Pure BlogSharing mental and emotional health tips for all!
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11/16/2020 0 Comments What is Gratitude?It may not be what you think.
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Written by: Melena Postolowski, MA Short answer: yes, yes they do.I regularly meet with concerned parents who wonder whether or not their adolescent is “normal.” We review concerns such as mood fluctuations, sleeping in late and engaging in risk-taking or more “defiant” behavior. Without taking away from the difficulties parents are having with these changes, I do get to reassure them that, in many cases, these are expected behaviors for teenagers. Understanding what is going on in the teenage brain in addition to reviewing the developmental tasks teenagers face can help in understanding this behavior with more empathy.
5/29/2020 0 Comments Accept The ReframeWritten by: Maritza Barrera, LMFT So, this is where we get confused about it all. Just accept it already. If you've found yourself stuck in negative thinking, I’m sure you’ve tried to think more positively. I’m also sure at least one friend, loved one, or maybe even your therapist, has advised you to do the same. But, it seems no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get your thinking to switch gears. If this sounds like you, or you are simply curious enough to read on, I want to talk to you about how to break through that barrier.
First, here comes your dose of validation. All humans have negative thoughts in their head about themselves, about others, about situations and circumstances. This is normal. It is also a mental prison with very thick bars! So what can you do to free yourself all Shawshank style?! I thought you’d never ask. 5/20/2020 0 Comments #NoStigma #NoShameWritten by: Maritza Barrera, LMFT "Let's talk about meds..." ...Mental health meds, to be precise. I find there is still so much stigma around mental health medications. Often, clients will arrive to my office and one of the first things they will say is they don’t want to take medication. So, let’s clear some things up. Written by: Melena Postolowski, MA Simple Ways of Helping Your Family Navigate Anxiety Amidst COVID-19  Anxiety can exist both in our heads and in our bodies.
We may notice that our brains ‘jump to conclusions’ and think of the worst possible outcome in situations or worry about things we have no control over. It’s helpful to pause and pay attention to our thoughts to determine whether or not they are something worth listening to. Of course, there are plenty of things worthy of worry right now, but if you’re noticing yourself worrying about things you cannot control, or always assuming the worst, here are some basic practices that may offer help. 4/28/2020 0 Comments Letting Go of GuiltWritten by: Maritza Barrera, LMFT  Are you living with guilt? Understanding one simple fact can change your life. Guilt can be a very debilitating emotion. Unfortunately, some of us suffer with this feeling daily. If you are living with plaguing feelings of guilt, remind yourself of one thing...if you could have done something differently, you would have.
3/29/2020 0 Comments Parenting: An Essential BusinessWritten by: Melena Postolowski, MA Helping Children Navigate Big Feelings in a time of Quarantine Spending some extra time with your children lately? With schools closed and daycares restricted in addition to many parents working from home, family time is a 24/7 endeavor. This can be an opportunity to reconnect and spending quality time with one another. This can also be a time when stress is heightened, feelings are big and patience is low.
3/25/2020 0 Comments A Word About Toilet PaperWritten by: Maritza Barrera, LMFT  We're not officially out of toilet paper here at my home, but we are a few mere potty breaks and blown noses away from it. And, it gets me to thinking about this hoarding toilet paper mentality and how it has permeated our society. It's not that I can't see the need for toilet paper when you are unsure if you may get sick or not be able to safely leave your home for an undetermined amount of time, so much is it that I simply refuse to live with a scarcity mentality anymore. I've officially decided that there is no need to live like I "won't have" if I don't "take for myself".
Written by: Maritza Barrera, LMFT  "I regret it when I suppress my feelings too long and they burst forth in ways that are distorted or attacking or hurtful." ~Carl Rogers
So it turns out I’m a therapist who wants to talk about your feelings. I know that makes me a walking, talking stereotype, but I’ve made peace with that. Another thing I’ve made peace with is the full spectrum of our emotional life. You see, as humans, we tend to relish in our positive feelings and tend to avoid the negative ones. Although this may work for a short time, continuing to avoid your less favorable feels can have dire consequences. Let’s consider a quick example. |
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Contacts
See Maritza Barrera's profile on Healthgrades.
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Location2750 McMullen Booth Rd
Suite 102E Clearwater, FL 33761 |