Mental Health Topics

It has been said that the beauty of Michigan is experiencing its four seasons — fall, winter, spring and construction (although some would argue the seasons are more like almost winter, winter, still winter and construction). On some days, construction and road work seem to pop up rather suddenly and…

Choosing the right counselor or therapist in Grand Rapids can seem like an overwhelming task. There are hundreds of therapists listed on various referral sites, and numerous facilities within Google’s search pages. Here are some ways to narrow down the search field. 1. Find a counselor that has experience with…

Thriveworks Counseling, Grand Rapids, we’ve noticed that the city continues to grow and change. As it does, it is providing more opportunities to get out into the community and meet like-minded individuals for networking, friendship and romantic relationships. If you are stuck in a “social isolation” rut and are looking…

Your rising routine can make all the difference in how prepared you are to face the hours and tasks ahead of you. Like most things in life, there are a few tricks for optimizing your mornings. These tips will have you looking forward to the time you have early in…

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…

Don’t Cope with Your Troublesome Feelings — Regulate Them Emotional regulation — learning to control and tolerate emotional distress — is a fundamental part of addiction recovery. A lack of emotional regulation skills is often what contributes to the development of addiction, since addicts turn to substance abuse as a…

An Introduction and Encouragement to Seeking Counseling In this short video, Dr. Timothy Giannoni, a counselor at Thriveworks Marietta Counseling, gives a brief word of insight about what you must do when seeking counseling services. TRANSCRIPTION: Hello, my name is Tim Giannoni, a counselor here at Thriveworks. I want to…