It is estimated that of those suffering from depression or addiction, only 44% and 22% of individuals with these respective conditions receive treatment (Luitel, Jordans, Kohrt, Rathod, & Komproe, 2017). Why is this? Multiple factors have been identified which serve as barriers to treatment including a lack of perceived need for treatment, mental health stigma, …
The Stigma of Mental Health: Barriers To Treatment Read More »
When providing treatment to children and adolescents, one of the industry standards is play therapy. Play is a child’s language and has “been recognized by the United Nations Human Rights Council as a right of every child because it is critical to human physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development” (Senko & Harper, 2019, p. 38). …
Many of us struggle with the idea and act of forgiveness. Forgiveness can help when struggling with issues of anger, depression, and problems in relationships. In understanding forgiveness, it’s important to note forgiveness is not the same as acceptance, excuses, reconciliation, or pardons (Weeks, Gambescia, & Jenkins, 2003). Forgiveness is not acceptance, accommodation, or a …
Infidelity despite unapproving social norms has been found to occur at increasing rates especially in this season of COVID-19. Estimates show that pre-COVID-19 that 50% of husbands and 26% of wives had sought extramarital sex at some point during their marriage (Weeks, Gambescia, & Jenkins, 2003). Often when a couples comes to me for counseling, …
Biofeedback is an emerging treatment methods which helps you increase awareness and influence “…physiological, emotional, and cognitive activity by using signals from your own body to improve your health and performance” (Khazan, 2019, p. 4). While some may believe biofeedback is a relaxation technique, it is actually a learning process with its main purpose to …
Biofeedback: What Is It And How Can It Improve My Life? Read More »
Depression is one of the most common mental health issues diagnosed and its presentation can vary from person to person. One of the most common types of depression is major depressive disorder. However, depression can take other forms. Atypical depression comprises 15-40% of depression cases and is characterized by improvement in mood triggered by good …
Depression has been found to be one of the most commonly diagnosed and experienced mental health issues in the world. Furthermore, this condition is ranked as the fourth leading cause of disability (Raic, 2017). Depression is often characterized by negative or sad mood, worthlessness, appetite changes, lack of interest in prior enjoyable activities, and suicidality …
Depression and Heart Diseases: The Connection Between Psychological and Physical Health Read More »
Mindfulness is a practice rooted in Eastern traditions, but has rapidly extended to Western culture. Mindfulness is “a process that leads to a mental state characterized by nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment experience, including one’s sensations, thoughts, bodily states, consciousness, and the environment, while encouraging openness, curiosity, and acceptance” (Hofmann & Gomez, 2017, p. …
Mindfulness: A New Strategy for Stress Reduction Read More »
Having healthy relationships are central to the human experience. In intimate romantic relationships particularly, emotions and emotion-driven behaviors can reach a fever pitch and have an impact of physical and psychological health. Anger and stonewalling especially can negatively impact the health of relationships (Haase, Holley, Bloch, Verstaen, & Levenson, 2016). Anger is one of the …
Anxiety encompasses feelings of worry about certain events and features many physiological symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and fatigue. Increasing research is showing that many will experience anxiety at some point in their life. In many cases, anxiety is normal. However, it can become a clinical problem when it impacts daily activities and …