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What is PTSD?

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that affects approximately 7-8 of every 100 people in the United States. One of the most common misconceptions about PTSD is that you have to have served in the military to be diagnosed. The truth is that anyone who has experienced a trauma, including war veterans, but also children, people who […]

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Mindfulness

The term ‘mindfulness’ seems to have entered the popular lexicon, but you may be wondering what it is and whether it can help you. Mindfulness has its origins in Buddhist teachings and is an integral part of meditative practices. Through the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, who developed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in 1979 to help people suffering with […]

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Avoiding Avoidance

Pain (both physical and psychological) is universal. At some point in our lives many of us will experience feelings of depression, anxiety, despair, etc. However, what we do with this pain can have profound effects on our well-being and life. Pain is aversive, and, as such, understandably, we want to get rid of it. However, sometimes our attempts to get […]

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Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting

The American Psychological Association has some tips for managing distress in the aftermath of the Las Vegas shootings. Click here to learn more. As the article states, “for many people, using the tips and strategies mentioned above may be sufficient to get through the current crisis. At times, however an individual can get stuck or have difficulty managing intense reactions. A licensed […]

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Dangers of Self Diagnosis

I think it’s fair to say most mental health professionals have experienced the moment when you get your first DSM (Diagnostic And Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and you immediately think you have several disorders of your own. This largely the same effect as people looking online to try to diagnose themselves. An important aspect to note is in the […]

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5 Components of Finding Happiness

Happiness is often an elusive construct to many people, despite its seemingly basic nature. It gives people something to look forward to, goals that they can reach, and ultimately, gives them a life filled with satisfaction and self-worth. It should also be mentioned that it improves the quality of relationships in their life and creates more meaningful interactions with others. […]

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Managing Depression without Medication: A How-To

One of the most common questions I hear as a therapist is “Will I have to take medication forever?” While there’s no way of predicting the future or knowing exactly what factors may be contributing to each person’s depressive symptoms, it is possible for some people to effectively manage their symptoms of depression without taking medications. Before changing or altering […]

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