Mental Health Topics

The Holidays are upon us. This is the time of year when experimental drinking and drug use happens. This is the time of Holiday parties and Holiday cheer. As parents, we hope our children are safe. We hope we have taught them how to make good decisions. We hope they…

  Just as men have some unique physical issues because of our biology, we also have some unique psychological issues because of the way we were socialized. This process starts early when baby boys are touched less and later touched more roughly than girls. It continues in the expectations that…

A new study found that millennials really don’t like being associated with their own generation. In fact, they are more embarrassed by themselves than anyone else. Millennials have been given a variety of unsavory names such as, “Self-absorbed”, “Lazy”, and “The Worst Generation”. With these titles, it’s understandable why the…

If you’ve been following the news, or have been awake for any part of the last few days, you’ve probably heard about the millions of names that have been leaked from the Ashley Madison site. For many, it’s been a heartbreaking and infuriating time. So what do you do if…

Understanding Grief & Loss in Adoption; Are You Feeling… Loss, Frustrated, Anxious , Sad, Angry, Jealousy, Denial, Shame, Relationship Stress, Lack of Control? The experience of adoption is often bitter sweet. Adoption can be a new baby for the adoptive parents, a new family for the adoptee and the solution…

My 15 year old daughter, has had three role models in her life: Hannah Montana, Taylor Swift and, now, Lana Del Ray. I say “Hannah Montana” (and not Miley Cyrus) because this was when she was a sweet actress/singer who played a double role similar to the role played by…

TRANSCRIPT: My name is Kate Elenbaas, I’m a new therapist here at Thriveworks Counseling and Coaching here in Grand Rapids. I’m very excited to be a part of th te team here. I got my LMSW from Western Michigan University, and I’m also a certified, advanced addiction drug counselor here…

Thriveworks Counseling in Grand Rapids, Michigan TRANSCRIPT: My name is Rebecca Nelson and I’m a licensed master social worker. I’ve had the pleasure of working with kids and families for the last thirty years, dealing with a variety of situations and issues. I think that it is most important and…

Q&A on Firstborn Parenting 1. What are some typical behaviors of the oldest child? Oftentimes, oldest children tend to be driven and ambitious. In addition, they can have a strong sense of responsibility, along with a healthy amount of self-confidence. 2. How does an oldest child tend to interact with…

Q&A Q: Is the media’s coverage of hoarding normalizing the behavior in a way that would prevent one from getting help?. A: Interesting question. Culture can play a role in many disorders. Regarding hoarding specifically, many people who hoard don’t have great insight into their own hoarding behaviors. Hence, a…

Q&A Q: According to the DSM-5, hoarding shouldn’t be diagnosed if the behavior can be better explained by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Is it possible for both hoarding and OCD to be diagnosed together? A: Great question! Yes, a therapist can diagnose them together, but one should avoid diagnosing hoarding…

Q&A Q: Can hallucinations occur as a symptom of PTSD? A: Yes, hallucination can occur as a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)! For example, one documented case of such a situation was with a a client who had olfactory hallucinations; she would smell the body odor of the man…