2020 has been a year unlike any other!  After months of being quarantined at home, you may be craving opportunities for leisure and self-care that won’t take a toll on your physical or emotional well-being. As such, we’ve included a list of our favorite Baltimore area spaces where you can enjoy yourself while also following best practices during this pandemic.

Back in March the pandemic hit us like a tsunami wave.  Within a few weeks our entire world as we knew it abruptly shut down.  Work and schools were closed as we all sheltered in place.  Our world was filled with chaos as we tried to listen to the doctors, scientists, and government officials who knew very little about this new beast.

In our pre-pandemic lives we established a sense of expectation and predictability.  We had our goals and aspirations that we were working towards.  We had a sense of stability and systems in place as we strove towards our goals. When the pandemic hit, many of those plans and aspirations had to be shelved, either temporarily or permanently. 

If you’re receiving counseling services, then you have 45-60 minutes each week to work with your therapist.  If you want to maximize your time, energy, and resources, here are some steps you can take to get the most out of your appointment.

If you haven’t been feeling great, but aren’t sure when it’s time to seek counseling, we hope this article will clarify that question. Firstly, counseling is for everyone, and if you’re questioning if counseling might be beneficial for you, then that’s probably your first indicator that it’s worth looking into.  Before you continue reading, please remember that seeking counseling is a sign of strength and insight. It’s a sign that you care about yourself and want to make sure that you feel better. 

At LifeSpring, the majority of people who contact us about counseling services are looking to use their health insurance.  While some people are familiar with their mental health benefits when they call us, we have found that most are not.  For this reason, we’re providing a step-by-step guide to learning about your personal health plan’s mental health benefits.  

If you are going to look for a therapist, you are naturally going to want to find someone who is a good fit for you.  What you may not realize is that this is actually REALLY important.  Studies show that having a good working relationship with your therapist is one of the most important predictors of success in therapy.  In fact, having a positive therapeutic relationship with your mental health provider has been shown to be even more important than the treatment modality that your provider uses. And, this makes sense. If you don’t feel understood, respected, or cared for, it will be difficult for you to trust your provider and to share with them. 

If you have never had to look for a mental health provider before, you may be at a loss for how to get started. In this short and sweet article, we’ll give you some super easy options for finding a therapist. After all, we want you to be able to access counseling services as quickly and seamlessly as possible. 

Brainspotting is definitely not talk therapy as usual.  For this reason, people are often unsure of what to expect.  I find that it’s helpful to be as clear as possible about what to expect during a Brainspotting session.  For many, knowing what to expect can alleviate any nervousness or uncertainty.  At the same time, it’s important to know that the content that arises in each Brainspotting session will be unique.  

If you’re looking for different coping strategies to add to your tool box, we’ve got options you can try.  Read below for 5 quick and easy coping strategies offered by our Maryland-based counselors.  You can try them all out, or simply make use of the ones that resonate with you the most. Here it goes!

Prior to starting telehealth, you and your provider will review and sign a Telemental Health Informed Consent document.  This document will cover important information about: the risks and benefits of telehealth, confidentiality and its limits, payment of services, the platform you will be using, steps to follow before and during your telehealth session, etc.. This way, you’ll know what to expect, and you’ll be prepared to make the most out of your session. 

This past September, LifeSpring Counseling Services facilitated our 2nd cultural immersion workshop in Mexico for mental health providers. Providing culturally-informed counseling services is required by our code of ethics, but many times mental health providers are left to learn about cultural competence in the classroom. Melissa Wesner, LCPC and Owner of LifeSpring Counseling Services decided it was time to take providers outside of the classroom to achieve these goals with first-hand experience.

Sometimes we crave creature comforts, and often this means comfort foods because they provide psychological comfort and are often associated with positive memories from our life. It got me thinking about chicken pot pie. I know you must be wondering “why on earth chicken pot pie?”. Simple....because who among us doesn’t need to feel encapsulated or protected at times by a thick shell? I often use this analogy with my clients when we talk about trauma and grief, anxiety and depression.