My 2 year old daughter absolutely loves the opening credits to the movie Elf, released in 2003. (Side note – I can’t believe it’s that old already!) As I watch it with her, I realize how much I have learned from watching the movie (now for the likely 15th time). I believe there is always something to learn from what we see, hear, and read. So, I come to you today with four valuable lessons I gleaned from the film.
Read MoreWhat is sand tray therapy? Sand tray therapy is a type of therapy where creative expression takes the place of verbal expression. The client and therapist can talk, of course, but talking is not the main focus. Instead, the client makes a “scene” or “world” in the sand tray using miniatures and figurines. The client can recreate their own unique, fictitious world, a scene from their life, or an event that happened that’s bothering them. Once the client is finished, the therapist and client can talk about what they created if they want to do some emotional processing of the scene.
Read MoreSelf-Confidence. Or, folks may use the term self-esteem or self-trust. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines self-confidence as “confidence in oneself and in one’s powers and abilities.” Recently, many of my clients have been struggling with this in their professional and personal lives, so I decided to shed some light on it here for anyone who is considering therapy but isn’t quite sure yet.
Read MoreOften my clients come to me because they are feeling depressed and hoping for a way to feel better. They often say they’re feeling tired, unmotivated, and are struggling to enjoy things even if they had loved those things before. They want their energy and their joy back but they just can’t figure out how to make it happen. It’s difficult to problem solve and make changes if you don’t know what’s causing you to feel this way or how depression works. One thing that can help in identifying the causes of depression, which ultimately is helpful for problem solving next steps to feeling better, is recognizing that depression maintains itself in a cycle.
Read MoreYou probably ask or are asked a version of this question multiple times a day. You probably respond with “good” and don’t think twice.
Someone recently asked me what the key to good mental health was – they guessed maybe healthy relationships, good genetics, or perhaps spirituality. I did have to stop and think for a second but then my answer was “it all starts with your feelings”. I believe that understanding your emotions is the key to good mental health.
Read MoreOffering mental health counseling for adolescents and adults near Lancaster, PA
The Counseling Collective LLC
1987 State Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520 and 210 West Grant Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
CALL: (717) 723-8040
