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Invisible Red Flags

COUNSELING/THERAPY

Invisible Red Flags

by Spencer Lee, LCSWA Have you ever heard of invisible red flags?!  If not, this article is for you, as we will share some information about this phenomena.  As a collective experience, I think one major characteristic of experiencing or having previously experienced domestic violence (DV) is a sense of shame or embarrassment. How did I end up in this...[ read more ]

Is Manifesting Real?

by Spencer Lee, LCSWA  The first time I heard about manifesting I considered it “woo woo”- or “an unconventional belief regarded as having little scientific basis, especially those relating to spirituality, mysticism, or alternative medicine” as the Oxford dictionary likes to put it. The true definition of manifesting- to manifest, is to “display or show by one’s actions or appearance;...[ read more ]

Transactional Analysis: A Method for Improving Communication & Accepting Your Past

by Alice Nafekh, MSW Intern When someone starts up a conversation with us, how do we know how to respond? What helps us determine what tone of voice or body language to use when confronting someone about an issue or responding to their comment? How we choose to communicate in certain situations is often influenced by the interactions we have...[ read more ]

Why Sleep Matters

by Spencer Lee, LCSWA Sleep is vital to our health and well-being and most of us don’t get enough of it. The amount of sleep necessary for optimal health varies by age. Babies need about 16 hours, teenagers should strive for 9, while adults need between 7-9 hours every night. The National Sleep Foundation found that 39% of Americans get...[ read more ]

Therapy: Facts and Myths

by Alice Nafekh, MSW Intern Therapy can be scary, especially if you have no idea what to expect and have never discussed your mental health with a licensed professional. While the idea of talking to a stranger about all your worries, self-criticisms, and past experiences seems overwhelming, therapy can provide a safe space to process your emotions and gain a...[ read more ]

Tips for Healthy Communication

by Spencer Lee, LCSWA Communication is everything. It’s how we express our thoughts, feelings, and wants to others. It’s how others let us know what they need and how they feel toward us. The bottom line is that without communication, nothing changes. If we’re unhappy, we stay unhappy without communication and the same is true for those around us.  Below...[ read more ]

Is Seasonal Depression a Real Thing?

by Spencer Lee, LCSWA Exposure to sunshine has been shown to improve our mental and physical health in a variety of ways. Sunlight plays a major role in our melatonin production which regulates our sleep/wake cycles and has also been shown to make us less reactive to the effects of stress. The vitamin D we get from sun exposure contributes...[ read more ]

Understanding Trauma

by Spencer Lee, LCSWA What is Trauma? The American Psychological Association defines trauma as an emotional response to a terrible or disturbing event. I like to see trauma as any negative experience that currently affects the way you think, feel, or interact within the world. This can be anything from a car accident to experiencing a natural disaster, or living...[ read more ]

Reverse Mom Guilt and What To Do About It

by Spencer Lee, LCSWA       Whether you’re a mom or not, you’ve probably heard of the term “mom guilt”. It is most often used to describe the guilty feeling mothers experience when they do things directly outside of being a caretaker. Some activities that might induce mom guilt may include: working, resting, catching up with a friend over...[ read more ]

Attachment Styles: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?

by Spencer Lee, MSW You may have heard the term “anxious attachment style”, or “secure attachment” before. I know I hear those terms floating around on podcasts, Instagram, Tiktok, etc., when discussing relationships. Attachment styles are used to describe and categorize how a person interacts with those around them and how they handle conflict in relationships. The term was first...[ read more ]