A new research study from Thriveworks shows that more Americans are engaged in parasocial relationships than they care to admit. Humans naturally form one-sided connections to media personas and public figures, even genuinely mourning their deaths. These parasocial relationships are usually harmless, though 9% of people report lasting mental health…
Grief can unfold differently for each individual mourning a difficult loss, but a common emotion that arises is anger. If you feel angry after losing a loved one, you should first ask yourself where that anger might stem from: Are you angry at the situation, the person, maybe a spiritual…
Sometimes, we are so invested in our favorite sports teams that we experience symptoms of depression when they lose a big game or when the season comes to a close. These symptoms can cause serious harm, but the good news is that there are effective techniques for recovering from sports…
Family constellation therapy (FCT) is an approach to healing that confronts intergenerational trauma both mystically and empirically. Bert Hellinger devised FCT as a way of connecting ancestral pain and traumatic events to someone’s current difficulties, then restoring peace to the system. Through FCT workshops or one-on-one sessions, individuals can use…
Holidays aren’t just about the vacation days, they’re also about the days leading up to the vacation days… and the days following the vacation days. Fortunately it’s possible to mentally prepare for your winter break and make accommodations for your post-holiday depression. To ease transitions you can keep your favorite…
When you miss someone, your body and brain go through a painful response. The grieving process may affect your appetite, ability to sleep, and even your brain chemistry, too. Whether you’re missing someone because of a divorce, loss of a friendship, or due to active military duty, there are steps…
Shame: There is something wrong with me as a person. Guilt: I’m a person who may have done something wrong. What is the thing that causes you to lay awake at night; the thing that causes you shame? I promise that you’re not damaged beyond repair. You’re not unlovable. You’re…
We can try to be more like Oprah and Gayle in our close friendships, but we often miss the mark. When the negatives in your friendship start to drown out the positives, it may be time for friendship therapy, which is like couples therapy for friends. Friendship therapists employ many…
As we age, studies show that we tend to lose touch with our friends and often struggle to form new friendships in their wake. Big life events like marriage, children, or moving can disrupt our connections to our friends. When it comes to ranking the importance of our social connections,…
This year, “Hot Girl Summer” has a different meaning — in a post-pandemic world, it’s about self-assurance and self-compassion as we face what we’ve been through and acknowledge the mental challenges ahead. There are (at least) five mental obstacles that we have to navigate during our reemergence, one being anxiety:…
As soon as talk about a looming global pandemic swept across the States, everyone took a hard, isolated hit. For fans of sports teams, this was an especially hard transition in a unique way. Most major sports seasons were halted or altered—which meant that fans of these sports teams weren’t…
Troy, MI 9/14/20 — Thriveworks, a counseling practice with over 130 locations across the United States, announces the opening of their newest counseling office in Troy, MI. To meet the needs of this community, Thriveworks is excited to offer almost immediate mental health care to their clients, by telephone and…