Think Good, Feel Good

  To all LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! This is a month to celebrate the strength and love of the queer community. Pride month can be riddled with complications, from corporations putting rainbow stickers on their logos but not actually supporting any LGBTQ+ organizations or individuals with their time or money, to protests at pride from those who don't believe in basic human rights for all people.  In a counseling setting, it is incredibly important to find a provider who is not only tolerant of your identity and orientation, but affirming. I see many counselors and mental health providers touting that they are tolerant of their LGBTQ+ clients thinking it is a positive stance to sit in a neutral zone; not actively opposing LGBTQ+ rights and interests, and not actively advocating for equal treatment and rights. In short, tolerance sounds a lot like this: "I work with clients even if they are gay" "You can talk about your partner if you need to&qu

  "I'm so burnt out"     "I'm totally drained" "I've been burning the candle at both ends" "I'm running on empty" If you've ever said or thought this, you may have been suffering from burnout. Burnout is defined as " a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands," (Help Guide, 2021).  Over the past year, we have all been operating in a state of increased stress due to enduring constant changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic that have shifted our vocational and recreational activities. If you've found yourself feeling fatigued, exhausted, irritable, bored, and overall just feeling not like yourself, you are not alone. These changes can contribute to and exacerbate the symptoms of burnout. The most common symptoms of burnout are feeling tired, changes in mood, low energy, loss

  Round 2 of FAQ's that I received! Let's jump into it: 5.) Is marriage counseling a sure sign we are heading for divorce? Absolutely not. Marriage or couples counseling can provide many benefits, including: -learning communication skills -clarifying expectations -problem solving -fostering intimacy -improving self-esteem -dealing with financial stress -managing individual issues Most couples that I work with or have worked with have not been considering divorce, but came to counseling to learn how to solve a problem with the help of a trained professional who is outside of their situation.  6.) Are you LGBT friendly? I am an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist. This means that I respect you as you are and do not engage in or promote the harmful practices of conversion therapy or gender disaffirming practices. I am not an expert in LGBTQIA+ issues, but have great compassion and empathy for the LGBT+ community and work to help all of my clients feel seen, heard, valued, respected, and

If you've spent any substantial amount of time plopped in front of a television, you've probably seen some sort of media representation of therapy, mental illness, and mental health professionals. Fortunately, the increased visibility of the mental health field helps to diminish the stigma surrounding mental illness and seeking treatment. Unfortunately, therapists' are oftentimes portrayed as unprofessional and ethically flexible individuals who have compromising relationships with their clients. In this post, I will explore common tropes about mental health and mental health professionals that are portrayed in the media. Sex with clients Many therapists have personal friendships or even sexual relationships with their clients while they are treating them, or shortly after treatment is terminated. In the popular sitcom "How I Met Your Mother," one of the main characters is court mandated to attend therapy, and within a few months the two share a sexual relationshi

  Thank you for the contributions to this blog post! I appreciate the widespread willingness to submit questions and am happy to answer questions I receive about myself, therapy, and the search for a mental health provider.  Let's get started with the first three questions: 1.) How much does therapy cost?  The cost of therapy depends on a few factors: who is providing the service and what their credentials are, insurance coverage, and the type of practice you are working with. Firstly, costs can vary greatly depending upon whom is the mental health provider. The table below from Thervo (2021) illustrates the differences in average rates of various mental health providers. Notably, these figures are for specialists in Columbus, OH. Specialist Average Cost Per Session Psychiatrist $100 – $200 Psychologist $70 – $150 Counselor $20 – $80 Psychotherapist $100 – $300 Insurance is also another variables that must be considered in examining the prices of counseling. Most of my clients who

 "Maybe you should talk to someone..." The words that evoke feelings of anxiety, anger, shame, confusion, and concern for so many.  So what does it even mean? To "talk" to "someone".  We know that by "someone", the person really means a counselor or therapist. Even with all of the progress that has been made in destigmatizing seeking help for mental health concerns, there is still some level of offense that is often interpreted when we consider the thought that others may perceive us as someone who needs to talk to "someone".  So, this begs the question, what kind of people need to go to therapy? To be brief, if you inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, therapy will most likely prove beneficial.  Whether you are going through a difficult life event such as a divorce, loss of a loved one, dealing with prolonged grief, difficult relationships in your life, career concerns, or stress of any kind, or you have been living with symptoms of