What Does It Mean to Feel Helpless?

What Should I Do If I Feel Helpless?

What Does "I'm Feeling Helpless" Mean?

How to Heal from Helplessness?

Ever felt like you're just a tiny speck in a giant, chaotic world? 

Sometimes, it can seem like there's nothing we can do to change the things happening around us. This feeling of helplessness can be really tough and can leave us feeling down.

In this blog post, we're going to talk about what it means to feel helpless, why it happens, and what you can do about it. 

We'll also explore how therapy can be a helpful tool in navigating these tough emotions.

What are the 5 skills in communication skills?

What are 7 good communication Skills?

How do you describe good communication skills?

How can I improve my communication skills?

Effective communication is the cornerstone of human interaction, helping us build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts, and achieve our goals.

In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of communication skills and how therapy can be a powerful tool for developing and improving them. 

We'll delve into specific communication skills that are essential for success and provide practical tips for enhancing your communication abilities.

Why not just wing it?

Why not just talk about marriage with your fiance one day over a cup of coffee and call it a day?

We already know everything we need to know about each other.

We’ve been living together for a while, so we’re basically married and there’s nothing new to learn.

Anything sound familiar? While there can certainly be some truth behind those statements, I would assume that - if you’re engaged to be married - there’s a high likelihood that it’s because you value your relationship with your partner and you want it to last a lifetime. If this is true for you, I MUST recommend an assessment (specifically the Prepare/Enrich assessment) as a part of your journey to marriage. 

If you’re reading this, I hope it’s fair to assume you and your other half are engaged (or about to be)! If you haven’t found out by now, the world of engagement can be… a lot. Maybe you’re getting 20 questions from family members, hearing unsolicited opinions, and probably already feeling behind on the planning process. I’ve seen firsthand the impact wedding planning can have on a relationship. It’s very easy for couples to lose sight of the marriage that awaits them on the other side of the wedding. That’s where premarital counseling comes in. 

Like many Evangelical teens growing up in the 90s, I was told my body was a temple and that we were all born inherently evil. I was told to cover up and dress in modest clothing to protect the minds of boys and men and that marriage was solely meant for one man and one woman. We were the gatekeepers for boys and men in the church. If they started having impure thoughts about us, it was our fault. Throughout my research, I continue to see similar stories and lived experiences to my own. I see myself in all of the stories shared by women across the US and the world who were victims of purity culture. 

Emma Cieslik describes purity culture as “...a systemic set of ideologies enforced by religious communities through educational programming and events that place the brunt of sexual responsibility on young men and women” (2022). Both men and women are taught to suppress sexual urges starting at young ages. Purity culture is not gender specific. Both lead to warped beliefs that continue to impact how both men and women view relationships, marriage and sex.

The unwavering dedication of first responders – police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) – is the backbone of our communities. You bravely face danger head-on, providing critical aid in times of crisis.

However, constant exposure to traumatic events can take a significant toll on your mental well-being. This blog delves into strategies for managing stress and trauma as a first responder.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in helping first responders find balance and peace in their lives.

Many young adults fall into the trap of hanging out at the bars with their friends when they’d actually really like to be engaging in healthy activities like yoga, hiking, kayaking, and book clubs. Other adults tell us that their children are too busy for them or that they’re struggle to rediscover who they are now that their children are out of the home. If you’re in Baltimore City, know that we’ve created a small list of activities and organizations we love where you can engage in healthy activities and build a group of new friends too! 

Have you been dreading the idea of starting therapy? Perhaps you’ve been dragging your feet, even though you know that it’s a good idea. Or perhaps you don’t really want to do therapy, but everyone around you is encouraging you to go.  If that’s the case, here are some things that our Maryland therapists want you to know!

Have you ever seen the memes on social media talking about how you signed up for therapy because of the people who won’t sign up for therapy in your life? This is a real thing!! We’ve been asked on more than one occasion, what people can do when someone they love needs therapy but won’t seek it. To answer this question, we’ve compiled tips from 5 LifeSpring therapists. 

Many mental health agencies and group practices offer their provisionally licensed counselors and social workers free supervision as part of their benefits package.  When something is offered for free, however, we can sometimes take it for granted.  In this article, we’ll talk with you about the ways that you can truly appreciate and maximize your experience in supervision. We’ll be talking about this from the perspective of a supervisor and supervisee. 

First responders – police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) – are the cornerstones of our communities. You bravely step into the face of danger to help others, making a real difference every single day.

However, constant exposure to traumatic events can leave lasting emotional scars. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common challenge faced by first responders, significantly impacting your well-being and ability to function. This blog aims to equip you with knowledge about PTSD in first responders.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in helping first responders find balance and peace in their lives.

What are the key mental health challenges teachers face during the school year?

Teachers are like jugglers in a mental circus, keeping countless balls in the air – curriculum expectations, student behavior, individualized needs, parent communication, and the ever-present pressure to perform. While the rewards of teaching are immense, the emotional toll can be significant.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in helping teachers find balance and peace in their lives.

How can teachers create a balanced schedule to prevent burnout?

Juggling lesson plans, student needs, and the ever-growing demands of the education system can leave your personal life feeling like a forgotten melody.

But creating a healthy work-life balance is essential to prevent burnout and keep the joy alive in your teaching career.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in helping teachers find balance and peace in their lives.

At LifeSpring, we foster a welcoming and positive work environment for the providers who choose us as their place of employment. Our office has several LGPCs, LCPCs, and LCSW-Cs who have come to us grow their expertise, and we are happy to be able to provide them several workplace benefits, such as paid time off/holidays, health insurance, 401k plans with matching, life insurance, short-term disability, CEU and training opportunities, and more.

While these workplace benefits are part of what makes LifeSpring a great place to work, we also provide other perks to providers who choose to work with us, some you might not have even thought about!

How Do Night Shifts Affect a Nurse's Mental and Physical Health?Our bodies are like finely tuned machines, and they crave routine. Enter night shifts – the ultimate schedule disrupter. They throw a wrench into our natural circadian rhythm, that internal clock that governs our sleep-wake cycles. Think of it like constantly resetting your alarm – confusing, right?  This disruption has a domino effect on your overall health, leading to a cascade of issues.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in heling nurses find balance and peace in their lives.

Common signs of burnout in nurses can include emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and cynicism, reduced sense of accomplishment, social withdrawal, and physical symptoms. These signs are a warning bell, but they don't define you. If you're experiencing some of them, it's a chance to course-correct and prioritize your well-being.

As a licensed counselor, social worker, or psychologist, you’ve had to undergo supervision in order to obtain your license. Once the required supervision hours have been met, however, our only requirements for continued growth are through continued education.  Fortunately, many licensing Boards allow attendance at peer consultation meetings to count towards the continuing education requirements. In this article, we’ll be talking about peer consultation and the benefits of it, even after you’ve become fully licensed. 

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to achieve your goals and build strong relationships. While some people seem to be naturally gifted with high EQ, the good news is, EQ can be learned and developed.

Here at LifeSpring Counseling, we believe therapy can play a powerful role in fostering emotional intelligence.

Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as an adult brings unique challenges, especially when sensory processing issues are present. Sensory processing refers to how our nervous system receives and interprets sensory information from the environment. Adults with ADHD often experience heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory stimuli, referred to as hyper-responsiveness and hypo-responsiveness.