Hello and Happy New Year! I have been working on my social media presence, by creating a Facebook page and Instagram page. You can find me on Facebook here and Instagram here. What I realized by signing up for an Instagram account for my business, is that there are TONS of great counselors and other mental health professionals sharing amazing resources daily! My favorite accounts to follow so far include: @refugeingrief, @theblacksheepsurvives, @notesfromyourtherapist, @lauradeneencounselor, @junocounseling, @traumaandco, and @theempoweredtherapist.  Again, there are SO many great accounts out there to follow.  Remember that you are free to follow and unfollow social media accounts as you see fit.  You can take what you need from each, and discard what you do not need. Mental health is changing in so many great ways and I am so excited to be part of it. #breakthestigma

-Kristin
The Lead Counselor - Facebook, Instagram

Hey there,

As a therapist, I feel like I am constantly learning about new topics, diagnoses and issues that can affect clients. It never ceases to amaze me when this happens in a session, and I am always so grateful for it. Grief is one such process where I have always known that it affects so many people, but I used to underestimate how it can show up differently in every single person. I recently found the "Ball In A Box" analogy to describe grief, posted by Lauren Herschel. I am so moved by both the simplicity and accuracy of the description. I definitely suggest checking it out, as it could be a helpful technique to use in therapy (i.e. visualization). I learned about traumatic grief while working with a client several years ago. Without going into too much detail, I realized that there are major differences between grief and traumatic grief. One person may hear about the death of a loved one and experience sadness, depression, and denial. Yet another person may learn about the death of someone they love and be impacted quite differently.  It is important to notice when an experience begins to impact functioning and daily living. The Trauma Survivors Network lists several symptoms of possible traumatic grief:

• Preoccupation with the deceased
• Pain in the same area as the deceased
• Memories are upsetting
• Avoid reminders of the death
• Death is unacceptable
• Feeling life is empty
• Longing for the person
• Hear the voice of the person who died
• Drawn to places and things associated with the deceased
• See the person who died
• Anger about the death
• Feel it is unfair to live when this person died
• Disbelief about the death
• Bitter about the death
• Feeling stunned or dazed
• Envious of others
• Difficulty trusting others
• Lonely most of the time
• Difficulty caring about others

I hope you find this information helpful, and if it sounds like something you want to work on, let me know in your free consultation.
-Kristin, The Lead Counselor - Facebook, Instagram

"What No One Tells You About Therapy." - Article by Robert Oleskevich

Hey there,
This article is a must read! Deciding to go to therapy is an important event, and it helps to know the truth about what it is and what it is not. I like that the author is able to break down the common myths surrounding therapy. As a therapist, I have heard stories about clients trying to find the right therapist and feeling unsatisfied with outcomes. It can feel like an uphill battle to find someone with whom you can connect and feel comfortable with. I have been on both sides as a therapist and client, and I think it helps to understand that therapists are not perfect know-it-alls or "fixers". Therapists are normal humans that happen to have a knack for helping others. We use our training and expertise to "help you understand how you're interpreting these problems, what you're doing to manage them effectively (or ineffectively), and then help you acquire new perspectives, skills, and tools so you can start feeling better" (Oleskevich). When all of this comes together, it can be a beautiful thing!

-Kristin
The Lead Counselor - Facebook, Instagram

Why Every Man Should See A Therapist - Article by David McGlynn

Hey there,
Check out this article from Men's Health. It seems to make a lot of great points about "how to know when you need to see a therapist", "picking the right therapist", and what you could expect from therapy. It also talks about some benefits of therapy and what to look for in fees, and so forth. If you're looking to begin therapy, this is definitely a great read to get you started.

-Kristin

The Lead Counselor - Facebook, Instagram