Letting Go of the ‘Shoulds’ Our brains are amazing, but sometimes they can develop little patterns that actually work against us—these are often called Thinking Traps or distorted thinking. We all fall into these traps occasionally, but building awareness of what they are and how they affect us is the first step toward a healthier, […]
Stomp That “Should” Out Read More »
Seasonal Affective Disorder in Northern Michigan – know when to seek help.
Seasonal Affective Disorder Read More »
The Two Sides of “What If”: From Anxiety to Action Our brains are masterful storytellers. Often, they use the phrase “what if” to help us process the world and evaluate risk. It’s a survival mechanism, but left unchecked, it can turn into a runaway train. “What if I left the burner on?” Suddenly, a small
How to Build Mental Strength: Turning Life’s Setbacks into Success We’ve all been there—a missed promotion, a difficult breakup, or a plan that simply falls apart. It’s easy to feel like stress is something that happens to us, but the truth is much more empowering: how we think about our setbacks determines how well we
A Guide to Resilience and Emotional Freedom Read More »
“Grief is not a problem to be solved; it’s an experience to be carried.” – Megan Devine “I should be getting better, but I’m not,” a client once told me, reflecting on how she wasadjusting to the loss of her partner, who had died two years previously. She and herhusband had been married for over
A New Perspective On Grief and Loss by Abby Zukausky Read More »
Written by: Melissa Johnson, BA, MA intern All or nothing thinking is also known as polarized thinking. One of the most common ways that it plays out is the unintentional belief that anything short of perfection in ourselves or others equals failure. Because at it’s core this type of thinking can’t allow for a person,
My favorite coffee shop reopened for window service last week. It’s essential that they keep providing me with espresso as long as I live in Northern Michigan, so I’ve made it a goal to stop by every time the weather is truly terrible. I stand outside in the drizzle, at least 6-feet from the window
The concepts that work in therapy don’t work because someone has a mental illness. They work because we are all human and we operate under mostly the same principles. What therapy can help with is taking challenging situation and applying straight forward, effective ways of dealing with the thoughts and emotions that arise out of
Reducing Emotional Vulnerability to Negativity (Or – Building Resilience) Read More »
I shook my head in shame and dismay at how disorganized my workbench always seemed to be, despite my best intentions. I thought to myself: “I wonder what would have to happen in life, for me to get this organized…” Little did I know that many years later I would find out exactly what it
Time and Teletherapy Read More »
