It’s an open secret among mental health professionals that many of us have entered the field due to our own personal issues. It may be because we have experienced for ourselves the incredible transformation brought about through the healing power of counseling, or it may be because we have unresolved issues that can only be […]
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Top Seven Things You Can Do To Avoid Graduate School Burnout
Graduate school can be challenging for anyone, but learning how to be a counselor presents its own unique challenges. Because we are learning how to listen to, think about, and talk to people with emotional problems we are at higher risk for burnout. So, before you start classes, read these top ten ways in which […]
Discover Your Theoretical Orientation
Your theoretical orientation is one of the most important decisions you will make as a counselor. Right along with your area of specialty and populations you serve, your theoretical orientation plays a large role in determining your professional identity. Or, as my professor would put it, “What’s in your toolbox?”
Why Conversion Therapy Is Controversial
Conversion therapy, or psychotherapy to repair homosexuality, is controversial. If you believe that homosexuality is due to biological factors, then conversion therapy really won’t work. But, if it is true that homosexuality is a choice, conversion therapy could be a possibility.
Top Five Tips For Managing Anxiety
In my last post, I discussed how the right amount of anxiety can enhance performance. So, how can you manage your anxiety to keep it at an optimum level?
Anxiety Is Not A Bad Thing
It seems every time I turn around people are talking about how to get rid of anxiety, reduce anxiety, manage anxiety. Poor “anxiety” is getting a bad rap. Anxiety, like other negative emotions, has a purpose. A little anxiety can be a good thing!
What Counselors Need To Know About Male Sexuality
I just finished listening to a webcast by Esther Perel, author of “Mating in Captivity”, and I’d like to share some of what I have learned. As a sex therapist, I have always believed sexuality to be a very important component of life, especially in relationships, but some of what I learned today from Ms. […]
Exposure Therapy for OCD
OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is defined as obsessional thoughts that create distress and anxiety, which is then relieved by a compulsion. The person must do the compulsion in order to relieve the stress from the obsession. Obsessive thoughts and their accompanying compulsions vary. Common obsessions are fear of germs, but people also suffer from […]
Don’t Let Anxiety Derail Your Academic Career
Anxiety is a very common mental disorder, and it is particularly problematic for students. First of all, students are more prone to anxiety because they are subject to unusual scrutiny and pressure. Second of all, because students are constantly being evaluated, one bad day could have a very detrimental effect on their academic reputation.
What You Need To Know About Life Coaches
You see them from time to time, these “life coaches.” Perhaps you’ve even considered becoming one. But do you understand the differences between mental health professionals and life coaches?