Bereavement, Grief and Loss (Including Pregnancy Loss)
How do I put my life back together? Will this feeling ever go away? Why can’t I stop crying? Why am I so unmotivated? I think I am doing ok and then all of a sudden I feel sad. Grief is sadness similar to a wave rushing to shore only to recede. Those feelings come over us when we least expect it. We begin to feel better, and without notice, the sadness is back again. We have a tendency to push our grief aside thinking it will eventually go away. Therapy offers a safe space to acknowledge our grief and feel our feelings.
Depression and Anxiety
The dictionary defines depression as ‘general emotional dejection and withdrawal’. Anxiety is defined as ‘apprehension and psychic tension’. What do they mean to you? Both depression and anxiety manifest itself in different ways in our life. How do we manage these feelings? Do we define ourselves as having the feelings of depression and/or anxiety or do we believe that is who we are? There is a difference! In therapy, you will be giving yourself the chance to sort through feelings, versus the labels society gives us.
Diagnosis of an Illness
Whether you are the patient, caregiver or family member, dealing with a diagnosis of an illness can be a scary situation. Any diagnosis is a unique experience affecting individuals and family members emotionally as well as physically. Feelings of fear, uncertainty, and disbelief emerge. Do you find yourself wondering how you will ever get through this? Therapy will help you and your family move through the emotions of a maneuvering through an illness.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is a scar on your heart not a scar on your body. We tend to dismiss and discount those feelings. It is a small voice stuck at the back of your throat, or a pit in your stomach. Our instincts are telling us something is not right, yet, we tend to offer justification as our confidence is eroded bit by bit. Are you uncomfortable with the way decisions are made in your relationship? Lets work together to help you find your ‘voice’ again.
Mental Health Check In
Have you ever thought about counseling yet, wondered what would others say? Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. We check on our physical health including dental every year, what do we tell ourselves regarding a mental health check up? Seeing a counselor has more to do with health and, less to do with 'something is wrong with me'. It's OK to stop in for a few sessions to 'check in' on yourself.
Trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Trauma is described as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. It is often the result of an overwhelming amount of stress that exceeds our brain's ability to process the event or integrate our emotions involved with that experience. It replays over and over in our memory similar to a movie. Trauma and/or Post Traumatic Stress is not limited to our Veteran population. Many people experience a traumatic event(s) in their life. Seeking out a therapist to help process that event is not a weakness, instead, it is the first step in our healing.