Our minds try to over-control, micromanage, and interfere in our lives every day, whether or not we notice. That is when we experience regrets about the past, fears for the future, self-labels, judgements, mental rules, and reasons—all of which aim to keep us safe from harm. Just as helicopter parents do, our minds do the same thing out of a desire to protect us in a world that can be seldom controlled. 

We can always tell something important has appeared when something bothers us. When something bothers us, it usually indicates that a value is being brought up, challenged, or tampered with. That is because as much as values help us find joy and meaning, values can also help us find pain and difficulty. If something weren’t a value, we wouldn’t care. So, the fact that you care is a good thing. It may not feel great now, but in one way or another, it will pay off differently.

It can be difficult to feel compassion for yourself or a loved one with a BPD diagnosis, especially if you experience its ups and downs or its social impact. However, holding compassion for the diagnosis and the person living with it can be a powerful way of reclaiming the power of one’s emotions, thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and sense of self. 

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has become a more heavily discussed mental illness diagnosis in recent years due to more exposure in the media. Its increased discussion, however, has also brought more misinformation about a complex and misunderstood diagnosis. 

If you spend time on the mental health side of the internet or talk with people who do, you may be familiar with the term neurodivergent. However, if you are not and want to know more about it, you have come to the right place!

Neurodivergent refers to brains that work or develop differently from the average development or thinking pattern of the neurotypical brain and occurs due to a variety of reasons, such as mental or medical disorders.

Sometimes we forget that your relationship with your therapist is STILL a relationship which means that working on your relationship with your therapist can also help you work on issues showing up in your other relationships. We asked several of our Towson therapists about ways that working on your relationship with your therapist can help you in your relationships outside of therapy. Here’s what they had to say. 

As therapists, we regularly hear clients (and friends) talk about how difficult it is to make friends as an adult. Not only that, but many of our clients tell us just how hard it is to make friends while engaging in activities that are healthy.  If you live in Baltimore County, and you’re tired of the bar scene, know that there are plenty of options out there. We asked some of our therapists to share some of their favorite Baltimore County resources where you can meet new people, and this is their list. 

Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand. They’re like two good friends who like to hang out!  Depression and anxiety show up so frequently, that our therapists are regularly providing support and coping strategies to people who are looking to manage their symptoms.  We’ve asked 4 of our therapists to share some of their favorite strategies for managing depression and anxiety.  See what they had to say.

Have you ever wondered what your therapist REALLY thinks of you? Perhaps you’re curious about what your therapist is like outside of the therapy room. We asked our Towson-based therapists to share 1-2 things that you might not know about them as therapists.  These are their responses. 

As therapists, we are regularly talking with people about boundary setting. While boundaries are often necessary, the idea of setting them can create a lot of anxiety for people. To support you in your boundary setting, we’ve asked several of our Baltimore County therapists to share some of their favorite tips for setting healthy boundaries.

Have you ever participated in therapy before? You might not realize this, but there are a number of things that therapists want you to know. We asked four of our mental health therapists in Maryland to share the key things they’d like their clients to know.

Feeling overwhelmed by the constant busyness of life? You're not alone! In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in our thoughts and anxieties, losing touch with the present moment. But there's a simple practice that can help you cultivate peace and focus: mindfulness.

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It's about becoming aware of your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without getting swept away by them. Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we see firsthand how mindfulness can benefit our clients.

How many times have you heard one of the following?

“Stop crying.”

“Stop thinking about it.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t get so mad.”

“Don’t let it get you down!”

If you related to any of those, chances are, you also felt some kind of internal response to them. Maybe it was a twinge of anger or a flash of a memory from your childhood. Or maybe it is frustrating at the constant message that emotion or thought can be switched on and off on command. 

Crying is normal. Having thoughts, worrying, anger, and sadness are normal! So, if that is the case, why are we so accustomed to telling one another to stop or not think or feel a certain way? 

You might think back to a new coping skill and think…

• “What were the steps, again?” 

• “Was I supposed to breathe before counting or count while breathing?” 

• “What was that really clever affirmation that my therapist and I came up with that I was supposed to remember?” 

• “Okay, I’m doing what we did in session, but it isn’t working. I feel the same!”

If this scenario does not sound familiar, that may be great! You may successfully use coping skills. However, learning to “troubleshoot” coping skills is a valuable skill. Even when you have an entire toolbox with working equipment, you need to be able to know how to problem solve if that needed tool isn’t working as well that day. 

Deep breathing is an incredible coping strategy that kids (and adults) can use anywhere at any time to regulate their emotions; they don’t need anything other than their own bodies to use this skill. However, it can be tricky for children to master the technique of proper diaphragmatic breathing (aka deep breathing). You can use this fun craft to teach your child how to use deep breathing as an effective coping strategy.

Have you ever felt like you're carrying burdens that don't quite belong to you? You might be experiencing the effects of generational trauma. It's the emotional or psychological stress that can be passed down through families, sometimes for generations. It can be a heavy weight to bear, but the good news is, you don't have to carry it alone. Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we understand the complexities of generational trauma. We want to assure you that it's absolutely normal to feel its effects, and there are healthy ways to manage them.

Therapy. The word itself can conjure up images from movies – lying on a couch, spilling your deepest secrets to a stranger. But the reality of therapy is far less dramatic and much more beneficial.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we want to debunk some common myths about therapy and show you what it truly is:

Myth #1: Therapy is only for people with severe mental illness.

Fact: Therapy can benefit anyone struggling with emotional or behavioral challenges. Feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, or relationship issues? Therapy can equip you with tools to manage those difficulties.

Who do you want to be? The question sounds large and intimidating because suddenly, you find yourself thinking of celebrities, role models, and superheroes who you would like to look in the mirror and see staring back at you. But, the question is not if you could be anyone, who would you be? It is, who do you want to be as yourself?

Growing up, it was very difficult for me to speak to my parents about mental health. Everytime, they saw me sad, upset or depressed. They would default to “Oh you will be fine.  Let's go out for dinner. It will make you feel better.” But in reality I wasn't really “ok.” As a therapist, it has been my job to help them understand the importance of mental health. Here, I will talk about 3 tips on how you can speak with your South Asian parents about mental health. 

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.