Through my internship here at Olive Branch Counseling Associates this semester, I have been reading the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and have written several blogs about the implications screens and social media have on our society and our youth. The most recent chapter I read from this book addressed how social media... Continue Reading →
Whether you’re a proud cat person, or a die-hard dog lover, or still undecided, there’s no denying the profound impact a furry friend can have on your life. Beyond the cuddles and companionship, owning a pet, commonly a dog or a cat, can improve your overall quality of life in ways you might not expect.... Continue Reading →
We did it! We survived the dreadful days of winter and are nearing the end of the unpredictable midwestern spring. It is almost summer! The clouds are parting, and the sun is shining bright. Nature is inviting us to step outside, soak in the sunshine, and reconnect with the world around us. Instead of rushing... Continue Reading →
With the exponential growth of technology in the past decade, relationships have transformed and expanded in ways that were previously impossible. There is new opportunity to add connection to your life, through relationships with people across the globe and apart of different cultures, because of the accessibility of communication through technology. This opportunity is beneficial... Continue Reading →
In today’s extremely connected world, adolescents are bombarded with never ending streams of notifications, messages and digital content via their smartphones. Their attention is being pulled in multiple directions at once, making it more difficult to deeply focus on a single task at-hand. This is called attention fragmentation. Because teens are constantly exposed to digital... Continue Reading →
Perfectionism is often thought about as a positive trait. Constantly striving for excellence sounds like a good thing, right? But always pursuing perfection can lead to stress, self-doubt, and fear of failure. It tends to become more harmful than helpful for perfectionists. Many people who practice perfectionism struggle with setting unrealistic expectations for themselves, therefore... Continue Reading →
In his book titled The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt (2024) proposed that different parenting styles and decisions cause children to grow up practicing habits in two different modes: defense mode and discover mode. Defense mode is self-explanatory in that it occurs when someone is trying to identify a threat and defend themselves from it. This... Continue Reading →
Spring brings the story weather because of the atmosphere going between the return of the warmth and the leftover coldness from winter. Unpredictable weather can create anxiety and fear in children, as well as adults. This weather causes many days of trying to find things to do inside. There are many activities families can do... Continue Reading →
In recent years, the conversation around mental health has gained significant traction, with much attention directed toward Generation Z. As the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age, or as Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, likes to call it “The Great Rewiring”, Gen. Z faces unique challenges that contribute to... Continue Reading →
CounselingMatters.live 