Life Informed Therapy

It seems like the theme of therapy every week before a major holiday is self care. How do you not undo all the progress you have made because of other people's issues? The holidays can bring out the best in people and it can bring out the worst. Expectations are usually high that this will be the perfect gathering and while most are on their best behavior, there is always one in the group that will bring up an issue that is like nails on a chalkboard. Our family is our family and our family can also be homophobic, transphobic, sexist, racist, aggressive, unstable, unsafe, unloving, and ill-informed. While we are all affected by these people on a macro level, when it's your family, it becomes a lot more real and more difficult to ignore, like getting shot in the head, just ask Ron Swanson! So how do you maintain all the work you have done when grandma questions the legitimacy of the #metoo movement? Well first, remind your self that "Grandma got run over by a Toyota ...

Our Newport, Ky location is now open! Professional, private, and easily accessible to downtown Cincinnati.

I am excited to announce that I am now licensed in Kentucky. In-person counseling is offered in downtown Newport, only a 5-minute drive from downtown Cincinnati. I also offer online sessions to all residents of Kentucky. 

I am excited to announce that Life Informed Therapy has been approved to be listed as a provider for the Secular Therapy Project. This would not have seemed like a big deal to me practicing New England, however, once I moved to North Carolina and now Ohio, I became more aware of how difficult it is to find a non faith based therapist. While I am not dismissing those who find comfort in religion, I do think there should be a better way to find a secular therapist. Nothing turns away a secular client like a therapist telling them their struggle is God's will. Unfortunately, even the largest therapy directory, Psychology Today, does not offer an option to filter secular therapists, which is why the Secular Therapy Project is so invaluable. #mentalhealth #counseling #therapy

When you are out with friends, in a work meeting, or strolling down the grocery aisle, do you feel like you are the same person as you are home alone? If not, why? Are you purposely changing who you are or are you subconsciously masking your personality to fit in? Is this exhausting? While everyone's situation is different, it is never too late to be who you really are. Continuing to live a life that suppresses your true self can lead to increased depression and anxiety. While multiple factors can influence a persons reason to hide their identity, Life Informed Therapy can help support you in making the transition to living authentically.

We have all heard the saying "There is no such thing as a bad idea" and maybe when pitching Sharknado someone figured this was the exception to that saying.... but this movie has made almost 800 million dollars!  When we squash our creativity, we become withdrawn, disengaged and lose interest in other things. Embracing what comes naturally to you can increase happiness, decrease stress and bring more meaning to your life. If you find you are constantly pushing away your ideas, let's talk and find out what's getting in the way of your happiness. 

Happy Taco Tuesday! 

I am excited to announce that I am now licensed in Ohio, providing in person counseling in downtown Cincinnati and online counseling to all residents of Ohio. 

Only just a few years ago the idea of adults taking a nap gave the  insinuation of being lazy or unproductive. Luckily there have been increased studies showing the the positive effects of taking a short nap everyday. Due to these studies, more companies are installing "Nap Rooms" for employees to take a break and recharge. Yet there still seems to be some push back on the idea of napping during a break at work.  This stereotype that only lazy people nap during work can cause further distress and anxiety to someone who actually becomes more productive after a 30 minute nap than the person who overworks themselves because they are programmed with the idea that they don't need a nap. Naps are good for our brain, much like exercise is good for our heart, and yet I see no one scoffing at the idea of  their co-worker taking a 30 minute walk on their lunch break. I have always been someone who needed a nap during the day, regardless of how much I slept the night before and...

Finding your joy may be difficult this time of year, but it's important to identify at least one or two things in your life that make you smile, no matter how "trivial" or small they may be. While the past can be difficult to think about, it's crucial to give yourself credit for getting through it. Grief, job loss, financial stress, lost relationships and trauma all leave scars, some visible, some not. Those scars may be painful, but they make us who we are and are evidence of our strength to press on in search of peace and happiness. I think most of us would agree that we would rather show our strength in other ways and forgo the scars! Finding joy could be as simple as: Looking at funny cat/dog memes. Laying down for 20 minutes. Enjoying your favorite beverage in silence. Watching old movies or TV shows. Coloring (don't knock it till you try it again as an adult!) Going for a walk. Playing with your furry or feathered family member.  Cooking a new re...

I swear, once that first leaf hits the ground, it's like a national alarm to start your holiday engines and get ready to plaster the most merriest of smiles across your face for the next 4 months. Isn't that what society tells us? That this time of year is the "Most Wonderful Time of The Year!". Sure, in an ideal world, where all holidays are recognized and celebrated, where we all had plenty of money to buy our loved ones their most favorite things, where we all had enough food for the table and where we all had safe and supportive families and friends to visit. In reality, not everyone has these things, making this time of the year stressful, depressing and pretty much the opposite of wonderful.  Now let's say you are fortunate enough to have most of these things, and you still feel sad and depressed when the green flag of holiday racing is waved. You may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD. SAD is usually triggered by th...

I think we can all agree that holiday music starts earlier and earlier each year, and while the holidays can be a wonderful time, the music is the soundtrack to what can be a chaotic 6 weeks! Regardless of what you do or do not celebrate, this time of year can be an onslaught of shopping, family and friend gatherings, overnight guests, elaborate meal planning and lots of travel. I remember for many years doing the early morning wake up for Black Friday shopping with my friends and not because I particularly enjoyed it, but because that was what we were “supposed” to do. Over time, I began to dread it, why was I not enjoying this day off by sleeping in after a long day of cooking, eating and cleaning? I gave in to the social pressure that this holiday season can bring, even though I knew it was not good for me. No deal was worth fighting over a parking spot at 2am. I kicked my Black Friday tradition to the curb and let my friends know I’ll meet them for lunch instead when they were...