The LGBTQIA+ community consists of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), intersex, and asexual individuals. While society is growing increasingly supportive, LGBTQIA+ individuals still face unique challenges that can harm their mental health and overall wellbeing. But with the help of an LGBTQIA-based counselor, who can help their clients…
When searching for a health care provider, we consider education, years of experience, customer reviews… and perhaps whether or not that person is like us. For certain individuals, this last consideration can be an important one: Specifically for those in marginalized communities searching for a provider who truly understands what…
Solution-focused brief therapy is a highly effective, concentrated therapeutic method that helps clients identify the path forward when faced with life transitions, interpersonal issues, or emotional distress. Solution-focused approaches are ideal for those faced with anxiety, stress, minor depression, relationship issues, family conflict, or children with behavioral issues. The duration…
Virtual reality therapy is a new form of therapeutic treatment that involves the use of avatars—realistic, computer-generated images of a virtual mental health professional that clients can talk to. A 2022 study noted that when discussing difficult, painful subjects in a therapy session, 30% of test subjects actually preferred talking…
Geek therapy is a way of integrating nerd-culture artifacts into the therapeutic process as a means of building rapport with clients. This modality can help people with gaming and fantasy proclivities find points of resonance between make-believe and real-world concerns. All therapy approaches basically strive for similar successes, and does…
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a method some counselors use to help their clients overcome their ambivalence toward positive change. MI is a client-centered, directive counseling approach that can help clients identify and strengthen their own motivation. MI works by eliciting ‘change talk” to deepen a client’s intrinsic commitment to change. …
Therapists possess and utilize many skills, but a very important response for them to master within their practice is empathetic responding or active listening. Empathic responding is when the counselor clearly communicates the feeling their client has expressed, as well as why they possess those feelings (again, according to the…
Are you feeling nervous about starting therapy or counseling? If so, don’t worry. It’s totally normal to feel a little nervous. That said, you can take some proactive steps to prepare for your first therapy session. These tips will help to lessen those nerves and also help make for a…
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…
With people everywhere falling head over heels for Disney’s “Encanto,” it’s the perfect opportunity to highlight the emotional impact of music on our lives. Even science is proving that our love for music is a genetic trait, a uniquely human experience. Though the “Encanto” soundtrack is quickly becoming beloved, under…
The positive effects of nature on mental and physical health are well-documented. Captain Obvious says that’s because humans evolved outdoors, not indoors, for 99.9% of their time on Earth. Virtual reality nature lacks the multisensory inputs (like soil, volatile organic compounds, and soundscapes) that people need to get the full…
People who have gone through traumatic events may experience some mental and emotional disturbances. They may not be able to perceive things positively and live life as they did before. There might be flashbacks, anxieties, and fears that may continue to affect their ability to function daily, which are common…