Areas of Practice
Anxiety
The occurrence of anxiety is something that each person experiences differently. Some have generalized anxiety disorders, while others live with panic disorders, or struggle to cope with specific phobias. Regardless of the different types, here are some of the most common trademarks of an anxiety disorder:
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Excessive Worrying
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Difficulties Sleeping & Restlessness
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Fatigue
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Concentration Issues
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Increased Heart Rate & Palpitations
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Sweating & Hot Flashes
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Chest Pains & Shortness of Breath
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Therapy can be one of the most powerful approaches for one who is seeking for ways to cope with anxiety. Finding the root cause of what is triggering the anxiety primarily can be one the best resources for treatment. With a skillful therapist many patients are successfully able to triumph over their anxiety completely.
Depression
Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects many people and can manifest in surprising ways. Those with depression may struggle to function daily, maintain relationships, and even lose interest in normal daily activities. Here are some common depressive symptoms:
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A consistent feeling of sadness and low mood
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A sense of hopelessness
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Persistent guilt or feelings of worthlessness
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Irritability
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Sleeping too little or too much
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Decreased or increased appetite
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Lack of pleasure in activities a person once enjoyed
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Moving or speaking slowly
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Thoughts of suicide or an active plan to end one’s life
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Feelings of hopelessness are a strong deterrent for those who need help coping with depression. They do not feel like there is anyway that they can get better, however with the guidance of a therapist, healing is a genuine possibility.
Relationships
It is not uncommon for toxicity to manifest even in the best of relationships, whether is it with a sibling, parent, life partner, or friend. There is no doubt that these behaviors are damaging emotionally, mentally, and physically. Some common forms of toxicity are gaslighting and unhealthy attachments. Gaslighting is psychologically manipulating a person into questioning their own experiences. Unhealthy attachments such as co-dependency tend to lead to unsatisfying relationships.
Relationships can be intensely stressful and challenging, but with the proper tools, individuals can make the necessary changes to improve the relationships in their lives. These changes can lead to more fulfilling interactions with those around them as well as incorporation coping mechanisms for challenges present themselves.
Couples Therapy
Romantic relationships are not easy. Individuals bring two sets of perspectives and life experiences, and the couple will continue to evolve over time both as a couple as well as individuals. For this reason, every relationship needs maintenance to keep them functioning in a way that is satisfying for the couple. It is most common for individuals to work on themselves to make the improvements necessary to maintain healthy relationships, nevertheless, there are times when it is necessary to consider couples therapy. This involves a licensed professional who can look at the relationship objectively. Specific elements of couples’ therapy are:
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A focus on a specific problem (i.e. sexual difficulties, Internet addiction, jealousy)
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Active participation on my part as a therapist in treating the relationship itself, rather than each individual separately.
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Solution-focused, change-oriented interventions early on in treatment.
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A clear establishment of treatment objectives.
Trauma
Trauma is something that wreaks havoc on those who have experienced it to the point that it can be debilitating, impacting every facet of their life. One element that can be particularly helpful is to understand why a trauma is hurting a person. It can be the very reason they respond to specific stimuli in a particular way.
Taking control of your trauma and finding ways to move past it are paramount. A therapist can help navigate these turbulent experiences by providing tips for self-care and helping the person to find ways to forgive the past. This will help make the person stronger and put them on the path to healing.