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Why do Children have Nightmares and What to do
Children, like adults, can experience nightmares for a variety of reasons. Nightmares are vivid and disturbing dreams that can cause feelings of fear, anxiety, or

Insomnia and the Best Treatment
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing poor-quality sleep. It can lead to various negative consequences, such as

What we Know About Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a practice that involves paying attention to the present moment in a non-judgmental and accepting way. It has been found to be effective in relieving negative symptoms of mental health for several reasons: Reduced rumination: Mindfulness helps individuals become aware of their thoughts and feelings without getting entangled in them. This awareness can reduce rumination…

Why Medication Alone Does Not Treat Anxiety Disorders
Therapy and anxiety medication are often used together to provide comprehensive treatment for anxiety disorders. Combining these approaches can be more effective in managing anxiety symptoms and improving overall well-being. Here are some reasons why therapy is beneficial even when taking anxiety medication…

Therapy Treatment Team TAMPA BAY
We are excited to bring our dynamic group therapy practice to the Tampa Bay area. We are driven by providing accessible, professional, and compassionate care to the individuals and communities we practice in. Our diverse team of therapists are ready to share the following techniques with Tampa Bay in either a tele-health or in person setting.

The Effects of Saying No to an Adolescent
It is important to note that saying “no” to an adolescent child is not necessarily a breach of trust. In fact, setting limits and boundaries is an essential aspect of parenting and helps children develop a sense of security and structure. However, if parents consistently say “no” without providing an explanation or rationale for their decision, it can lead to a breakdown in trust.

Gun Violence and Helplessness
I grew up on the East Coast of Florida. My mom has lived in the same house my whole life, down the road from an elementary and a middle school, public housing next to the schools, grocery stores and a shopping plaza on the other side. Trailor Park up the road. Basic, lower middle-class neighborhoods. From the time I was about 8 years old, my mom had to work two jobs, so I’d be alone a lot.

How to help your child who is cutting or self harming
If you suspect that your child is cutting or engaging in self-harm, it is important to take the situation seriously and seek professional help as soon as possible. Here are some steps you can take to help your child: Talk to your child: Start by talking to your child in a non-judgmental way. Let them know that you are concerned and want to help…

Understanding the Difference Between Individual Counseling and Couples Therapy
Couple’s therapy, also known as couples counseling or marriage counseling, is a type of therapy that focuses on improving communication and resolving issues within a

Understanding how EMDR works to reduce your symptoms
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy approach that helps individuals process and resolve traumatic or distressing experiences. The therapy involves a structured

How to Manage Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental illness characterized by unstable moods, behaviors, and relationships. People with BPD often have difficulty regulating their emotions, impulsivity,

Supportive Parenting Tips
Being a supportive parent can take many different forms depending on your child’s needs and circumstances. However, here are some general tips that can help you be a supportive parent. Here are some tips for success…

Anxiety Reducing Routine
When anxiety prevents you from having a good nights sleep, just follow these simple steps: 01. Grab a notepad and document all the intrusive thoughts preventing you from relaxing and being able to sleep. (Note: It’s good to keep a notepad on your nightstand for this purpose)…

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue and other Lies We’ve Accepted to be True
“I’m not good enough.” “I’m powerless.” “I don’t matter.” “It’s not safe to show my emotions.”- do any of these thoughts sound familiar? As an EMDR therapist I’d argue that we’ve all had some variation of these negative beliefs cross our mind at some point or another and without much challenge accepted them to be true.

The Mental Art of Diffusing Harmful Thoughts
When we ruminate, our brain is signaling our minds to keep thinking about the same thing over and over. This process often time is automatic giving you very little control over deciding how you want to initiate a thought.

Violence and Mental Health
I grew up on the East Coast of Florida. My mom has lived in the same house my whole life, down the road from an elementary and a middle school, public housing next to the schools, grocery stores and a shopping plaza on the other side. Trailor Park up the road.

Checking in with Your Anxiety
“Take a deep breath,” they say. “Do breathing exercises.” “Let go of your thoughts” Although these suggestions/techniques are effective in helping with some anxious episodes, panic attacks, and other symptoms, these are not always effective with the process in which a person experiences the final outcomes of an anxious state of mind. I’ll explain what I mean…

An Essay on Sobriety, Recovery, and Medically Necessary Opioid Use
In the past year, we’ve heard discussion in popular culture about what “sobriety” means. “Sober” sober (abstaining from everything) versus “California sober” (not doing harder drugs but still getting high).
I’ve had philosophical discussions with clients regarding what “sobriety” means to them…

Explaining depression to others is exhausting
Explaining depression to others is exhausting. Not to those who experience it. We know how it feels, we know what it destroys. The numbing pain, the dark thoughts, and the dirtied filter we see the world through. The vulnerability of our uttered words and teary eyes. Received with blank stares by many.

Running From Myself, Defeat of the Dragon, and Valant Battle Scars
Once upon a time, in a town not too far from here, we begin a story of escapism. Now, we could go back generations and talk about family histories, alcoholics who spent paychecks on bathtub gin, opiate eaters and who knows what else, but for the purposes of this tale, we’ll stick to the (relative) present.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder
A secret life, lying effortlessly, the perfect public image, a sense of self-importance that requires admiration from others. As I write this blog, I asked myself, am I describing a Hollywood action movie character like James Bond?

The Sheen of One Who’s Never Suffered and the Stain of Anxiety
The clean ones. The one’s who have never felt real pain. They wear the sheen of someone who has never suffered. A patina of purity, a veneer that speaks of the innocence of never having hurt. The vacant look of kind confusion when they are asked to understand one who has suffered.