Creating a Peaceful Holiday for your Family

Creating a Peaceful Holiday for your Family

The holiday season can be a time of joy, connection, and celebration. There are presents, delicious food, and, for many, some well-earned time off work. Families come together to catch up, reminisce, and create new memories. But for some, family gatherings can also bring tension, unresolved conflicts, and emotional stress. It’s common for holiday celebrations to turn into episodes of family drama. Old resentments resurface, disagreements escalate, and suddenly, the festive spirit takes a backseat to arguments and hurt feelings. If you’ve ever found yourself dreading family gatherings rather than looking forward to them, you’re not alone. Identifying Holiday Triggers…
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Living Within Your Means

Living Within Your Means

Keeping up with the Joneses, go big or go home, and livin’ large are all mantras of our society.  These mantras may very well sound appealing.  However, they seem to cause a great deal of pain for many. In my office, I see people who are spending much more money than they are earning.  After the credit cards are maxed and the second or third mortgage has been taken out, people often find there is no place to turn and they are quite unhappy. What you own is now owning you, as the old saying goes.  It is unfortunate how…
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Is Counseling or Therapy Right for Me?

Is Counseling or Therapy Right for Me?

Counseling and Therapy in Lafayette, Indiana: Helping You Navigate Life’s Challenges Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes, we all need a little help navigating the tough moments. Counseling or therapy isn’t just for those with mental illness—it’s for anyone who needs support, guidance, or a fresh perspective on their challenges. Whether you’re struggling with relationship issues, stress, anxiety, anger management, sexual concerns, or general life transitions, therapy can provide a safe and constructive space to work through your thoughts and emotions. Why Consider Therapy in Lafayette, Indiana? Many people believe they should be able to handle their…
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Mental Health vs. Mental Illness

Mental Health vs. Mental Illness

We hear so much about Mental Illness on a regular basis. That is one of those terms that is frequently thrown around. Actually, I don't care for the term at all. Who wants to be told they have a Mental Illness? I doubt many do. I come from the perspective of Mental Health. Instead of concentrating on illness or problems, I help my clients focus on the positives. Just think, if a therapist focuses on the symptoms of Mental Illness, most of the time and energy is spent discussing the problem, which is demotivating. When the focus is on Mental…
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Trying Too Hard?

Trying Too Hard?

MANAGE your anger. CONTROL your anxiety. STOP having panic attacks. FIX the relationship. All of these are great ideas and actually work for a large percentage of people. However, for some, the more they emphasize on attacking the problem, the worse it gets. How can this be? You have to take the bull by the horns, right? Well, most of the time you do. But not always. There really is such a thing as trying too hard. Yes, believe it or not! Sometimes, I urge people to accept the feelings they are having. There can be a lot said by…
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Stress Management–what is it all about?

Stress Management–what is it all about?

Stress. It's an unwelcome guest that seems to barge into our lives uninvited. Whether it's the pressure of work deadlines, the demands of family life, or the constant barrage of news and information, stress can feel overwhelming and all-consuming. But what if I told you that you have more control over your stress levels than you might think? As a therapist, I've witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that chronic stress can have on individuals. It can manifest in a myriad of ways, from physical symptoms like headaches and insomnia to emotional and behavioral issues such as anxiety, irritability, and difficulty…
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Do Disrespectful People Make You Angry?

Do Disrespectful People Make You Angry?

The feeling of being disrespected is one of those things that often enrages people. Who has any tolerance for being disrespected? I hope no one does, actually. Willingly subjecting yourself to disrespectful people can cause plenty of problems, such as poor self esteem and bottled up anger. However, jumping to conclusions that you are being disrespected (when you are not) can cause plenty more problems. Here is my question: What does it mean to be disrespected? Many people have a variety of answers for this one. Therefore, I do not think there is any one consensus on this definition. It…
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