How Much Is Marriage Counseling? Understanding the Costs
TL;DR Marriage counseling is usually far more affordable than divorce. Compared to the emotional and financial costs of separation, therapy is a smarter, long-term investment in your relationship. It’s helpful for more than just crisis situations. Couples use counseling to strengthen communication, handle transitions like parenthood or relocation, and deepen emotional connection, not just to fix major problems. Modern [...]
What are the Hidden Signs of PTSD from Medical Trauma?
TL;DR Medical trauma can lead to PTSD when a person feels helpless, unsafe, or emotionally overwhelmed during a medical event, even if the procedure itself was routine. PTSD from medical trauma often shows up as fear of hospitals, emotional numbness, flashbacks, or anxiety triggered by sounds, smells, or settings linked to the experience. Symptoms can be subtle, including sleep [...]
What is Internal Family Systems Therapy and its Benefits?
TL;DR Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy views the mind as a system of “parts,” each carrying its own emotions, roles, and experiences. Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, it focuses on balancing these parts under the guidance of a calm, compassionate “Self.” Key concepts include the idea that there are no bad parts, healing comes through self-leadership, [...]
What Is Family Counseling: Purpose and Impact
TL;DR Family counseling helps improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen relationships among family members through guided, structured therapy sessions. It focuses on the family as a unit, not just individuals, addressing dynamics, patterns, and emotional struggles that affect everyone in the household. Family therapy can address a range of issues, including parenting challenges, communication breakdowns, blended family transitions, mental [...]
How to Tell If Shortness of Breath Is a Symptom of Anxiety?
TL;DR Anxiety can cause shortness of breath through your body’s fight-or-flight response. It often feels sudden, shallow, and comes with other symptoms like a racing heart or dizziness. It usually improves with breathing exercises or calming techniques. Asthma, heart, or lung problems often include wheezing, chest pain, cough, or fatigue. If medical tests are normal but symptoms persist, anxiety [...]
Can Play Therapy Themes Reveal What My Child Is Feeling?
TL;DR Play therapy themes are recurring patterns in a child’s symbolic play that help therapists understand what the child is feeling or working through, especially when they can’t express it in words.Common themes include power/control, safety, nurturance, aggression, rescue, and loss, each offering insight into a child’s emotional world.These themes are part of a larger therapeutic process, shaped by the [...]
Is Play Therapy Evidence Based or Just Child’s Play?
TL;DR Yes, play therapy is evidence-based, supported by numerous studies and randomized controlled trials. Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a widely researched, non-directive approach that builds emotional strength through the language of play. Meta-analyses show positive results for anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and behavioral challenges in young children. Effective because it uses appropriate therapeutic modalities that promote trust, expression, and [...]
What Is Play Therapy for Kids With ADHD, Autism & Trauma?
TL;DR What it is: A form of psychotherapy using play as a child’s language Who it helps: Most effective for children aged 3–12, adaptable for others How it works: Toys, art, and stories help kids express what they can't say What it treats: Anxiety, trauma, ADHD, autism, and behavioral challenges How long it takes: Typically 12–20 sessions for noticeable [...]
Is ADHD Genetic – Concerned If It Runs in Your Family?
TL;DR ADHD is highly genetic, with heritability estimates around 70–80%. Twin studies show the difference: ADHD appears in 76% of identical twins vs. 32% of fraternal twins. It can come from either parent, and may show up differently across family members. Genes aren’t the whole story — environment plays a key role in how symptoms develop. ADHD doesn’t start [...]
Is ADHD A Disability, Or Simply A Different Way Of Thinking?
TL;DR Yes, ADHD can be considered a disability under U.S. law (ADA, Section 504) when it significantly limits daily functioning like learning or working. It’s classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder in the DSM-5 and often qualifies for school or workplace accommodations. ADHD is not a learning disability, but it often co-occurs with one, up to 50% of people with [...]
Do I have ADHD, Or Am I Just Easily Distracted & Burnt Out?
TL;DR ADHD is a real mental health condition that affects focus, impulse control, emotional regulation, and motivation, not just hyperactivity. If you often feel distracted, disorganized, forgetful, or emotionally reactive despite trying hard, you might be dealing with more than just stress. ADHD comes in three types: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined, each with unique traits. It’s commonly confused with [...]
Are You Making Time for Self-Care | 6 Tips to Take Care of You
When our routine gets in our way it seems so difficult to find time for self- care. Guess what? We need to make time for it, regardless. Our life can get out of control if we are not aware and conscious of what is happening inside of us. Most of the time we automatically respond through our thoughts and behaviors without realizing how [...]
Prioritize Self-Care: Mental Health Awareness Month Tips
Introduction May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national event dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and empowering individuals to prioritize their mental wellness. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has served as a cornerstone in addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Organizations like NAMI (National Alliance on [...]
Navigating Big Feelings
Here are some practical tips for managing big feelings—like anger, sadness, anxiety, or overwhelm. These strategies are designed for adults and older kids, and they can also be adapted for younger children with some guidance in the first place.Tips to Manage Big Feelings1. Name the FeelingIdentifying and verbalizing your emotions can be a powerful tool in managing them effectively. A [...]
Nurturing Relationships
How can communication improve a romantic relationship? Effective communication fosters understanding and trust in romantic relationships, deepening affection. By openly sharing feelings and discussing issues constructively, partners can appreciate each other's shortcomings. Active listening strengthens emotional connections and intimacy. This transparency resolves conflicts, enhances closeness, and creates a supportive environment for a healthier, more fulfilling relationship. Here are some [...]
Celebrating Dads: The Unsung Heroes of Parenting
There is considerable discussion surrounding how to improve the United States. Recently, a longstanding truth has surfaced, becoming a focal point in conversations about steering our nation in the right direction. This truth states that good fathers and the essence of fatherhood can significantly enhance America. Positive transformation starts not in Congress but at home, and organizations like the National [...]
Tips to Reach Defiant Children
The word "defiant" is characterized by a boldly resistant or challenging attitude, with synonyms including rebellious, insolent, and insubordinate. Here are grounded, respectful strategies to help reach and support defiant children, especially when their behavior feels challenging or resistant. It is essential to approach these situations with empathy and understanding, recognizing that defiance can often stem from various underlying issues, [...]
Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bipolar I Disorder, and Bipolar II Disorder are distinct mental health disorders with similar symptoms and overlapping characteristics, but critical differences in presentation, duration, and effective treatment options for the right treatment. Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by significant changes in unstable moods and behavior change, and relationships. Individuals with BPD often struggle with intense [...]
ADHD-Friendly Games and Activities from Orlando Counselor
Here are some fun ADHD-friendly games and activities designed for elementary-age children. These activities support attention, self-regulation, impulse control, and emotional expression, while also being fun and engaging. What are the common symptoms of ADHD in children and adults? According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as defined by the American Psychiatric Association in the [...]
Winter Garden Shots Fired: Trauma Recovery Techniques
May 31st, 2025 the recent domestic dispute between a married couple off Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden, Fla., where gunshots were reported outside downtown Winter Garden City Hall during a domestic dispute on Saturday evening, involved the Winter Garden Police Department and has understandably left the community shaken. Despite the fortunate absence of physical injuries, when families were [...]
Unlock Success: 6 Essential Tips for ADHD Support
Helping an elementary school child with ADHD involves supporting their emotional regulation, attention skills, and confidence — while also equipping caregivers and teachers with practical strategies. Managing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) requires a combination of strategies and support, as individuals often face challenges with inattention, focus, organization, and impulse control that can impact various aspects of their lives. [...]
Understanding Antisocial Personality Disorder Traits
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), also referred to as sociopathy, is a complex mental health condition characterized by a lack of empathy and persistent patterns of disregard for others' rights, societal norms, and ethical standards, often resulting in individuals exhibiting antisocial traits and symptoms of antisocial personality disorder by manipulating others for personal gain while ignoring the negative consequences of [...]
Exploring Personality Disorders and Mental Health Disorders
Understanding the distinctions between personality disorders and other mental health conditions is crucial for the diagnosis of a personality disorder and treating these conditions effectively. While both fall under the umbrella of mental health issues, they differ in their symptoms, duration, impact, and treatment approaches. Individuals with personality disorders often struggle to form and maintain close relationships due to [...]
Understanding PTSD in Doctors: Essential Support Strategies
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by exposure to traumatic events, particularly the traumatic event of witnessing or experiencing life-threatening situations. While commonly associated with military personnel and first responders, PTSD symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder in medical doctors is an underrecognized yet critical issue related to mental health problems. Physicians [...]
First Responders: Effective Strategies for PTSD Treatment
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a significant mental health issue among first responders, including law enforcement officers (LEOs), firefighters (FFs), emergency medical services technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. These professionals face unique occupational hazards that expose them to repeated trauma, placing them at a much higher risk for PTSD compared to the general population. This essay explores the prevalence of [...]