If you grew up in an unhealthy or dysfunctional family, it has drastically and permanently altered the course of your life. It is absolutely vital to understand how, specifically, this affects you so that you can stand a chance to change patterns of unhealthy choices and behaviors that plague you and your adult life. Left unchecked, these patterns can drastically sabotage everything you hold dear in this life.
[Read more…] about Wait, I’m not Crazy?! Adults Who Grew Up in Dysfunctional FamiliesTherapy Resources and Support for Your Mental Health
From Simple Notes to Powerful Treatment Plans: A Mental Health Documentation Guide
I know how overwhelming it feels to stare at a blank treatment plan template. You worry about missing crucial elements, getting documentation rejected, or having your supervisor request multiple revisions. Let’s transform that anxiety into confidence by building a treatment plan step by step.
[Read more…] about From Simple Notes to Powerful Treatment Plans: A Mental Health Documentation GuideThe Four Horsemen: It’s Never Too Late to Fight Right
After many years together, you might think you’ve got this relationship thing figured out. You can predict each other’s responses, finish each other’s sentences, and probably even know exactly how your next argument will play out. But sometimes that predictability is part of the problem.
What if those communication patterns you’ve developed over the years – the ones that feel as familiar as your morning coffee routine – are actually undermining the connection you’ve built? Dr. John Gottman’s research has identified four specific communication patterns that can erode even the strongest relationships. He calls them The Four Horsemen, and chances are, if you’re like most long-term couples, you’ve been hosting at least a few of them in your relationship without even realizing it.
The No-Nonsense Guide to Improving Your Relationship: The 5:1 Ratio Unpacked
The secret to a long-lasting relationship is not just luck or chemistry. Research from Dr. John Gottman has identified a simple but powerful formula, grounded in rigorous scientific study. The essence is straightforward: for every negative interaction you have, aim for at least five positive ones. When you get this balance right, your relationship can thrive.
[Read more…] about The No-Nonsense Guide to Improving Your Relationship: The 5:1 Ratio UnpackedThe Unofficial History of SimplePractice
SimplePractice is a practice management software used by therapists and wellness professionals to handle scheduling, billing, and client records. Initially designed for solo practitioners, it hasn’t been without its growing pains. What follows is the lesser-known yet essential history behind this influential product.
[Read more…] about The Unofficial History of SimplePracticeMeasuring Depression with PHQ-9
The Patient Health Questionniare (PHQ-9) is a brief test/assessment which consists of nine items. Each item is scored 0 to 3, providing a 0 to 27 severity score. The PHQ-9 can be used as both a diagnostic module as well as a depression severity score.
[Read more…] about Measuring Depression with PHQ-9Important Books for Private Practice Therapists
Starting up a private practice as a counselor or therapist can be overwhelming, intimidating, and often a huge financial risk. Taking steps to mitigate the dangers involved demands approaching things from a business perspective; the dilemma is that this is the anthesis of what we consider a genuine therapist should be. Finding a way to blend the two – business skills with the therapist mindset and ethics – is the key.
[Read more…] about Important Books for Private Practice TherapistsLove is Not Enough
Our culture makes such a fuss about “love and marriage” that we find ourselves “losing perspective” about the reality of what is required to make a good relationship. However, marriages (and committed relationships) are ending more frequently these days because “once the love glow comes off” the realities of life are now seen.
[Read more…] about Love is Not EnoughMel Robbins’ “Let Them” Philosophy
You can’t control what other people do. You can wish they were different, but that’s not going to change them. Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” philosophy encourages a mindset shift that involves accepting others as they are and releasing control over things you can’t change. Instead of getting caught up in trying to influence or manage others’ behaviors or choices, the idea is to let people be who they are and do what they do, while focusing on how you respond to the situation.
[Read more…] about Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” PhilosophyHow to Break Free from the Relationship Limbo: Why Guilt Shouldn’t Keep You Stuck
Let me be real clear: You don’t stay in a relationship because you feel bad. That’s not doing anybody any favors. You’re not helping them, and you’re certainly not helping yourself. If this feels familiar, you’re probably stuck in this pattern because you’re avoiding the discomfort of making a hard decision.
[Read more…] about How to Break Free from the Relationship Limbo: Why Guilt Shouldn’t Keep You StuckWhat the Gottmans Want New Parents to Understand About Having a Baby
When you’re expecting a baby, it’s a beautiful time, but it can also be a real strain on your relationship if you’re not prepared. The Gottmans have laid out several critical concepts in their book “And Baby Makes Three” that can help keep your relationship strong during this transition.
[Read more…] about What the Gottmans Want New Parents to Understand About Having a Baby