Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch
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By: Janelle Schlueter, MS, LPC, NCC, CCTP As a trauma-specialized therapist, I see clients who have survived severe trauma. When beginning to work with these clients, they commonly cannot imagine a mindset free from their trauma. Even more unimaginable is having a positive change to their life they would not have if they did not […]
By: Janelle Schlueter, MS, LPC, NCC, CCTP
As a trauma-specialized therapist, I see clients who have survived severe trauma. When beginning to work with these clients, they commonly cannot imagine a mindset free from their trauma. Even more unimaginable is having a positive change to their life they would not have if they did not endure the trauma. This is the concept of Post Traumatic Growth, the final stage in trauma therapy. Not only is achieving this stage possible, but it’s also a realistic goal of trauma therapy. Helping clients get to this stage is the most rewarding part of what I do!
Post Traumatic Growth is a concept that has been part of trauma therapy for over 40 years. Many treatment models describe stages or steps to trauma treatment. One consistent thing across these models is when the client reaches the end of trauma treatment. They can look at the world with a new appreciation. This appreciation is made more significant due to the client having experienced trauma.
Post Traumatic Growth encompasses five distinct outcomes that are widely acknowledged. These include enhanced gratitude for life, improved interpersonal connections, the emergence of fresh opportunities, increased personal resilience, and spiritual transformation. While most individuals typically encounter one or two of these outcomes, many people actually undergo the experience of four or even all five of them!
This is the most common outcome seen with clients and typically signifies the end of the need for intensive trauma therapy. A client in this stage will be able to see the value in life and will not take life for granted. They will feel grateful to have survived rather than focus on how they were close to not surviving.
Clients experiencing this outcome will have healthier relationships. They will be more likely to advocate for themselves, set healthy boundaries as well as be vulnerable to building connections. This outcome is noted by the ending of unhealthy relationships and the investment into strengthening healthy relationships.
This outcome results in clients re-evaluating their goals towards what they want rather than what they feel they ‘should’ do. I see this in clients who chose a career path because it was what their family wanted, but after reaching post traumatic growth, specifically this outcome, they change career paths to ones they find more fulfilling. This outcome can also be finding new hobbies like getting tattoos, running marathons, or even skydiving.
This is another common outcome and is noted by the client’s significant increase in confidence and self-worth. It is expected that when a client is starting trauma therapy, they will struggle with confidence and self-worth. Watching a client gain confidence in themselves and discover their self-worth is nothing short of amazing!
Sometimes clients find themselves becoming stronger in their faith. Others may find themselves going on spiritual journeys to find a new faith. Some become more spiritual rather than aligning with one religion. This outcome is seen when a client notes the change in a positive direction and feels more fulfilled by their spirituality.
We’ve talked about what Post Traumatic Growth is, but how do you get there? Firstly, find a therapist who specializes in trauma-informed therapy and has experience in treating severe trauma. Secondly, make sure you and your therapist have the same goals of reaching Post Traumatic Growth. Thirdly, be patient. Trauma therapy takes time. Fourthly, be honest and vulnerable with both yourself and your therapist. If it’s not acknowledged, it cannot be addressed. Lastly, give yourself grace for the ups and downs of trauma healing!
If you are ready to begin Post Traumatic Growth, one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By Natasha Cooke, MS Supervised by: Melissa Barton, MA, MPC-S Are you struggling with grief? Have you ever experienced the death of a person or pet? What about a difficult loss of a job, relationship or experience with a diagnosis of a severe or terminal illness? If so, chances are you have experienced grief. When […]
By Natasha Cooke, MS
Supervised by: Melissa Barton, MA, MPC-S
Are you struggling with grief? Have you ever experienced the death of a person or pet? What about a difficult loss of a job, relationship or experience with a diagnosis of a severe or terminal illness? If so, chances are you have experienced grief. When people think of grief, they think of extreme sadness or depression. You may be envisioning someone that has trouble getting out of bed, attending to daily hygiene, or is just not the same person as they once were.
Grief is a universal emotion felt by individuals all over the world. Grief is so common, yet it is hardly ever discussed. Did you know that anger, numbness, and even experiencing guilt are common when someone is grieving? It’s true. Not every moment of grief is filled with sadness and despair. As a matter of fact, guilt is common when it comes to grieving the loss of a loved one.
While the most typical symptom of grief is sadness, often, there is a range and mix of emotions. People may feel angry that their loved one is gone. They could feel angry with God or their higher power. Someone may also feel angry at the deceased for being gone. While feeling very sad and feeling angry are common, someone who is grieving could be experiencing what we call “numbness.” They may be lacking the ability to feel their emotions. For example, someone may be unable to cry even though they are grieving.
Individuals may also feel guilty during this time of grief. Guilt can come from a variety of reasons. Maybe you feel bad that you didn’t spend more time with the deceased while they were alive. Guilt could also stem from not feeling like you did enough to help. You may even feel guilty that you are feeling relieved. While these emotions may seem strange or taboo to discuss, they are all very much part of the grieving process.
Simply put, the answer is no. There is not one “right” or “wrong” way to grieve. You may be thinking, “What about the stages of grief?” Don’t we all go through the same stages when we grieve? Surprisingly, while there are established stages of grief, including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, not everybody goes through the same cycle. Some people begin the grieving process at stage 2 or 3. At the same time, others may go back and forth between stages or never enter a particular stage at all.
Now that you’ve learned grieving is not a straightforward process, you may be feeling overwhelmed. It’s normal to want to know what you will go through while you grieve and how long it will take. However, it’s important to remember that each person is grieving a different situation. And each person has their own unique way they process hardships.
During this difficult time, remember that doing what helps you is what is most important. Feel free to grieve in the way that comforts you. This could include watching old episodes of your favorite show on re-run, seeking out a friend to just stay in and have dinner with, or taking a long bubble bath.
So, now that you know it’s up to you to find what will help you during your grief, what now? How do you go about finding a way to grieve in a healthy way?
In the following sections, there are some tips on how to process grief.
While it may be tempting, don’t bottle in all your emotions or try to keep them to yourself.
Do write down feelings or thoughts in a journal. You can even write a letter to the deceased person, pet, or situation.
Do let loved one knows what you are going through. Let them know how they can best support you. For example, “Could you sit with me outside for a while,” or “Can you listen to some stories?”
Do seek out professional support from a licensed professional counselor if you would like more support with your grief.
Do ask your loved ones to check in on you from time to time if you feel that it will be helpful.
Even if other people around you seem to be grieving at a different pace, stay true to what feels right for you.
Don’t try to jump ahead and skip the grieving process.
Do give things away or move on only when you feel ready.
It may be a cliché, but it is true that time is healing. While you may never completely rid yourself of grief, as time goes on, you will find acceptance and peace.
Do honor their memory by telling stories you enjoy or any other way you can.
If you are ready to start processing your grief, one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Tara Kong, MS, NCC, LPC- Associate Supervised by Melissa Barton, LPC-S Do you ever check in on your mental health? Being a mental health professional means I spend a lot of time thinking about mental health and trying to ensure that I am always at my best. Like many others, sometimes I can get in […]
By: Tara Kong, MS, NCC, LPC- Associate
Supervised by Melissa Barton, LPC-S
Do you ever check in on your mental health? Being a mental health professional means I spend a lot of time thinking about mental health and trying to ensure that I am always at my best. Like many others, sometimes I can get in a funk, and it can be hard to get out of that. Life can be busy and overwhelming at times. It can be hard to know what exactly to do when you don’t feel at your best.
Here are some tips you can do to check in with yourself and do mental health check-ins. These techniques can help you get to the root of the issue and see what is really going on. Just as we make time for those we care about, it is equally important to make time for ourselves. After trying this for the first time, try to make it a habit to approach it on a daily basis. Even if it is set aside just a few minutes, it can be beneficial to make this a daily practice.
Humans are creatures of habit, and the good thing about habits is that they help us make changes to our lives. This can look however you want it to look. It may be having some coffee in your favorite mug, taking a walk with your dog, or taking time to just sit outside and enjoy a nice day. Taking time for these moments allows you to focus and tell yourself it is time for a check-in.
Doing a self-check-in means asking yourself pertinent questions. Here are a few examples:
How am I doing right now? What am I feeling at this moment? Have I been feeling anything uncomfortable lately? What makes me happy? What has made me sad? Has anything been irritating me or making me angry recently? Is there something I need to change now? What do I need to make more of a priority? Am I in pain right now? What do I want to be doing with my time?
Doing a mental health check-in does not mean you need to do it alone. It can be helpful to involve someone you love and trust in the process. At times talking it out can really help you understand what you are feeling and why. Sometimes the answer is staring us right in the face, and another person can help us see what’s going on by adding an additional perspective. Having a trusted person ask probing questions can also be useful when having a discussion.
Negative details tend to stick in our heads more than positive ones. When you are finding it hard to focus on the good in life, try to think of some things you are grateful for. These can be as small as being thankful for a compliment from someone, spending time with someone you love, or getting to enjoy a favorite treat. This allows you to see the good when it feels like there is a lot of negative activity surrounding you.
Sometimes people can feel like they don’t know who they are or what their purpose is in life. If you struggle with self-doubt or feel like you’re lost, remembering your values is a great way to lessen the feeling of darkness around you that you may be feeling. Ask yourself: What means the most to me? What am I passionate about? Our values help make us who we are and provide direction in our lives. Finding ways to live out your values can help you feel more fulfilled or find meaning in your life.
After completing your mental health check-in, it is essential to indulge in some self-care. You may be feeling vulnerable after this exercise, so be sure to treat yourself with kindness and make a plan for how to move forward. Here are a few ideas to get started: take a shower or enjoy a warm bubble bath, go for a jog or walk outside, call a loved one and talk about what you’ve learned, or treat yourself to s special treat like going for a coffee at your favorite place, make an appointment to see a therapist, watch a television show that interests you, and make a plan to put action to your goal. Think of small ways you can challenge yourself to start making your way to your goal.
If you are ready to check-in on your mental health, one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Carey Robey, MS, LPC, NCC Internal Versus External Coping Skills Hopefully, we have all heard of coping skills. For those of you that haven’t- coping skills are the tools we use to deal with times of distress. We all have difficult things that come up every now and then that we must face, but […]
By: Carey Robey, MS, LPC, NCC
Hopefully, we have all heard of coping skills. For those of you that haven’t- coping skills are the tools we use to deal with times of distress. We all have difficult things that come up every now and then that we must face, but facing those things can be challenging when not having the proper skills. Coping skills come in many forms, but today I want to remind you about internal versus external coping skills.
Internal coping skills are those which require nothing but ourselves. External coping skills are those which utilize things outside of ourselves. Some examples of internal coping skills are thought challenging, deep breathing, positive visualization, meditation, and positive self-talk. Examples of external coping skills are drawing, watching television, playing games, talking to others, working out, and reading, and writing. The reason why it is important to recognize the difference and have skills in both areas is that you cannot rely on one kind all the time.
We need to have the ability to utilize both internal and external coping skills for different reasons. For example, if I remember something distressing at work, I cannot simply pull out my coloring book and start coloring in front of co-workers. I need to be able to quickly engage in self-talk and bring myself back to being attentive to the task at hand. In certain settings, it is not feasible or appropriate to distract me using external means. I need to be able to rely on myself.
At other times, we might be so distressed we simply need a distraction. Sometimes it can be helpful to utilize external resources to help us through our times of distress. I often find it helpful to confide in a friend or distract myself with my favorite show; sometimes, it’s nice to be able to engage in an activity to take my mind off things. It is important that we know what is helpful for us so that in times of need, we are quickly able to seek that thing out.
I encourage my clients to practice using coping skills even when the need to alleviate stress isn’t there because it is a crucial part to being able to constructively utilize them when the need is there. Think of this as self-care; we can do these things to add to our lives when things are going well. Thinking positively, working on challenging negative thinking habits, taking walks or talking with friends, baking or reading- all these things only add value to our lives, so it shouldn’t be a chore to practice them regularly.
Then when the time comes, you know what works for you, and you are prepared, whether it be a time when you need to use your internal coping skills or external coping skills. For more help in understanding how to grow these skills, or if you want to increase your overall wellness and self-care, come see me for therapy!
If you are ready to work on internal and external coping skills, one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By Jessica Johns-Green, LPC Somatic therapy refers to a range of techniques that use awareness of body sensations to unlock problems. Somatic approaches focus on how the nervous system responds to various experiences, triggers, and stimuli. Most people have heard of a ‘flight or fight’ response. This is a good example of one way the […]
By Jessica Johns-Green, LPC
Somatic therapy refers to a range of techniques that use awareness of body sensations to unlock problems. Somatic approaches focus on how the nervous system responds to various experiences, triggers, and stimuli. Most people have heard of a ‘flight or fight’ response. This is a good example of one way the body can respond to a trigger. Somatic therapy aims to support people to better understand their body’s patterns of response as a way to heal from trauma, manage mood, recover from overwhelm or improve abilities in demanding situations.
Increasingly, practitioners are highlighting the importance of more unified theories of mental health that recognize the relationship between body and mind. Trauma therapists have long been exploring ways to counteract the dissociation common in post-traumatic reactions. This dissociation is a sense of separation people can feel from their bodies. This has led many researchers and practitioners to explore the benefits of holistic body approaches. These incorporate breath work, awareness of physical sensations, yoga, and mindfulness.
Many therapies have a ‘somatic’ component, even if it is not the explicit focus. For example, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy will ask the client to pay attention to feelings and corresponding thoughts. The difference in somatic therapy is that feelings take the main stage. It’s not just emotions we label but also physical sensations or impulses that arise. Physical sensations might be related to emotions but different. For example, a sinking feeling in the stomach or tension in the head. Impulses might be things that the body is saying it would like to do, such as run away or hide, even if they are not acted out. A somatic therapist would aid a client in understanding the role of symptoms, seeing them in new ways, and developing techniques with the client to experience and soothe the sensations and impulses that arise.
A key element of somatic therapy is that each symptom, or the body’s characteristic way of responding, is seen as an attempt to adapt, survive, and tolerate a situation. This can be particularly useful in therapy where focusing on ‘good/bad’ or ‘right/wrong’ can often get in the way of understanding the problem. Somatic approaches can typically help clients to deal more effectively with the shame that comes with behaviors and choices. It is often beneficial to view behaviors through the lens of the body trying to alleviate some form of suffering.
Who can it benefit?Many issues can benefit from a somatic approach. Any problem that sends the nervous system into a state of overwhelm or deactivation (being numb or tuned out) will be well served by at least some degree of attention to the somatic side of the issue. Trauma and its after-effects are particularly well suited to this approach. One of the main benefits is that the traumatic incident often needs not to be discussed in painful detail in order to get better. Additionally, athletes and people in demanding career roles can find the somatic approach useful in overcoming the knee-jerk reactions of the nervous system in performance situations.
While each somatic intervention may be different according to the needs of the client, most will help the client define ways their body responds. Most simply, the nervous system can get ‘Stuck On’ or ‘Stuck Off’. Neither of these are pleasant or optimal states to thrive in. Those that are ‘Stuck On’ can experience tension, hyper-vigilance, keeping relentlessly busy, and even body pains from tense muscles or quick heart rate. Those that are ‘Stuck Off’ might feel numb, distracted, unmotivated, sleepy, and lethargic. Many have some responses in each category. Somatic therapies look to bring the ‘Stuck On’ down a level and the ‘Stuck Off’ up a level so that we can experience where our bodies like to be. Typically, they like to be gently resting in the middle. The work will be geared towards developing practices that help our bodies feel grounded when we’re shooting into space. Safe when our nervous system feels under threat. And alive when our bodies feel like shutting down and tuning out. This might include trying new physical sensations that help the nervous back to balance, breathing techniques, and learning to lean into the body’s signals in new, creative ways.
The first exercise is a ‘no-judgment check-in’. Find a quiet place and get comfortable, either seated or lying down. Scan your body from the toes up to the head, noticing feelings without judgment. Simply saying, “I see that I feel …” and then move to the next part.
Another exercise is ‘using the breath to calm’. Take deep nostril breaths for a few minutes. If you are breathing through your mouth and find it difficult at first, try to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth until you are calm enough to breathe through the nose. Aim to breathe in for a count of 4 or 5, hold for 4, and exhale for a count of 5 or 6. It’s not important to be exact. Simply aim to have a deep, slow inhale, a brief hold, and a slightly slower exhale. For extra soothing, visualize breathing into any discomfort you have. Send the breath in the form of a healing, comforting light to the areas in the body where you feel anxiety, tension, and sadness.
The last exercise is ‘grounding using your sense of touch’. When you feel like your emotions or thoughts are taking you off into orbit, tune in with the moment. Feel the chair under your hips or the ground under your feet. If it feels better, take off your shoes and send awareness into each toe. Or become aware of the feeling in each fingertip, the smell of the air, a sound you can hear, or the temperature on your skin. Use a phrase like “I am here and now” to remind you that you can just ‘be’.
Becoming aware of your body can feel daunting, especially if anxiety, trauma, or mood issues have been part of your experience. So, if you identify with any of these, reach out for help. It can feel overwhelming to begin to focus on the problem, and finding solutions can feel impossible; however, you are not alone in the journey. If you need help, talk to a supportive friend or doctor, or find a therapist. Therapy offers a place to deal with the emotional issues that drive these problems. Working with a therapist can help you find confidence in your ability to cope and have a healthy relationship with food. At the Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we are here to help. You deserve to feel empowered, not helpless.
If you are ready to try somatic therapy, one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Margie Frisco, MA, LPC Associate Supervised by Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-S Why is My Kid Lying? Many times children can be caught lying. They can do it for many different reasons. Sometimes they can try to hide something they did, help another person, or even for many reasons. Keep in mind, depending on your […]
By: Margie Frisco, MA, LPC Associate
Supervised by Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-S
Many times children can be caught lying. They can do it for many different reasons. Sometimes they can try to hide something they did, help another person, or even for many reasons.
Keep in mind, depending on your child’s age, this can have a significant impact on why they are lying. The development of children’s brains happens in stages according to their age. For example, see the chart below for each age range.
Stage one, this age is mainly focused on learning and gaining skills of basic needs like walking, talking, eating, etc. If a child is lying at this age, it could be because they do not understand. They are learning so much at this stage.
For stage two, children are centric and egocentric. This means that at this stage, they do not understand the world has many things that can impact a situation and other perspectives. They are learning how to understand from their eyes. Also, they tend to use symbols and images to understand problems.
If they are lying in this stage, it could be that they do not know how that makes others feel, they are trying to get out of trouble (egocentric behaviors), or they could be looking for attention without understanding healthier ways to get it.
For stage three, here we start to see children see other perspectives. Furthermore, they begin to understand that items can remain the same but come in different packaging. For this, imagine pouring water from a tall, slender glass into a short wide glass. The water did not change in amount; it spread into different sizes/containers. In other words, they begin to utilize more mental operations, including increased problem-solving and thinking in a more abstract way.
If children are lying in this stage, there could be many reasons. In the next section, we will discuss how to deal with lying.
Stage Four and LyingIn the final stage, children can use abstract thought, critical thinking, and reasoning skills more. Again, if a child is lying at this stage, there could be many reasons. Here there can be an opportunity to have a calm conversation about the why and address not only the why but the reasoning too.
When children lie, there could be many reasons why they are lying. But really, what parents do once a child is lying can also impact the frequency of lying. Sometimes children might need help understanding, but often giving the lying attention can be not helpful.
Again, depending on the age and development of your child, this could be different for each child. For the younger kids (stages one and two), many times, explaining the basics as to why lying might not be the best way to go about what they need. If a parent sees an increase in the number of times the child is lying, try stating the reasoning and not giving additional attention.
This can be true for the older stages too. Many times paying attention to the lying can be counterproductive. Parents should not engage in a power struggle during these stages (three and four). You, as the parent, have the authority to say, I know this is untrue, and I will not engage more on this topic.
Furthermore, if we know the child has done something. For example, if you see a child take something from their sibling or peer, do not ask them did you do this? State facts like, I know you took the item, or I saw you.
If you need more help with handling lying, one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Alexia Cabreras, Practicum Student Supervised by Melissa Barton, LPC-S The high school transition! What does that mean? Well… precisely what it sounds like, transitioning out of high school! We all spend four years in high school, and one day to the another, we no longer have a place there. Life moves on, we move […]
By: Alexia Cabreras, Practicum Student
Supervised by Melissa Barton, LPC-S
The high school transition! What does that mean? Well… precisely what it sounds like, transitioning out of high school! We all spend four years in high school, and one day to the another, we no longer have a place there. Life moves on, we move on, and before we know it, it’s time to be an adult. For many, this is an exciting time when you can spread your wings and find your place in the world. While for others, this transition may feel like the world is collapsing all around you, it’s hard to know where to go or who to be, what to do! Because let’s face it, high school is over!
Leaving high school is rough! We have looked forward to graduation for so long that the moment it all comes to an end, the world kinda stops. Everyone talks about what life is supposed to be the moment you transition into what will become your new “normal,” which there’s never a clear answer to anyways. But the reality is, no matter how excited and ready you feel, there will always be some anxiety associated with the high school transition into adulthood.
Not only does it affect you both mentally and emotionally because you’re practically being forced to be an adult, but moving on is naturally difficult, especially when you aren’t ready to do so yet. Let me ask you when you go through a heartbreak, do you move on right away? I highly doubt that! Leaving high school can feel like a breakup! You leave behind something that was so significant and meaningful for such a long period of time; as much as you don’t want it to change, you know it has to in order to move forward with life.
Give yourself the space to process the feeling, you may even grieve the moment, but that feeling goes away as life moves forward. Be patient, and don’t force yourself to be okay. It’s okay to be sad; sadness is a core emotion we need to grow and evolve from certain aspects of our life. Once you’ve allowed yourself to feel, you can find ways to cope by staying connected, building new friendships, finding new interests, and imagining what you want for yourself.
I want you to know it gets easier! As time passes, you cherish the memories and the experience, but you learn to move forward. Life begins to feel exciting, it may take some time, but you are becoming the person you want to be. You will start to find yourself and question what’s the next step in your life; even if you don’t know yet, that’s okay because, at some point, you will. Adulting sometimes sucks too, but get excited about the perks of being an adult because you’re one step closer (whether you like it or not!).
If you are about to embark on the high school transition, one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Janelle Schlueter, MS, LPC, NCC, CCTP If you have decided it is time to heal from trauma, you may wonder, “how does trauma recovery work in the therapy setting”? There is a model developed by Judith Herman, an expert in PTSD treatment, that many trauma therapists use. This model has been proven to be […]
By: Janelle Schlueter, MS, LPC, NCC, CCTP
If you have decided it is time to heal from trauma, you may wonder, “how does trauma recovery work in the therapy setting”? There is a model developed by Judith Herman, an expert in PTSD treatment, that many trauma therapists use. This model has been proven to be one of the most effective in healing trauma resulting in PTSD.
While each person is unique in their trauma and how they will heal, some parts of trauma therapy are ‘standard’. It is expected that a person will go in and out of stages as they make progress. Remember that phrase, ‘healing is not linear,’ and give yourself the grace to work through how you need to. Let’s take a look at what the typical stages of trauma recovery look like, as well as what you can expect to be doing in each stage.
Before any processing of traumatic events can be done, the client must be considered ‘safe and stable.’ This means you cannot be actively enduring the abuse/trauma and try to work through traumatic events. An example of this is a member of the military; they cannot be expected to heal from trauma when they are in an active war zone.
During this stage in trauma recovery, you can expect to identify and achieve stability. This includes identifying healthy support systems, developing routines and schedules, and making sure basic needs such as eating, sleeping, and taking medications (if appropriate) are addressed. You will also develop coping skills unique to your trauma response and learn how to regulate your emotions when processing traumatic memories.
The most significant part of this first stage is education. You need to know what is happening in your brain and body before going into processing, just like when you see a doctor for an illness such as high blood pressure. Your doctor explains what the illness is and how it affects your life and then prescribes treatment. Trauma recovery works the same. You will learn what is happening in the brain as well as the body and then move to the ‘prescription’: talking about it. Be prepared for homework and worksheets during this stage!
After you have developed your personal toolbox of skills, you will enter the stage where traumatic memories are processed. Processing can occur with most trauma processing techniques, such as narrative exposure or parts work. If you do not want to talk about the trauma, that’s okay! There are alternative options for this stage, such as EMDR.
Along with processing, this stage also includes working on grief. After trauma, many people find themselves grieving their old selves, people who have passed, their innocence, and so on. Giving space to grieve is vital to healing.
This is the stage where you reconnect with people through healthy relationships, reconnect with yourself without shame or guilt, and find resilience, knowing the trauma is not ruling your life anymore. You will feel more empowered to take control of your life rather than feel out of control due to trauma.
Trauma and recovery are not quick.
One thing to keep in mind is that trauma recovery is not a quick process. This will take time, effort, and dedication. With the help of a trained therapist, you can take your life back after trauma!
If you are ready to start recovering from your trauma, one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Natasha Cooke, Practicum Student Supervised by Melissa Barton, LPC-S What is grief? Grief is a strong and natural emotion we feel after a loss. Grief occurs after the death of a loved person or pet. However, grief can also happen after other significant losses. Some examples of situations that can cause grief include being […]
By: Natasha Cooke, Practicum Student
Supervised by Melissa Barton, LPC-S
What is grief? Grief is a strong and natural emotion we feel after a loss. Grief occurs after the death of a loved person or pet. However, grief can also happen after other significant losses. Some examples of situations that can cause grief include being diagnosed with a serious illness, becoming disabled, losing a job, or the end of a relationship.
Grief feels like extreme sadness or emotional pain. But grief can also make some people feel numb or lost. Grief makes many people unable to carry on with daily routines. When a person is grieving, it can be hard to get out of bed in the morning or enjoy their favorite hobbies. Grief is also related to feelings of guilt. People that are grieving may feel guilty about a loved one’s death. Guilt from grief often occurs when we wish we had spent more time with the loved one we lost. It is essential to know that feeling guilty from grief is normal. While grief is a universal emotion, it feels different for everyone.
The Mayo Clinic advises grieving people to become familiar with the grieving process. One of the first steps to coping is to understand that the grieving process cannot be controlled.
If you are dealing with grief, you may feel like you will never be yourself again. You may think, “I’ll never get through this,” or “I’ll never be able to move on.” You may be thinking that you will feel sad or lonely forever. Even if it may not feel like it, or if you cannot picture yourself being happy again, understand that pain from grief lessens over time. Knowing that the grief process takes time and things will eventually get better is crucial.
Grief is hard to understand. There are natural stages of grief that each person goes through. As stated by psychiatrist Kübler-Ross, the five stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The time to process through stages of grief varies. The grieving process can take days, weeks, months, or longer. Learning about these stages and how you personally experience them can help.
The grieving process is challenging. It is important not to put yourself into a box. For example, you may think, “Why don’t I feel sadder today?” or “I shouldn’t be happy right now or laugh.” Give yourself grace and allow yourself to laugh or smile when you feel happy. The truth is that grieving is an up-and-down process. Go out and have fun when you feel like it. On the flip side, if you feel like crying or mourning even after it’s been years since your loss, allow yourself to do so. Let yourself experience grief in your own way.
One of the best things you can do for your grief is to seek help. Reach out to friends and family. Talk to them about what you are going through. Ask someone to check in on you from time to time. Let others know how they can best support you during your grief. Seek professional help for grief from a Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Professional Counselor – Associate. Trained professionals can teach you more about the grief process and give you skills to cope. The combination of seeking help from loved ones and a professional is ideal.
If you are ready to cope with your grief, one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Alexia Cabreras, Practicum Student Supervised by Melissa Barton, LPC-S Practicum Student For Therapy Picking a practicum student, also known as a future therapist in training, can come with many benefits associated with your therapeutic experience. Before going into that, let me briefly explain what a practicum student is. A practicum student is exactly what […]
By: Alexia Cabreras, Practicum Student
Supervised by Melissa Barton, LPC-S
Picking a practicum student, also known as a future therapist in training, can come with many benefits associated with your therapeutic experience. Before going into that, let me briefly explain what a practicum student is. A practicum student is exactly what it sounds, a student gaining clinical experience to graduate with their Masters’s degree before licensure. Now that you have a better idea, let’s talk benefits of seeing a student!
As I mentioned earlier, there are many benefits associated with picking a student as your therapist. My goal is to help you open your mind to the benefits of seeing a student when deciding what level of a therapist may work for you. Not only that, but hear me out, many times, hearing the word “student” can throw you off…you may even ask, “what does a student know?” well, as a student myself, we know way more than we are often given credit for. So what are the benefits I keep talking about and never getting to?!
Seeing a student means you get to pay less! Seeing a student allows you to receive services at a reduced rate. Many times counseling services are not covered by insurance. Because insurance only sometimes covers your therapy services, affording a counselor can come at a price that doesn’t come easy to some.
Seeing a student allows you to gain insight through a different perspective. Students are finishing up their Masters’s degrees, which means information is being learned differently. A therapist who has been licensed for over ten years (if not more) may have learned differently than someone gaining new insight in a new generation.
Because students are not licensed counselors…yet, they do not specialize in a particular branch of counseling. They may have preferences, such as the types of populations they like to work with, but they do not specialize in anything specifically. This ultimately means you get to work with someone with diverse knowledge on a little bit of everything and can help process different hardships simultaneously.
If you have never been to counseling, a student may be the right choice for a first-timer. The reason being students are new, just like you are. When you’ve never been to therapy before, you don’t have many expectations outside of trying to improve the problem; students can make that happen through their training.
Students are occasionally supervised, which means on-site LPC-Supervisors sometimes sit in with the students during their sessions to observe. Because students are still learning, supervisors are a great resource for the student to consult about their cases and receive additional guidance on how best to help you when you come into your session.
Ultimately, these are only a few benefits of choosing a student to work with. When you think about a student, think about your job. Did you ever have to do an internship in college before getting to where you are now? That’s the case for us. If you see a fully licensed therapist, that’s okay too! But remember, they were also students once.
Student or not, whoever you see and work with must serve the same purpose. Counselors help you enhance your overall well-being, a student has the same potential. So, if you or anyone you know is considering counseling, consider seeing a student.
If you are ready to work with a practicum student, one of the students at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!