Test anxiety is something that most college students deal with on a day to day basis. Whether we have it because we are scared of failing or we have it because we want to meet people’s expectations. I deal with test anxiety whenever it comes to a standardized test or a regular exam in my... Continue Reading →
Anxiety: When to Seek Help
Let’s face it, life can be stressful. Bills pile up, families fight, pipes burst, back pain happens, family members get sick. There are seasons of life that can put us flat on our backs with no warning and leave us to throw our hands up and wonder, “How am I supposed to handle this?” Signs... Continue Reading →
Panic Attack or Anxiety Attack?
It is a beautiful day, and you are sitting outside with your family enjoying their company, when suddenly you start to feel your heartbeat racing. Your mind starts to race, and you feel a sense of impending doom begin to surround you. What is going on? Am I ok? You start to look around to... Continue Reading →
4 Strategies for Self-Advocacy
I have an 18-year-old son who is a senior in high school. We spend a lot of time talking about the future. Each day he gets further into his senior year, he gets more excited about the possibility of moving out of mom and dad’s house and into the world of independence. He can hardly... Continue Reading →
Journaling for Beginners
Journaling can be a great habit to help you learn more about yourself, discover what you are grateful for, and achieve personal, professional, and relationship goals. It is easy, doesn’t take a lot of time, and can be built into your routine without much pain. The first step is to find a journal you like.... Continue Reading →
5 Ways to Create Peace During the Holidays
The season of peace on earth and goodwill to all is upon us. Although a good holiday movie, party and gift giving are fun, the reality is that we often experience the holiday season as craziness and never-ending to-do lists. For some reason, I am always surprised by how busy this season becomes. This shock... Continue Reading →
Don’t Ask me How I Feel
Being vulnerable is really hard. To be vulnerable means to be able to identify, name, and experience our feelings. Nothing about this process is simple, which is why I do not ask every client, “How do you feel today?” I am careful when and how I pose this question to my clients. Of course, the... Continue Reading →
The Value of Words in Communication
Many of us have heard that non-verbal cues make up about 90 percent of communication. But how so? You may be thinking, “yah, I know, so what”? So follow this logic for a moment. This means that regardless of how well polished, or unpolished your words to someone might be, the ways that you behave... Continue Reading →
Mutual Respect and Effective Communication
It is sometimes said that people primarily listen with their hearts, not their ears. The first time that I was told this statement was during a train-the-trainer session to implement the non-violent approach of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. At first, I was puzzled by the statement because I wondered what my heart had to... Continue Reading →