Secondary trauma, otherwise known as vicarious trauma and second-hand PTSD, refers to a form of distress or trauma that's experienced indirectly by hearing details of or witnessing the aftermath of a traumatic experience by another person. Second hand trauma may be invisible, but its impact is real and far-reaching. 

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. 

Navigating the aftermath of sexual assault can be a daunting journey, laden with complex emotions and challenges. Yet, within the therapeutic setting, there exists a powerful toolkit designed to guide survivors toward healing and empowerment. Through a combination of compassionate support and evidence-based techniques, therapists play a pivotal role in helping survivors cope with the aftermath of trauma. 

Sexual assault is a harrowing experience that leaves deep emotional scars on its survivors. Among the myriad of emotions they grapple with, shame stands out as one of the most pervasive and debilitating. Shame, with its roots in societal perceptions and self-blame, adds layers of complexity to the already daunting process of recovery for survivors. 

You’ve heard of speed dating, but have you ever considered how nice it would be if you could speed interview a bunch of therapists at the same time, so you could quickly decide who’s the best fit for you? You can always schedule consultation calls with various therapists to ask them some questions and see which person feels like the best fit.

In the often tumultuous aftermath of sexual assault, survivors grapple with a myriad of emotions, legal complexities, and societal stigmatization. However, amidst this turmoil, sexual assault advocates emerge as beacons of hope and support, offering guidance, empowerment, and unwavering compassion to those in need.

Marylanders woke up to the devastating news about the Key Bridge collapsing into the Patapsco River in Baltimore, MD this morning. This tragic event will have ripples of impact for some time to come.  If you live or work in the Greater Baltimore area, and you’ve been impacted directly or indirectly by today’s news, here are some strategies that you can use to cope and tend to your mental health. 

Marylanders woke up to the devastating news about the Key Bridge collapse this morning.  No doubt, this news has hit home for the people who live and work in the Greater Baltimore area.  Many are empathizing with those who have been directly impacted while also reflecting on just how many times they too have used this bridge. 

When tragedy strikes, we may find that we need supports and resources that we’ve never needed before. If that is you or someone you know, we’re including several local resources that you can use immediately for yourself or others who are grappling with the impact of this event. 

Our Greater Baltimore counseling practice loves Brainspotting, and there’s one big question that we hear all the time!  “What is Brainspotting?”  Most people have never heard of it, but they’ve seen it on our website!  If you’re curious to learn more, I encourage you to check out this informative podcast interview with LifeSpring Founder, Melissa Wesner, LCPC. Melissa is a Certified Brainspotter and Brainspotting Consultant who loves sharing about Brainspotting. 

When mental health became the next hot new topic, big tech companies suddenly took an interest. They entered into the mental health space, opened up their own mental health platforms, and gave the public plenty of misleading advertisements. This is what happens when mental health services are advertised by people who have received no formal training in providing therapy. These commercials have misinformed the public, leaving actual therapists to set the record straight. So, here are 3 misperceptions about online counseling created and reinforced by the commercials you’ve been seeing and our attempt to correct them! 

If you’re a true Love is Blind fan, then you’re already caught up on everything that has happened in Season 6.  Our Greater Baltimore team of therapists loves Love is Blind which is why we’ve decided to share our own relationship and communication tips based on the events that occurred in Season 6. We’ve shared them on social media, and now we’re sharing them here!  We hope you enjoy some of our most comment-worthy moments from season 6! 

Creating a list of mental health resources for your employees shows that your company is willing to acknowledge mental health, rather than ignore it or stigmatize it.  It also shows a desire to support your employees. While this will require some homework on your end, it will save your employees time which they will appreciate.

When creating your referral list, keep in mind that there are a variety of services that your employees might be needing, depending on the circumstances. Your company can create a mental health referral list that covers a range of needs. 

We’re compiling a list of observations for you to make in order to find therapy practices that are most aligned with the experience you want your employees to have when reaching out for help.  Remember:  the experience you have while reaching out for information will likely be reflective of the experience your employees will have when they are reaching out for help too.

If you’re a Maryland-based company who is looking to collaborate with local mental health practices in order to support your employees’ mental health, we’re here to make your search just a little bit easier. As a mental health therapy practice located in the Greater Baltimore area, these are the questions we would recommend you ask to collaborate with local mental health practices who are going to be a good fit for your employees’ mental health needs. 

If you’re like many of the women I talk to, you believe that your body is broken because it’s doing some strange things that you just don’t understand. Perhaps the doctors don’t even understand and have told you that there’s nothing wrong with you. You, however, know your body, and you know that something isn’t right.  You may have even come to believe that YOU are broken!

In the therapy world, there are Intensives for EMDR, couples work, and other counseling modalities. Intensives involve completing hours of therapy in just a few days. Intensives are great for people who are not interested in (or able to) participate in weekly therapy. In these cases, people are looking to do extensive amounts of work in a short period of time.  Other people seek Intensives in response to a recent life event that they want to work through as quickly as possible. Learn more about Brainspotting Intensives and what you can expect.

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!

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.

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.

Entrepreneurs are a unique group, and they face distinct work and lifestyle challenges as a result of their work. While there are a wide-range of mental health resources available to the community at large, it can be more challenging to find resources and services designed specifically for entrepreneurs.  We hope you’ll be able to use this list to identify resources that will be helpful to you.