from reaching out for necessary help.
Read MoreThe impact of our food choices on mental health is a factor that has long been overlooked but is now garnering more attention. Increasingly, doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists are delving into the connection between diet and psychological disorders, particularly depression and anxiety. With more and more people struggling with mood disorders like depression and anxiety, it's so important that we explore all of the potential contributing factors to mental health struggles, and do our best to identify as many effective treatment modalities as possible.
Read MorePolyvagal Theory is a fascinating therapeutic framework that delves into the intricate connections between our nervous system, emotions, and social interactions. Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, this theory offers profound insights into how our bodies respond to stress, connect with others, and navigate the complexities of daily life. In this edition of our “Spotlight On” blog series, Inner Balance therapist Trey Jackson talks to us about what drew him to seek training in Polyvagal Theory, and how he sees it benefitting his clients.
Read MoreWhat if that first date, that job interview, that new social group outing, that (fill in the blank) goes way better than your anxiety, fear and limiting beliefs are telling you it will?
Read More"The shadow" is a term rooted in Jungian psychology that describes the unconscious aspects of ourselves – the parts we deny, repress, or find uncomfortable. These aspects may include fears, desires, insecurities, and unresolved traumas. And your personal shadow could also include what might typically be considered positive qualities like generosity, vulnerability, or leadership. Becoming aware of and finding acceptance with our shadow is the first step towards a deeper level of self-awareness.
Read MoreFlourishing is the condition of good physical, mental, emotional, relational & spiritual health. This psychological concept acknowledges that we are multidimensional beings, and that we thrive when we attend to all aspects of our lives. Flourishing isn’t just about feeling happy. Flourishing is a state of well-being that comes from feeling satisfied with our lives, as well as believing that our life has meaning and purpose. People who are flourishing are functioning well in their personal, social and professional lives and are full of vitality. They also have a lower risk of chronic illness and disease! Therapy can be a helpful tool for increasing our sense of flourishing because it helps us bring awareness to areas in our lives that we might need to bring more attention & energy to in a supportive environment.
Read MoreIn this addition of “Spotlight On…”, Inner Balance therapist Markie Nickens educates us on the counseling method of Motivational Interviewing, which is an approach designed to help people find the motivation to make a positive behavior change.
Read MoreAt Inner Balance Counseling, we believe that the therapy experience can be as unique as our clients are. Our therapists are trained in a wide variety of therapeutic modalities and continually seek new trainings, which allow them to best support their clients. One of the newer approaches is called Brainspotting, and it is a tool which has many in the field of psychology excited by its ability to help people access, process, and overcome negative emotions, pain and trauma. In this addition of “Spotlight On…”, Inner Balance therapist Jessica Taylor shares with us a bit more about this approach and why she loves using it with her clients.
Read MoreYou may have heard of a type of therapy called EMDR which is becoming more and more common for its effectiveness in treating trauma. But what exactly is it? According to the EMDR Institute, “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that facilitates the accessing and processing of traumatic memories and other adverse life experience to bring these to an adaptive resolution.” Not only is EMDR a rapid way for healing trauma; it is also used for enhancing performance in areas such as athletics, business, and relationships. Here, Inner Balance therapist Danielle Jeraci shares with us a bit more about what drew her to this therapy, and the results she sees with clients who try it.
Read MoreIn an effort to better support couples, April has recently taken a specific interest in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). She has received specialized training and supervision in this modality of treatment over the last year. EFT is a highly researched and successful model that supports couples who want to move from reactivity to deep meaningful connection and healing. Research has demonstrated that this model creates long term positive change – couples who have worked with an effective EFT therapist are better able to understand and manage their conflict while feeling closer and more securely connected. Here, she shares with us, why she loves this modality so much & why it is so effective for couples hoping to strengthen their connection.
Read MoreEmpaths not only experience their emotions more deeply than the people around them, but they may also absorb others’ emotional experiences. Learn more about how being an empath or being in a relationship with one can be seen as a gift.
Read MoreHere are the top 4 components to cultivate when creating a healthy relationship.
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