Professional Counseling & Psychotherapy
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By

Charles Mills
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an approach we can use in seeking to understand ourselves and find joy in our lives. It is a paradigm in which our psyche is understood to include Self and Parts. It is the Self from which we are aware of our Parts. We have Parts of ourselves that are...
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In my office, individuals have often expressed that the person others see is not their true self. Often as well, folks are confused about or feel disconnected from their authentic self. But we want to understand ourselves, and we want to be respected by others. So here are some thoughts, questions, and ideas that may...
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In their book, The Great Psychotherapy Debate: The Evidence for What Makes Psychotherapy Work, Wampold and Imel conclude that psychotherapy is remarkably effective: “The effects of psychotherapy are greater than the effects of many medical practices, including flu vaccines, most interventions in cardiology, and treatments for asthma, some of which are very expensive and have...
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Marriage affords the opportunity for us to enjoy our lives together with a partner. It is a whole life, life long relationship. By whole life, I mean that partners are intimate with one another and are one another’s confidant. They entrust themselves to one another. They love and care for one another. They grow together...
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Teenagers with social anxiety spend less time with peers, exchange less personal information, experience more conflict with others, and are less skilled in resolving conflict. They may also pursue friendship with others who are struggling with similar difficulties which can limit the benefits of these friendships and may be less helpful in protecting against peer...
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With OCD, there is a relationship between the obsession and the compulsion. The obsession raises anxiety. The compulsion lowers anxiety – temporarily! Here is an example of worry that may reflect a subtle form of OCD. Elizabeth is worried that she may have cancer. Look at the relationship between her obsessive thoughts and the compulsive...
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In an earlier post (On the Way to Becoming an Adult), I described advantages and disadvantages in relation to the developing teenage brain. While the draw to novelty, risk, and peer relations helps to prepare teenagers for becoming independent adults, their impulsivity can also be hazardous. As teenagers are finding their way through adolescence, it...
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With recent technology, we have learned that a great deal of brain development takes place through the teen years all the way up to at least age 25. From age 12 to 25, communication between brain cells gradually increases by a hundred times. But it is to the teenager’s advantage that these physical changes move...
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We are continuing to learn more and more about how brain cells behave. We know now that neurons can respond to change. This is what we mean by neuroplasticity. And neuroplasticity may be involved in maintaining a normal mood in response to experiences in our relationships and our lives. Bipolar disorder may involve difficulties with...
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Among those afflicted with one or more episodes of major depression, there are differences in the kinds of symptoms experienced. Some individuals feel sad, empty, or hopeless. Others lose interest in almost all activities. One’s appetite may decrease or increase. One may have difficulty sleeping or sleep excessively. One may behave restlessly or become lethargic....
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