This is a question I’ve been asked many times over the past several months. My answer is often a resounding “Yes!” due to the many applications for this intervention. If you’ve heard the buzz around EMDR and wonder if it’s right for you, here is some information you might consider for yourself and then discuss it with a therapist trained or certified in EMDR.
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapeutic intervention that allows people to heal from traumatic or disturbing life events. We all have neural pathways in our brains that help us make sense of the world around us. However, these pathways can become blocked after a traumatic experience. Using eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps reprocess the memories related to those events, thus removing the blocks in the neural pathways. Once the block is removed, the brain begins to heal from the traumatic event. Learn More...
Setting Boundaries During the Holiday Season
/in Creative Family Counseling, Family Life/by Lacey Ryan, LMFT, RPT-SIs this the “most” time of year for you too? While there are breaks from school (and maybe work too), many of us find our schedules BUSIER than ever with extra holiday celebrations and fun events. A friend shared with me last holiday season that their family had SEVEN family holiday gatherings to attend within a week’s time. She, her partner, and their children were all exhausted and at each other’s throats by the end of it all. It was too much. Here’s an invitation to set some proactive boundaries in your lives now, before the “most” time of year gets the best of you and your family too! Learn More...
7 Ways to Help Your Child Cope with Boredom During the Holiday Break
/in Creative Family Counseling, Family Life/by Lacey Ryan, LMFT, RPT-SHoliday breaks usually include some much needed downtime for many families. With a scheduled break from schoolwork and tests, large projects at work, & extracurriculars like sports and clubs, most families welcome the chance to rest and recover from such busy day-to-day lives. A drastic change from going from “go-go-go” to such a relaxed schedule can reveal some needs your family may have. Here are some things you can do to help with that adjustment: Learn More...
International Transgender Day of Remembrance
/in Creative Family Counseling/by Lacey Ryan, LMFT, RPT-SFacing Religious Trauma and Spiritual Harm Together
/in Creative Family Counseling, Family Life, Individual Therapy, Spiritually Integrative Counseling/by Bennett AlldredgeIn today’s diverse and dynamic world, individuals navigate a multitude of beliefs and ideologies. For some, faith is a source of strength, solace, and community. However, for others, religious experiences can leave deep emotional scars that can often feel overwhelming. Creative Family Counseling understands the importance of addressing the challenges faced by those who have experienced religious trauma and spiritual harm. If you have experienced wounds related to negative experiences of faith or spiritual beliefs, therapy can help you sort through your emotions and help process the traumatic experiences of your life toward spiritual healing. But what exactly is religious trauma? How can therapy help? This article will explore some of the ways that religious trauma can affect you, where it comes from, and how therapy can help you sort through your beliefs and feelings. Learn More...
Is EMDR Right For Me?
/in Creative Family Counseling, Individual Therapy/by Lisa Howard CardwellThis is a question I’ve been asked many times over the past several months. My answer is often a resounding “Yes!” due to the many applications for this intervention. If you’ve heard the buzz around EMDR and wonder if it’s right for you, here is some information you might consider for yourself and then discuss it with a therapist trained or certified in EMDR.
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapeutic intervention that allows people to heal from traumatic or disturbing life events. We all have neural pathways in our brains that help us make sense of the world around us. However, these pathways can become blocked after a traumatic experience. Using eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps reprocess the memories related to those events, thus removing the blocks in the neural pathways. Once the block is removed, the brain begins to heal from the traumatic event. Learn More...
Non-Suicidal Self Injury (or self-harm) vs. Suicidality
/in Creative Family Counseling, Therapy for Teens/by Erica Myers, LPCC-S, RPT-SThe difference between Suicidality and Self Injury is INTENT.
Individuals engage in self-harm to feel “something” other than numb or empty. Sometimes self-harm can be a way to signal to others that they need help or the harming behavior has become a maladaptive coping skill. Individuals who express suicidality are experiencing hopelessness, despair, and thinking that the end of their life could be the solution to their problems. Although both conditions can stem from similar situations or contexts, self-harm does not always indicate that the individual wants to end their life. Learn More...
Limiting the Overwhelm of Parents: Making Therapy More Accessible to Children and Teens at School
/in Creative Family Counseling, Therapy for Kids, Therapy for Teens/by Lacey Ryan, LMFT, RPT-SAs parents, we want our kids to be happy and healthy. Oftentimes this means running them all over town for various events and appointments – wellness visits, sick visits, tutoring, dentist appointments, lessons, sports activities, vision tests, club events…and the list goes on and on. While their happiness and success is a priority, what happens when crises arise which add to the already over-scheduled family schedule? When our children experience mental health symptoms and concerns, this moves up quickly on the priority list of weekly commitments. Parents who are already burning up the road with mileage then try to find more time in the day to fit in one more (very important) therapy visit. Learn More...
Is This Normal? When Should I Seek Help for My Child?
/in Creative Family Counseling, Family Life, Therapy for Kids, Therapy for Teens/by Erica Myers, LPCC-S, RPT-SBy Erica R. Myers, LPCC-S, RPT-S Clinical Director Creative Family Counseling
Mental illness can begin at any age and affects everyone – regardless of socioeconomic status, background, or upbringing. It is essential to recognize that the onset of mental illness is typically during childhood and the teenage years, meaning parents must be educated on the potential signs and risks. While mental illness can be scary, it is highly treatable. Those who seek early treatment for their child can find fantastic outcomes in therapy. Learn More...
Back to School: What to expect from your child and how you can provide them support
/in Family Life, Therapy for Kids, Therapy for Teens/by Lacey Ryan, LMFT, RPT-SFor many parents, the return of children back to school is a mixture of relief and stress. We feel stressed because there’s a lot of prep work for the return to school and there is also a sense of relief when we can all get back to a set routine and schedule.
Leading up to the first day of school for your kids, you may notice feelings of concern, fear, and nervousness or even anger and irritability. Learn More...
Back to School: Time for a New Routine Chart
/in Creative Family Counseling, Family Life, Therapy for Kids/by Lacey Ryan, LMFT, RPT-SIf your family has had a relaxed scheduled this summer, you may find that it’s time to get back into a routine to prepare for your back-to-school schedule! This afternoon my elementary-aged child and I created a new Routine Chart. Routine Charts are a positive parenting tool that can help streamline a routine or process, help your child increase their autonomy and skills and releases you of the nagging for all that has to be done! Instead of asking quick-fire questions in the morning about all their morning tasks, you can simply ask, “Have you completed your morning routine?” Learn More...