In any given year, the National Center for PTSD reports that around 5.2 million Americans have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which equates to nearly 2 percent of the country’s population. That’s a huge number. But did you also know there is something called Complex PTSD? They are often confused as they are very similar.   …

2020 has been hard and you have likely handled obstacles that you were not expecting. A fair amount of these challenges may have been out of your control. Though difficulties are typical, the knockout this year delivered is not. So, here are some tips and tricks to help you better understand and care for your…

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread school closures and thrust children everywhere into an at-home learning situation. Parents, guardians, and children are struggling to adjust to a new normal. For some parents, this may mean juggling a career, housework, and now, a new level of responsibility for their child’s education. At-home learning during a pandemic…

If you have ever waited to be introduced on stage for a major presentation, you know about the connection between the mind and your gut. At best, you call this sensation in your stomach butterflies; at worst, it feels like someone has tied your colon in a knot. You might even feel like you want…

There is a dreary feeling that settles in at the start of colder seasons. Come autumn and winter; you may notice that you’re increasingly anxious, melancholy, and even depressed. However, if your symptoms are severe and interfere with your functioning well in daily life, you may not just be suffering from the winter blues. It…

Therapists often handle situations that call for healing, and the holiday season is no exception. This “special time” will be increasingly difficult for many Americans following the year we’ve had. So, our counselors put together comprehensive strategies to help you heal this holiday season, whether that be from negative self-talk, codependent relationships, grief, loss, and…

Envision mental health as the ocean, with emotional health being the waves. With that comparison in mind, consider the differences. Mental health involves processing all the information we encounter, but emotional health is more about the feelings provoked by the data processed. Emotional and mental health are related but markedly different. Everyone gets anxious at…

Our therapists recognize the holiday season to be stressful, no matter what holiday you find yourself celebrating. There is a lot of preparation, planning, adjusting, and executing involved during this time of the year, and that’s not even considering your usual responsibilities. So our counseling group developed these coping skills to help you through this…

COVID-19 has changed everything. There isn’t a person in this country that hasn’t been affected by this pandemic. One way or another, we are all coping with loss. This year hasn’t been easy for anyone and you may be experiencing the lack of human interaction that you once enjoyed since we can’t gather like we…

Do you feel sad for very long periods of time? Have you been feeling detached or numb? Have you been feeling outright empty and have been wondering why? You may be feeling depressed. Though this condition’s look can vary greatly, the causes of depression are far more concise. Depression can affect anyone at any time.…

  Depression is one of the most common mental ailments in the world. In the United States alone, millions deal with depression. Without learning how to fight depression, people can feel isolated and alone, even hopeless. It robs them of all the joy, color, and happiness their lives once had. Those with depression experience feelings…

  In recent months, you and many people you know have probably uttered something like, “2020 has me feeling so depressed,” which probably means you’re upset, scared, frustrated, or sad. It’s normal and natural to be sad at certain times in our life.  Depression is defined as a persistent mental health condition best diagnosed by…

When your child begins to have a meltdown, parents are often lost in how to effectively handle the situation. Parents can learn to help their child cope with big and overwhelming feelings. I reached out to our child and play therapist, Shannon Guinther to get her advice on how parents can teach their child to…