Articles
Intensive EMDR for First Responders
Intensive EMDR for First Responders Constant exposure to traumatic critical incidents takes a toll on anyone, no matter how resilient, strong, or well-supported that person may be. Common mental health concerns for first responders include post-traumatic stress...
7 Techniques for Reducing Holiday Stress
Are you feeling stressed, sad, anxious, depressed, worried, overwhelmed, or angry about the upcoming holidays? You are far from alone. Although the holidays can be a time of joy and happiness, for many people they bring up painful emotions. In a 2021 poll that...
“Winter is Coming”: Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder
It usually starts just after Labor Day. You feel your mood start to shift down, and it becomes harder to get motivated to accomplish all the things you want to do. The light changes, and it gets dark earlier, but you seem to have trouble falling asleep at night. When...
Panic Attacks: When Your “Lizard Brain” Feels Threatened
Panic attacks are surprisingly common. More than 1 in 4 adults (28%) in America have experienced at least one panic attack in their lifetime. About 1 in 20 adults (5%) have been diagnosed as having recurring panic attacks. Here is how some people describe panic...
The Mental Health Impacts of Being a First Responder
First responders (police officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, emergency medical personnel, correctional officers, paramedics, and 911 dispatchers) witness trauma, violence, abuse, disaster, human suffering, and death as part of their jobs...
Sleep Problems, Startling Easily, Avoiding Situations, Feeling Detached: Could it Be PTSD?
You wake up after another restless night of sleep. It took you a long time to fall asleep, and you had unsettling dreams, as usual. You’ve tried some things to sleep better that you found on the internet, but nothing really helps. As you get ready for your day,...
How Does Psychotherapy Work, and Is it all the Same?
Many people experience concerns that lead them to taking the brave step of seeking support through psychotherapy. According to the 2020 CDC National Health Interview Survey, about 20% of Americans are now receiving mental health treatment. While the reasons...
Difficulty Accessing Affirming Mental Health Care for the LGBTQIAP+ Community
Wanda is an 18-year-old pansexual woman who is just starting college several states away from her hometown. Since she was 16 years old, she has been receiving mental health counseling in her hometown for symptoms of depression and anxiety. Now that she is at...
The Five Stages of Psychotherapy
Many people who are considering starting psychotherapy wonder what actually happens during therapy. How does it all play out over time? How long will it take? It is completely understandable to feel nervous at first and to have many questions. There are five...