Gratitude…or toxic positivity?

During this season, there’s always a lot of talk about gratitude. It can often look like, “Things are painful, but I have so much to be grateful for.” This framework, which is even more visible this year than most, however, represents a common misconception: that gratitude should be able to cancel out pain and, in fact, if it doesn’t, that we should feel guilty for our insufficient gratitude.

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Julia Bonnheim
What is EMDR?

EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a kind of therapy that allows people to properly process traumatic events and/or experiences. During trauma, our bodies’ fight or flight response can lead to trauma being ineffectively processed which, in turn, can result in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other trauma responses.

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Jordi Torzeski
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on creating change by uprooting irrational thoughts and negative beliefs. Considered a “solution oriented” form of therapy, CBT is built on the idea that if we can change our thoughts and beliefs, we can positively affect our reactions and behavior.

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Rachel Lund
How we're adapting to COVID-19

We never thought we’d have to figure out how to do therapy amidst a pandemic. And yet, here we are. So we wanted to take this moment to connect with you and share the measures we are taking to keep you safe, healthy, and receiving excellent care.

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Julia Bonnheim
Hot Topic: Self Care

Therapist Kelsey Paulsen addresses a trendy and often misunderstood phrase: “self care.” She breaks it down for us: what self care is and isn’t, and offers a helpful perspective during a time when we are all learning to nurture and nourish ourselves in new ways.

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Kelsey Laulainen
The Tide

The tide was out this morning. Way out. No, I don’t live on the water - and wasn’t even searching for shells on the shoreline. “The Tide” is what I’ve started calling the ups and downs of my feelings since the emergence of COVID-19. The ins and outs. The waves.

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Rachel Lund
Why You Need to Watch the Brene Brown Netflix Special on Vulnerability

While watching the new Brene Brown Netflix special “Call to Courage,” I kept forgetting I was watching a shame researcher talking about her data points and felt more like I was watching a new comedy special. Hilarious and down-to-earth, Brene Brown is at her best: making years of research on vulnerability, shame and courage accessible and relatable to the rest of us.

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HALT

“Self- care” has become common vernacular and is associated for many with the idea of “treating yourself.” Images of pedicures, lavish bubble baths, a glass of wine after a long work day, buying something you do not need but definitely want. Is this self-care?

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Sarah Brandabur