Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms and Treatments | Orlando Counselor
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental health condition that affects a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. It is characterized by extreme shifts in mood, ranging from episodes of mania (a state of elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, decreased need for sleep, and impulsive behavior) to episodes of depression (a state of low [...]
Orlando Marriage Therapist | 3 Tips to Rekindle Your Relationship
Nicholas Sparks is no stranger to heart-wrenching passion and the kind of love that only star-crossed lovers share. Teary eyed audiences have come to expect this from his novels and their film adaptions, but do the rose colored glasses come off once the credits end? Dissatisfaction with romantic partners is a common occurrence. We are all guilty of searching [...]
Giselle Bündchen Career: Tom Brady of Sports & Life Lessons
Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen have been a couple since 2006 and although they seem like a fairy tale couple, their recent drama proves otherwise. Tom’s first son was born in 2007. However, his first child was not with Giselle, it was with his ex-girlfriend. Tom Brady’s ex-girlfriend, Bridget Moynahan, had a falling out with Tom after two years [...]
Let’s Discuss Phobias Recognizing & Overcoming Common Fears
Dr. William Eaton describes phobias to include fear and avoidance (Eaton et al., 2020) in his study. He explains that most phobias will begin in childhood, though will maintain maximum strength in midlife and late in life. The authors noted that most people do not receive help for their phobias. Furthermore, the risk factors of such phobias have not [...]
Women’s Mental Health | Orlando Counselor
Women's Mental Health is a crucial issue that affects millions of women worldwide. Over 1 in 5 women in the United States in the past year have experienced a mental health condition. Common conditions are anxiety and depression, although conditions like bipolar disorder and depression affect women more than men or affect them in different ways. Mental health conditions [...]
Seasonal Depression and Mindfulness | Orlando Counselor
As we begin each year, it's important to be aware of seasonal depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder, commonly known as SAD, affects many of us during the fall and winter seasons. This is not just the winter blues or holiday stress, but a form of real depression that can leave us feeling hopeless and low on energy. To distinguish holiday [...]
Relationship Issues | Tips on How To Fix It | Orlando Counselor
Relationship Issues | How To Fix It| It's true that every couple experiences relationship issues at some point. No relationship is perfect, and disagreements and conflicts are a natural part of any partnership. What's important is how those issues are handled and resolved. Effective communication, empathy, and a willingness to compromise are all key factors in maintaining a healthy [...]
Orlando PTSD Counselor on Jake Flint’s Death | Trauma and Grief
Orlando PTSD Counselor discussed the sudden loss of country singer Jake Flint, died in his sleep just hours after getting married. He was only 37 years of age and had a sudden death while sleeping. According to his loved ones, he was a friend to all and had an amazing sense of humor. His wife, Brenda Flint, was heartsick [...]
5 stages of grief
Michael Brown writes on Understanding and Responding to Grief through The Gottman Institute. A major topic discussed was how during the COVID-19 Pandemic, many people had to grieve their loved ones without ever getting the chance to say goodbye. Additionally, Brown emphasized the thousands of individuals who sadly and unacceptably lost their lives, in isolation. Such grief leaves many [...]
Let’s Talk…Mental Health and Addiction
The recent passing of singer and reality TV star, Aaron Carter, highlights the dire need for mental health and addiction to be at the forefront of the conversation for all of us. No one gets to pick their parents. Your parents didn’t pick their parents and so on. As counselors, we aren’t here to blame anyone. Shame and family [...]
Holiday Depression & Anxiety: Coping Strategies for a Happier Season
As the winter holiday season is coming up, we have to maintain awareness of our mental health. For many of us, the holiday season is filled with joy, fun, and time to gather with family and friends. Although, for some of us, this season is not short of sadness, self-reflection, loneliness, and extreme anxiety. So the question remains, what [...]
What Aaron Carter’s Tragic Death Can Teach Us About Mental Health
If you remember the song “I want candy” or the New Kids on the Block, you remember the pop singer and child star, Aaron Carter. We were sad to find out that he passed this weekend after suffering from addiction and mental health issues. Aaron revealed to fans that he was diagnosed with “multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, acute anxiety, [...]
Orlando Trauma Counselor Expert | Rape and Sexual Assault
Orlando Sexual Abuse Counselor on how Sexual Assault untreated can effect a victim of abuse. Shame, despair, and powerless are a few of the emotions that victims of rape and sexual assault may experience. These same emotions often interfere with their ability to decide to prosecute their perpetrator. There are also many thoughts such as, “We were drinking. He [...]
How Do I Cope with My Child’s Diagnosis?
Over 3 million babies are born every year in the US. And with the birth of a child, there is not only new life, but new adventures, new possibilities, and new opportunities. As exciting as it may be to have a precious new baby to see grow, develop, and become who they are destined to be. Sometimes we must [...]
Perfectionism: What is it and how can we effectively combat it?
Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by the need to demonstrate perfection in how we represent ourselves. Perfectionists may not feel satisfied no matter how hard they’ve worked on something because they feel they haven’t met their unrealistically high standards. Where does perfectionism come from? Perfectionism arises when we set unrealistic expectations for ourselves and believe that we should [...]
Getting Homework Done in Less Time and Fewer Fights
Students with learning disabilities such as ADHD often have trouble with homework and maintaining focus on assignments that require full attention. Some common problems are seen in children with ADHD such as easy distractibility, disorganization, procrastination, inattention, fidgeting, and daydreaming. Every child is different, meaning not every kid with ADHD will act in the same manner. However, there are [...]
Who Cares What They Think: 4 Strategies to Break Free of the Opinions and Expectations of Others
Energy. It’s currently a popular belief that you get back what you send out into the world. The implication is that we have a way of interacting with others that ultimately affects the types of challenges, opportunities, relationships, and experiences we encounter in life. Law of attraction so to speak. But what happens when you feel like you are [...]
Sleep Deprivation in Children | Orlando Counselor
With summer coming to an end, many kids have experienced a change in their sleeping habits. Children get less sleep in the summer due to long nights of staying up late without the responsibility of having school the next morning. Electronic use before bed could affect how much sleep you get because the more time you spend scrolling, you [...]
Orlando Anxiety Counselor says Fidget Rings May Help Anxiety
According to Orlando anxiety counseling experts we all experience anxiety, but it can be especially hard for many people. There are several aspects of life that may induce anxiety. Recently, fidget rings have surfaced and seem to be helping alleviate symptoms of anxiety. Fidget rings are subtle, discreet, and virtually noiseless. These rings have a spinning or movable part [...]
The Link Between Perfectionism and College Athlete Suicide
Depression Counselor on Perfectionist College Athlete Suicide Not everyone can handle pressure, especially the pressure that college athletes face. This pressure has caused several college athletes and perfectionists to have mental health challenges and ultimately take their own life. Having such high expectations to live up to at such a young age harms one’s self-worth, how they view themselves, [...]
Couch Potato Nation
Physically (In)Active Adolescents Physical activity helps our bodies (and our minds) to stay in shape. Unfortunately, it seems as though children in the United States are staying less and less physically active. Although screen time and electronic devices most likely contribute to this lack of physical activity, school environments can encourage more physical activity during school hours when these [...]
Fourth of July Blues
For many of us, the Fourth of July is a celebratory event filled with family and barbecuing. For others, the holidays can be quite difficult to face. Dealing with Loneliness Loneliness is a very common emotion to experience during the holidays. A lot of us may not have family or friends near. It can be hard to scroll through [...]
How To: Enjoy the Summer with Children at Home
With summer in session, school’s out and the kids are home. If you’re one of the many parents having trouble finding activities for your children to do this summer, you’ve come to the right place. “I’m bored...” It's inevitable. You said it as a kid, your parents said it as a kid, and now your kid is saying it. [...]
School Shootings on the Rise
According to a federal report done by the National Center for Education Statistics, there were ninety-three gun-related incidents in the United States that resulted in lives lost on school property in 2021 alone. Lives as young as twelve years old have been taken violently while at school, a location where children should feel safe and secure. The harsh reality [...]
Hate Father’s Day?
Hate Father’s Day? Here’s How to Turn the Day Around If you’re reading this article, you are probably one of the many dads hoping to get through the day. Like any holiday, I guarantee many past emotions are brought to the surface. These may be joyful emotions from memories so fond that you want to recreate them for your [...]