Pennsylvania Mental Health Blog | Therapy Tips from Real Local Clinicians

One Powerful Tip for When You’re Feeling Mentally Exhausted

Mental exhaustion is exactly what it sounds like. Mental distress, whether pathological, situational, or stress related, is real. The exhaustion our brains and bodies feel when experiencing such events is not only real, but something we need to notice, feel, and take time to practice self-care in vulnerability and gentleness. I can honestly say that […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Stress, Wellness

What No One Tells You About Betrayal Trauma

Betrayal in a relationship, whether with a friend, family member, or intimate partner, can be so damaging to the betrayed partner that it can cause symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. These symptoms can include, but aren’t limited to, Nightmares Hyper-vigilance Numbing Withdrawal from others Agitation/irritability Self-destructive behaviors Flashbacks Insomnia Persistent thoughts, both

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Anxiety, Couples, Depression, Family, Grief, Stress

Five Easy Steps to End the Homework Battles

The kids are back in school! 🎉 *happy dance* But, parents, does this sound familiar? “Did you do your homework?” “No, I don’t have any.” “I did it in school.” Perhaps these are true answers, but more often than not, if they sound too good to be true, they usually are. Maybe your child will

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Children, Family, How To, Parenting

Strengthen Your Relationship and Make Your Partner Feel Loved

Do you remember when you were first dating your partner? You paid attention to what they said, looking for clues as to what was going on in their lives and what was important to them. Now, years later, it’s easy to put your partner’s needs on the back burner as you navigate the busy-ness of

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Anxiety, Couples, Family, How To, Stress

Prevent Holiday Overload This Year

For many of us, holiday stress starts November 1st when we stop at the store to pick up something quick for dinner. Overnight it seems that everything has gone from Halloween to the Holidays! Upon returning to your car, you then notice the lampposts are already dawned with wreaths, red ribbons, garlands and lights! What

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Anxiety, Family, How To, Stress, Wellness

Why Acceptance is Good for Difficult Emotions

Why Acceptance Is a Superpower for Navigating Hard Emotions

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough credit in the emotional toolkit: acceptance. Not the kind of acceptance that means giving up or brushing things under the rug. We’re talking about the type of acceptance that creates space for your emotions, helps you breathe through the hard stuff, and lets you start moving forward—even

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Anxiety, Children, Depression, How To, Stress, Teens

Adding More Mindfulness Into Your Life

Let’s talk about mindfulness. When I ask a new client if they’ve heard of mindfulness, a common answer I get is, “I’ve heard of it, but what exactly is it?” By definition, Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive

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Anxiety, Depression, How To, Stress, Therapy, Treatments

Five Hacks for Your ADHD Brain

Think about what made you choose to read this blog post. What makes these decisions for us, these every day decisions that we don’t even really think about? Easy answer is, our brains. And some brains have ADHD. Our brains are so amazingly complex. New synapses can be created, ingrained as patterns after lots of

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Children, How To, Professional/Work, Teens

Four Truths About Premarital Counseling

When you are in the blissful period before you get married, busy with all the wedding plans and imagining your wonderful future together, it may seem like seeking couples counseling would be the last thing you should be doing. However, studies have shown that successful premarital counseling decreases the likelihood of divorce by 50 percent.

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Couples, Therapy, Treatments

Getting the Most Out of Marriage Counseling

Your marriage is in trouble and you have decided to seek the assistance of a marriage counselor. You have done all the research to find a good therapist for the two of you and taken the courageous first step by setting up your first appointment. Now what? How can you make sure that you get

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Couples, Family, Therapy, Treatments

Peaceful Parenting Strategies for a Calm and Connected Family

Parenting is the hardest job in the world. You’ve heard this time and time again, and if you are a parent reading this – you know it to be true. No manual or training and you’re on the job 24/7. Let’s talk about two common struggles – when kids don’t listen and the anger that

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Children, Family, How To, Parenting

How Repetition Rewires Your Brain (And Why That Matters for Mental Health)

How Repetition Gently Shapes Your Brain

Your brain is pretty incredible. It is always learning, adjusting, and responding to what you experience each day. From making your morning coffee to having a familiar conversation, your brain is quietly taking notes. One of the most powerful ways it learns is through repetition. If you have ever wondered why a song gets stuck

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Connection, Mental Health

10 Journal Prompts to Help You Get to the Root of Your Anger

Anger gets a bad reputation. It is often labeled as negative, unhealthy, or something to control as quickly as possible. But anger itself is not the problem. It is a valid emotion, and more often than not, it is trying to tell you something important. Under anger, there is usually another feeling waiting to be

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Anger, Coping Skills, Emotions, Journals

Understanding and Managing Self-Destructive Impulses: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle

Have you ever caught yourself doing something you know is not good for you, but you do it anyway? Maybe it is eating past the point of being full, putting off something important until it feels unmanageable, or turning down an opportunity because fear got the last word. These moments can feel frustrating or confusing,

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Guides, Mental Health, Therapy

The Psychology of Luck: How Mindset Shapes Your Good Fortune

Some people just seem lucky. They always find the best parking spot, stumble into the right opportunity at the right time, or meet someone who changes everything. Meanwhile, others feel like they are always hitting red lights or missing the train by seconds. If you have ever wondered why luck seems to favor some people

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Growth Mindset, Motivation, Personal Development