Total Life Counseling Blog

Total Life Counseling Blog2024-04-09T22:36:06+00:00

To Divorce, or not to Divorce? | University of Minnesota Report | Marriage Counselor on Reasons why couples are changing their minds

To Divorce, or not to Divorce? That is the Question | 3 reasons why couples are changing their minds about divorce Marriage and Family therapist William Doherty from the University of Minnesota presented research studies proposing that reconciliation has become a priority for more couples instead of divorce. In the past 3 years, divorces in the United States dropped [...]

Terrified Of Speaking In Public? 5 Tips On How To Reduce Your Fear | Counselor

Most of us have felt it… that lump in our throat, sweaty palms, heart racing, trembling voice… having to speak in public! Whether it’s giving a presentation in front of a group of people, speaking up in a meeting, or even conversation in a group of acquaintances, 74% of the population suffers from Glossophobia, the fear of speaking in [...]

5 Essentials for Strong Mental Health

May is Mental Health Awareness month and just as "April showers" produce beautiful "May flowers"…Life’s painful tears can produce beautiful healing and growth through regular "Mental Health Check-ups." We all have a doctor we see regularly for annual physicals and those colds and minor illnesses that come up throughout the year.  We religiously schedule our teeth cleaning appointments with [...]

7 Tips for Boosting Happiness | Brad Pitt | Depression Counselor

7 Tips for Boosting Happiness! Brad Pitt recently answered marriage questions about his relationship with Angelina Jolie, and shared his personal history of struggling with depression as a teenager and young adult. He reports that he has since overcome the blues. Here are some tips to boost your own happiness ratings: 1. Practice conscious acts of kindness. Research indicates that [...]

Adults, Blog, Depression, Orlando, Teens, Updates|

Gaslighting in Relationships

Gaslighting is a very common form of manipulation, but few have heard of the term or can identify it. The information presented here is to inform about and help recognize this type of relational abuse, and then help combat it. What is “gaslighting”? Gaslighting is a manipulation tactic that makes the victim start to believe that they are crazy, [...]

A.D.D. Leading to Child Suicides

According to a recent study, A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) is the most typical diagnosis among children under 12 years of age who commit suicide. Few children from ages 5 to 11 commit suicide and not much is known regarding these incidents. This recent study compares 87 children, ages 5 to 11, who took their own lives with 606 adolescents [...]

ADHD, Blog, Depression, Jim West, Orlando|

Suicide Prevention: You Can Make a Difference

Suicide: one of the few remaining taboo subjects in polite society. It’s a tragic topic and not one people what to discuss but with the World Health Organization reporting approximately one death every 40 seconds due to suicide, it is essential that prevention be taught. This year the Netflix original show “13 Reasons Why” brought suicide, specifically teen suicide, [...]

Jenny McCarthy & Her Sons Battle | Autistic Spectrum Counselor on 5 Signs of Autism

Jenny McCarthy has gone from a Playboy model, to comedian, and actress.  She is using her celebrity however, to draw attention to Autism and has written a book about her challenges and treatment approaches that have helped her son.  The diagnosis of Autism has exploded in the past ten years. It occurs in all ethnic groups, and is more [...]

After the Tragedy: PTSD as the Result of Mass Shootings

The recent mass shooting in Las Vegas, which left at least 59 dead and over 500 more injured, has been confirmed as the deadliest in modern U.S. history. Sadly, gun violence is a pressing issue in the U.S. According to Gun Violence Archive, there have been 274 mass shootings in the U.S. during 2017 so far, with 11,763 overall [...]

Orlando, Updates|

“People” People | 4 Facts About What It Means To Be An Extrovert

“You’re so outgoing!” “You’re such a ‘people’ person!” “You’re the life of the party!” If you’ve ever heard these things, you might be an extrovert. Being an extrovert is more than just being outgoing. Being extroverted has a lot to do with where you get your energy, and how you process things. Here are a few extrovert facts. Extroverts [...]

5 Toxic Friendship Warning Signs | Counselor

Friendship is something we all need at one point or another. Throughout life we can see how making friends can become a bit more challenging throughout the years. One misconception we tend to have is that we have to be friends with anyone who shares a commonality with us. Sometimes that friendship may work out but other times we [...]

Hurricane Harvey | 5 Tips to Deal with Grief and Loss When Tragedy Hits

We are never prepared for tragedy. It has been 12 years since a category 3 or stronger has made landfall in the United States. There has been more than 40 inches of rainfall in southeast Texas since Thursday evening. Just to get an idea — the average YEARLY rainfall for Houston is 49.76 inches.

The Quiet Ones | 4 Facts About What It Means To Be An Introvert | Therapist

“You’re so shy!” “Why don’t you talk?” “Come to the party, it’ll be fun!” These are just a few phrases you might be familiar with if you’re an introvert. Being an introvert doesn’t mean being shy or antisocial. Being introverted has a lot to do with where you get your energy, and how you process things. Here are a few [...]

Revenge Porn Blac Chyna Rob Kardashian | A New Form of Relationship Abuse | Marriage Counselor

Reality television star Rob Kardashian made headlines last week after publicly posting privately shared nude photos of ex-fiancée Blac Chyna on his Instagram account while accusing her of infidelity. Kardashian also shared a video of Chyna in bed with another man and made various defamatory claims against his ex, taking his tirades to Twitter after his Instagram account was deleted [...]

4 Reasons Why Social Media Leaves Us Feeling Dissatisfied | Orlando Therapist

Social media is bringing us closer than ever before, but is it making us overwhelmingly happier? The answer is no, according to studies done on the effects of sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat on users. Increased time spent of these sites, and others like them, points to a higher likelihood of suffering from depression. Teenagers and young adults [...]

ADHD Therapist | Three Most Hated Non-Medical ADHD Tips

Orlando Therapist ADHD Expert Gives Three Most Hated Non-Medical ADHD Tips While prescription medication has it's place, there are research studies which show children who have been placed on ADHD medication while young are substantially more likely to use and abuse drugs as they get older. Why? The most common reaction is "My parents are giving me drugs, why don't [...]

Adrenaline Unhealthy and Healthy Effects on the Body | 4 Proper Ways to Release Adrenaline

Throughout our experiences, we interact with a variety of situations, people, and environments that have an extraordinary effect on our mind and body. Our childhood can design important aspects of our identity and how we interact in relationships. A child who was repeatedly exposed to and stimulated by a hostile and negative environment will likely build emotions such as fear, sadness and anger. Due to the constant charges [...]

8 Anti-Bullying Prevention Tips | Villages Charter Middle School Shooting Near Miss | near Orlando Florida

Two teenagers ages 13 & 14 were arrested when Sumter County Florida Sheriff Deputies executed search warrants both homes and found weapons.  They were charged for conspiracy to commit murder.  Teen friends were told not to go to school that day or yell "Eugene" to signal the shooters not to kill them.  Students reported that the two students planned to [...]

Parents Going from “Idol to Idiot!” – Middle School Transition Tips | Teen Counselor Therapist

Going from "Idol to Idiot" in the eyes of their Middle Schooler! It is this battlefield of questions that we leave our children to face their own fears, tackle their own obstacles and to become their own person; and all too often it is with our regret that we have not prepared them for this fight. The middle school transition [...]

Why is He ready for Counseling when She’s Checked Out? | Tips to Get Your Spouse to Couples Counseling by Orlando Marriage Counselor

Why is it when a woman asks for a divorce, all of a sudden he is ready to call the counselor? Why do women wait until they get to the point of feeling it's over before hitting him between the eyes with "I want to separate." Why do some spouses wait until the marriage [...]

3 Ways to Comfort Kids After Law Enforcement Loss | Orlando Counselor

Today we are mourning the loss of two of our finest law enforcement officers, Master Sgt. Debra Clayton, an officer with the Orlando Police Department and Deputy First Class Norman Lewis, an Orange County Deputy Sheriff.  Sgt. Clayton was fatally shot on Monday by Markeith Loyd after she approached him for questioning in a Walmart parking lot.  Loyd was [...]

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