Social anxiety, often referred to as social phobia, is a common mental health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. It can be characterized by intense fear or discomfort in social situations, leading to avoidance and distress. However, with the right strategies and mindset, it is possible to manage and overcome social anxiety. Here are […]
Is there some significance to our dreams? Actually, yes. However, from my experience dreams are not about wish fulfillment as Freud postulated. Our dreams represent an unconscious attempt to work on concerns we are having at the present time. One of my clients has been having nightmares lately after a stressful life event. The fact […]
Putting in effort matters in your mental health. Whether you have anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, or something else. To feel good about yourself, about who you are, or where you are going, put in real effort. I counsel people who are dissatisfied their jobs, social situation, relationships, or maybe their body or personalities. […]
I’ve counseled a number of newer clients lately who are getting overwhelmed at home and work because they don’t know how to say “no” very easily. It’s usually people who are high on the Agreeableness personality trait that have the hardest time saying no. In other words they say “Yes” when they need to say […]
More often than I like to think about, counseling fails to help people. I have a few clients who come to counseling week after week, we talk about how to improve their lives, they agree heartily with the suggestions I make, then come back and nothing has changed. Did you try the suggestions when you […]
From my experience panic attacks seem to occur from two types of circumstances. One is when you face a major decision and both have consequences. For example, it could be trying to decide if you should keep your current job which is safe but unfulfilling, or take a new job in a new city that […]
In my Grand Rapids counseling practice, I provide often provide counseling for anxiety. One thing I notice about many of my clients is that the anxiety seems to stem from the feeling that things are happening to you and they seem outside your personal control. When this feeling is strong, anxiety sets in. If you […]
Children and teenagers with social anxiety is a common occurrence. It often shows up in early adolescence where kids have difficulty making friends, making connections and developing a satisfactory social life. We generally describe these kids as shy but the problem can become more pervasive and problematic for many kids. Few things are more painful […]
Does your child have teenage anxiety? If so, they are not alone. Even before COVID 19 happened to us, lots of kids had anxiety. How do you know if your child has anxiety? There are a few signs that are common to teenage anxiety that I have seen in my counseling practice. This can […]