Educational Blogs from Our Mental Health Therapists
Learn about common challenges, including depression, anxiety, relationships,
trauma, and more, written by Monkton, MD therapists!
Topic
- Anxiety
- Art in Therapy
- Biases
- Boundary Setting
- Brainspotting
- Burnout
- Business Owners
- COVID-19
- Careers
- Children & Teens
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- College Students
- Communication Skills
- DIY Crafts
- Depression
- Faith-Based
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- Highly-Sensitive Person
- International Clients
- Internships
- LGBTQIA
- Mindfulness
- Motivation
- Online Counseling
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- Resources
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- Workshop
Thank You, Next: Embrace Unhelpful Thoughts and Continue Focusing on What Matters Most to You!
Our minds do so much for us every minute of every day. They are our internal hard drive, protector, and a never-ending storyteller. So, while our minds can be the number one helper in perceiving, interpreting, and engaging with the world, they can also be our number one bully when we perceive, interpret, and engage with our world through the lens of our less helpful thoughts.
The Power of “And”: The Art of Balancing the Dreams and Limits of Our Inner Worlds!
How many times have you had a similar thought: “I want to ____, but I am ____.”
Depending on how you would fill in the blanks, the thought sounds like a very short story. Maybe your short story started with a desire or a hope, but the second blank ended the story before the story began. The reason for this is the key word: “but.”
A dialectic is when two oppositional concepts can be true and simultaneously exist in the same space. When we use “but” in a thought, we automatically allow one oppositional concept to dominate.
Ace Your ACE Skills: Use Mindfulness Anywhere and Anytime
The idea of using mindfulness anywhere and anytime may sound somewhat strange. Using mindfulness while in line at the grocery store or in the middle of a presentation may seem pretty far-fetched, but with three letters, it is less far-fetched than you might think!
ACE stands for acknowledging your emotion(s), connecting with your body, and engaging with your surroundings. It is at the root of every mindfulness exercise, and you already have all the tools you need to use it effectively.
What is Right With You? Exploring Personal Strengths in Therapy
If I were to ask you to name all of the things that were wrong with you, I would bet that you would have a fairly easy time rattling off an entire list of all of the negative thoughts you have about yourself.. But what if I asked you to name the things that are right with you? Would this list be just as easy to create? When we shift our focus to understanding and building upon our strengths and natural qualities, it can create a mindset of resiliency, positivity, and confidence that allows individuals to be the makers of their own change. It is for this reason that exploring your personal strengths in therapy may be the key to unlocking your full potential.
Mastering Your Mindset for Mental Health and Business
Whether you’re talking to a coach or a counselor, both will agree that your mindset matters. We may use different language to discuss this topic, but the way you think and talk to yourself will impact your business and your mental health and emotional well-being. If you’re an entrepreneur who knows that you get caught up in unhelpful ways of thinking, you’re in the right spot!
The Loneliness Epidemic: How Entrepreneurs Can Prioritize Relationships and Wellbeing
Much attention has been given to the health implications of loneliness over the past few years. We can understand how easy it would be for solopreneurs who work alone and/or in isolation to feel lonely and disconnected. On top of that, the pandemic has forced remote-capable entrepreneurs to work from home which only further contributed to increasingly high reports of loneliness and disconnection. All hope isn’t lost, however, there are plenty of ways that entrepreneurs can seek community and connection to find support and relationships that enhance well-being.
Social Wellness for Solopreneurs: Confronting Loneliness in Entrepreneurial Ventures
At the start of the pandemic, many remote capable entrepreneurs were forced to begin working from home. This was great for physical health and safety, but not so great for social and emotional well-being. During the pandemic, many entrepreneurs (including therapists in private practice) reported increasing feelings of isolation and disconnection.
10 Tips for Managing Stress as an Entrepreneur
While entrepreneurship can be an empowering and exciting experience, it can also be incredibly stressful. In order to maintain one’s well-being and manage the ongoing stressors that will inevitably arise, business owners need to have a few handy stress management tools in their back pockets. Here are some of my favorites.
Mindfulness in Action: How Entrepreneurs Can Incorporate Mindfulness Concepts Into Their Day
Busy entrepreneurs who are interested in mindfulness might be concerned about having one more thing to do each day. Mindfulness, however, is a practice that we can integrate into our day. It’s not a task that requires us to set aside additional time. In fact, applying mindfulness concepts and practices can help us to be more calm, present, and focused as we go about our day. Let's take a look at how busy entrepreneurs can utilize these concepts throughout the day.
How to Give the Ultimate Holiday Gift Based on Someone’s Love Language
If you’re familiar with Dr. Gary Chapman’s Book on The 5 Love Languages, then you know just how impactful it can be when you show someone love according to their own love language. You might also be aware of how impactful it can be when someone shows YOU love according to YOUR love language. As we enter into this gift-giving holiday season, it’s worth keeping our friends and family members’ love languages in mind, so we can give a gift that TRULY hits the spot!
Holiday Gift Giving Mistakes to Avoid
When we fail to recognize another person’s love language in our gift-giving, we can miss the mark, despite making a genuine effort to show thoughtfulness and care. When we fail to give a gift according to someone’s love language, the gift recipient can be left feeling overlooked and unappreciated. In this blog, I’ll be sharing some gift giving mistakes from my own life (or others I know), so you can avoid making them this holiday season!
DIY Creative Stress-Relief Crafts for Children: Stress Ball for Reducing Anxiety
Many kids enjoy using stress balls as a fidget tool to help with focus and concentration. But did you know that you can also use a stress ball to intentionally reduce anxiety? This can be accomplished by focusing on the distinction between feelings of a tensed hand when you squeeze your stress ball and a completely relaxed hand when you release the grip of your stress ball. Go ahead and try out this fun craft that you and your child can use together!
6 Great Resources for Mental Health Provided by LifeSpring Counseling Services in Maryland
On the lookout for helpful, therapist-recommended resources for mental health, wellness, and the like? Our Maryland therapists have created, gathered, and recommended great resources that promote mindfulness, motivation, stress reduction, and education. If you, or someone you know, is currently in therapy and are in need of some additional resources or are simply looking for educational or self-care resources to use on your own, here are some we have available at LifeSpring Counseling Services!
Mindfulness Resources for Kids to Help Them Regulate Emotions and Reduce Stress
Mindfulness encourages us to pay attention to the present moment; it means being aware of our thoughts, feelings, and our environment. When we practice mindfulness, we are helping ourselves to regulate emotions and reduce stress. However, this can be a difficult skill to master, especially for children! Here are some fun and creative ways to practice mindfulness and help your child stay present throughout the day.
DIY Creative Stress-Relief Crafts for Children: Calm Jar for Reducing Stress
Have you ever noticed that when your child is upset, stressed, or frustrated, it can seem impossible for them to control their behaviors and reactions? You may also notice that their breathing is fast and short and that their heart rate has sped up too. The calm jar is one tool that we can use to help kids practice mindfulness, the ability to calm down and focus on what is going through their mind, body, and environment. This is an excellent (and fun!) craft for you and your child to make together.
Top 16 Strategies for Managing Depression from Mental Health Therapists
Depression is known for symptoms that are particularly challenging to deal with. The good news is that there are a number of great strategies that you can use to help improve your mood. Remember, you might not always feel like using these tools when you’re feeling depressed, but they will work if you use them.
The Power of Retreats: 10 Ways They Fuel Success for Small Business Owners
As a small business owner, the journey to success can be both thrilling and demanding. Research has shown that retreats offer numerous advantages for entrepreneurs, ranging from increased productivity and creativity to improved overall well-being. In this article, we will delve into ten research-backed ways that retreats can benefit small business owners and transform their professional lives.
A Mindful Approach to Worry: How to Find Calm in the Chaos
Worry is a natural human emotion that we all experience from time to time. However, when worry becomes excessive or starts to interfere with our daily lives, it can lead to anxiety and stress. Fortunately, there are many strategies for managing worry that can help us to feel more calm and in control.
Ways Companies Can Prioritize Their Employees’ Mental Health at Work to Improve Company Morale
Mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, and it is important for companies to prioritize the mental health of their employees. Demonstrating the importance of employees’ mental wellness requires companies to take visible action. Here are a few ways that companies can do this.
Self-Identity Begins With Self-Talk
To some degree, each of us are yearning to seize the right moment. We want to feel validated; we want to be happy, and we want our lives to have meaning. However, when studying self-identity, I have come to understand that it is not so much of what I think about myself as much as it is about how I feel about myself.