GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Contents Key Concepts Psychoanalysis The Id, Ego and Superego The Levels of the Mind The Unconscious Mind Defense Mechanisms Repression Anna Freud’s Contribution Rationalization Denial Counseling Techniques Dream Analysis Jung’s Contribution Fromm’s Contribution Free Association Horney’s Contribution Freudian Slip Transference The psychodynamic approach to therapy derives from the works of Sigmund Freud. Freud used his […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Contents Unconscious Mind Preconscious Mind Conscious Mind How The Levels Of The Mind Work Together Sigmund Freud is the creator of the first theory about the unconscious mind. His theory is called psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis focuses on how unconscious drives affect behavior. Freud believed that most conscious thoughts and impulses derive from the unconscious. According to […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Contents Are Defense Mechanisms Harmful? Repression Reaction Formation Displacement Fixation Regression Projection Introjection Sublimation Defense mechanisms are methods people use to defend themselves. According to Dr. Sigmund Freud, people use defense mechanisms as a defense against stressful situations. Sigmund Freud is the founder of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic approach that explores the unconscious mind. […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Contents 5 Stages of Development The Oral Stage The Anal Stage The Phallic Stage Oedipus Complex Electra Complex Latency Stage Genital Stage 3 Periods of Development Infantile Period Latency Period Maturity Period The psychosexual stages of development is a concept developed by Dr. Sigmund Freud. Freud believed that the development of sexuality began at birth. […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Contents Application of Psychoanalysis Dream Analysis Jungian Approach Fromm’s Approach Free Association Transference Horneyian Approach Defense Mechanisms Psychoanalysis is a theory developed by Sigmund Freud. It is a theory that focuses on unconscious drives, and how they fuel personality. The theory focuses on how the unconscious affects human behavior. It indicates sex and aggression as […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Contents Dr. Aaron Beck How CBT Works Dr. Albert Ellis The ABC Model The Cognitive Triad Cognitive Bias Cognitive Distortions Who CBT Can Help According to the concepts of cognitive behavioral therapy, distorted thinking accounts for emotional issues. Distorted or negative thinking causes behavioral and interpersonal issues. It also causes issues with self-esteem and one’s […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Contents Id Ego SuperEgo The model of the id, ego and superego was developed by Dr. Sigmund Freud in the 1920’s. It derives from his work of psychoanalytic theories. The goal of this model was to create an understanding of the link between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. Freud’s intention was to make […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Anger is a complicated emotion. It is an emotion that has a profound effect on a person, and the people around that person. Anger causes us to act in ways we may not be proud of, and can cause us to make mistakes in our lives that we may regret. Anger can be difficult to […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Cognitive distortions (CDs) are ways of interpreting situations that make you think in the negative. CDs fuel negative core beliefs about yourself and the world around you. They create a negative self-image and low self-esteem. They can also create paranoid thoughts and invalid assumptions about others. Cognitive distortions cause people to see the world through […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Communication skills are a critical part of a strong relationship. Without good communication, there cannot be good understanding between partners. That is why trust, understanding and growth, all start with communication. Communication must be not only strong, but also dynamic. People tend to think they only need to work on communication when they are having […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
A powerful method of dealing with the stress of each day is to practice deep breathing exercises. Deep breathing exercises can help relieve any symptoms of stress, including daily stressors, unexpected challenges, or prolonged family and life issues. No matter the stressor, deep breathing exercises are very helpful in relieving symptoms of stress. The Science […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Agoraphobia is a condition that causes people to fear leaving their home. People who suffer from agoraphobia suffer from anxiety. They will feel great discomfort in different types of environments. People with agoraphobia suffer from anxiety, and live in fear each day of their lives. People who are affected by agoraphobia are fearful of many […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Even the strongest of relationships hit a romantic slump sometimes. It can happen to anyone, and there can be many different reasons why it happens. Sometimes work, family or unexpected stress can distract us from our relationship. Sometimes the responsibility of nurturing and stimulating romance in a relationship is pushed to the side while other […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Everyone suffers from stress. Sometimes the stress will be stronger than others. Stress can trigger different feelings, like anxiety, depression, anger, fear and dread. People may feel stress for different reasons. Everyone has life stressors that trigger prolonged stress, or stress that is not resolved quickly. Bottling up the stress can cause health issues. It […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Depression is a unique experience. It can be hard to understand what it’s like when you have not felt it yourself. Clinical depression feels different than sadness. There are several different types of depression. Most people will experience situational depression at one point in their lives. This is a depressed mood in something that is […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Trichotillomania is a term used to refer to people who pull out their own hair. A person with this disorder will compulsively pull out their own body hair. Because affected people struggle to stop the behavior, it is considered an impulse control disorder. The hair pulling behavior includes pulling hair out of one’s own body […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Addiction is a powerful condition that has a serious effect on an addict and their family. It can be hard to understand what addiction is, and how it is affecting a loved one. Having a loved one who is suffering from addiction can be overwhelming. It can be challenging to support them while they are […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Lawrence Kohlberg is well known for this theory of moral development. According to his theory, cognitive development leads to moral development. Kohlberg proposed that there is a distinction between moral reasoning and moral behavior. Moral reasoning refers to the ability to make distinctions between right and wrong. Moral behavior is the act of behaving based […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a disorder in which a person feels more important than others. A person with NPD will feel an unreasonable sense of entitlement. They will also have a big ego. Narcissists feel more important than others. As a result, they struggle with relationships and behavioral issues. It is possible for someone […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Erik Erikson was a developmental psychologist who lived through the 1900’s. He was born in Germany and died in Massachusetts. Erikson is most well-known for his theory of psychological development of children as they grew into adulthood. His contribution to the field includes an understanding of psychosocial development of humans. His theory breaks the life […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
There has been a growing tolerance for sexual diversity. With tolerance has come the emergence of several different types of sexualities. It has become safer and more acceptable to talk about different types of sexualities. With this safety and acceptance, a more diverse perspective of sexuality and gender has emerged. Research supports that sexuality is […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
When we think about our friends, we usually do not consider that they are an important aspect of our health. However, it is true: friendships can help us live a healthy lifestyle, both emotionally and physically. Let’s take a look at friendships and why they are so critical for our well-being. Friends Boost Confidence and […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Exercise is one of the best things that you can do for your body. Not only does exercise make you feel better, but it also has major health benefits- both for your physical health and your mental health. Luckily, you do not need to spend tons of money on expensive equipment or a gym membership […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Jean Piaget was a psychologist who focused on child development. Piaget is arguably most well-known for his theory of cognitive development. Other theories of his time placed importance on environment or biology. Piaget believed that development depended primarily on cognitive function. Piaget’s theory is based on the idea that development comes from challenging what the […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
For some people, achieving their dreams and goals comes quite easily. Other people find it more difficult to understand what their purpose is in life. Some questions that they might ask themselves are: Why am I here? What am I supposed to be doing with my life? What will bring me the most happiness in […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
It would be great if all of us could magically find the secret to being happy. The truth is that happiness is not something that can be found; it is already inside of us, waiting to be cultivated. Happy people have traits in common. They are able to use these traits to bring more happiness […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
A poor night’s sleep is not helpful for starting your day. The mental fog and grumpiness that comes from poor sleep affects you in many ways. Millions of people suffer from poor sleep. It can be hard to live with sleep deprivation. Knowing the causes of poor sleep can help in developing healthier sleep hygiene. […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Confrontation is tough. It is uncomfortable and stressful. Confrontation can cause tension between people, which can affect relationships. For each of these reasons it is normal for a person to try hard to avoid confrontation. The problem with avoiding confrontation is that when you avoid confrontation you prevent change and growth. You also are stuck […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Anxiety is a feeling that everyone will experience regularly in their lives. It is an emotion that can be triggered by several factors. Sometimes it will be triggered by recognizable situations and sometimes it will be triggered by circumstances that are more difficult to identify and understand. How Stress Triggers Anxiety Every person has triggers […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
People who have experienced a panic attack know that they are oppressive. They take a major toll on a person’s day. Panic attacks create physical, mental and emotional reactions that are uncomfortable. Many people may even develop unhealthy strategies to prevent a panic attack. For example, a person with agoraphobia will go to great lengths […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
There is an alarming increase in the rates of obesity in America and around the world. Currently, we are seeing the highest percentage of overweight Americans in US history. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 39 percent of citizens are overweight or obese. There are many factors that have […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
There are currently millions of people who suffer from anxiety each day. Each person who suffers from anxiety has different symptoms, causes and challenges to face. It can be hard for most people to cope with their symptoms of anxiety. Understanding how to cope with anxiety is critical. Coping properly can improve an affected person’s […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
It can be hard to know that a loved one is suffering from alcoholism. It is not uncommon for loved ones of an alcoholic to be confused or mistaken about what alcoholism is and what it does to the person they love. Families of alcoholics endure a great deal of frustration and heartache. It is […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
In today’s world our lives revolve around technology. We depend on technology for many things, and we sometimes do not even realize when it is negatively affecting us. One of the biggest pitfalls those with insomnia and sleep issues face is their inclination to turn to technology while trying to sleep. Three of the biggest […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disorder that has become more prevalent in the last 30 years. It is considered a neurological and developmental disorder that is typically diagnosed between the ages of 1 and 5 years old. ASD causes deficiencies in the following areas: Learning and academics Socialization skills Communication Impulse control Behavioral regulation […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
We’ve all been there: after a busy day you just want to lay down and fall asleep. As soon as your head hits the pillow all of these intrusive thoughts come flooding into your mind, preventing you from getting that good night’s sleep that you desperately need. Thoughts like ‘I cannot forget to…’, ‘what am […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
A personality disorder (PD) is different from other mental health disorders. A patient with a PD will have unhealthy behavioral and thought patterns. These unhealthy patterns affect how the patient can function with others. PD causes strains in the patient’s personal relationships and concept of self. A PD is not identified through emotional disturbance or […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Depression is can be especially difficult to cope with when you do not understand the reason why you are depressed. Many things can trigger depression, and understanding what caused the depressed mood is the first step in learning how to cope and feel better. There are several factors and conditions that can cause depression. Some […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
People who suffer from insomnia know that it can be very difficult to carry out their day after a bad night’s sleep. It is hard to live with insomnia because a lack of sleep affects your mind, body, and emotions. This prevents you from doing what you need to be able to do to carry […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Anxiety is a word often heard and often misunderstood. It is something that we experience when something that is unexpected, unpleasant, uncomfortable, or unpredictable is about to happen. The uncertainty of an outcome, or simply the idea of something happening or not happening, can affect us so much that our bodies and minds react through […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is not easy to live with. It can be confusing to suffer from SAD, because it causes mood changes during certain parts of the year. While some people may experience SAD during the summer months, most people who suffer from SAD will experience symptoms during the winter months. Symptoms of SAD […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
If binge eating disorder is left untreated, it has the potential to have some devastating effects on the patient’s overall health. Binge eating disorder can either stem from or create serious mental health consequences. It will also cause significant medical consequences. These consequences can impact the affected person’s quality of life. Consequences that can impact […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Anorexia is rarely ever solely a body image issue. Most people who suffer from anorexia also suffer from deep emotional issues that are not properly managed with healthy coping skills. Without healthy coping skills, a person with anorexia turns to unhealthy and dangerous eating habits to cope with their unsettled feelings. People who suffer from […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Proper diagnosis of bulimia is a critical component to ensuring that a patient is properly treated. Without proper diagnosis treatment will likely be ineffective. It can sometimes be a challenge to accurately identify a case of bulimia because symptoms can appear to be similar to binge eating disorder or anorexia nervosa. This is why there […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that has major consequences on a person’s life. Bulimia nervosa is a condition in which a patient struggles with body image. In effort to cope with the poor body image the patient will engage in compensatory behaviors. Such compensatory behaviors include restricting diet, excessive exercise, and binging and […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that has serious medical and physical health consequences. A patient who is bulimic will engage in behavior to prevent weight gain. He or she will struggle with self-esteem and self-image. There will be destructive behavior that has an effect on the patient’s overall health. A patient with bulimia nervosa […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
It can be difficult to cope with a family member’s diagnosis of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia causes many alarming symptoms. These symptoms cause the patient to act in an unusual manner. It can also cause a patient to become fearful or act erratically. Schizophrenia typically shows symptoms in early adulthood. This causes the patient to display a […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Schizophrenia is a complicated disorder that is often misunderstood by the general public. It is a disorder that causes many unique and sometimes scary symptoms that are often misunderstood by others. It can be easy to draw conclusions about people who suffer from schizophrenia. People often believe negative things about schizophrenia, but many of the […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder with many different kinds of symptoms. There are different subtypes of schizophrenia recognized by professionals. Each subtype of schizophrenia has its own features and symptoms. Here is a list of the different subtypes of schizophrenia: Catatonic subtype People with catatonic subtype schizophrenia will show two extremes in their overall personality. […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Schizophrenia is a disorder that is scary for both the patient and those around them. It affects friends, family, peers, and in severe cases, the general public. People who are schizophrenic tend to have alarming behaviors and thoughts. Sometimes these behaviors and thoughts confuse and frighten others. This is especially the case for those who […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that causes many scary experiences for affected people. It is a very difficult disorder to cope with on a daily basis. Schizophrenia affects many areas of a person’s life. Day to day activities and interpersonal relationships are negatively impacted by symptoms. Common symptoms of schizophrenia include: Hallucinations Delusions Psychosis Paranoia […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Anorexia nervosa (anorexia) is a serious mental health disorder that has the potential to be fatal. Millions people struggle with anorexia in the United States. Anorexia is not only a mental health disorder, but also a serious medical condition that has severe consequences. If anorexia is not properly treated it can have devastating effects on […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Anorexia is a complex disorder that affects different types of people for different reasons. Many tend to be mistaken when thinking it develops from a desire to be skinny. It rarely develops as a result of one individual issue, like body image or weight management. People who suffer from anorexia tend to have trouble coping […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Anorexia is an oppressive illness. Those who suffer from anorexia will engage in problematic behaviors to maintain a sense of control. They do not realize how severely their health is being affected. Patients with anorexia often exhibit symptoms and warning signs, like: Having a family member who also suffers from Anorexia Nervosa Binging (Eating an […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) is a disorder in a which a child exhibits consistently bad behavior. This bad behavior has an effect on the child’s development. It also affects the child’s peers, parents and teachers. A child with ODD exhibits unhealthy coping strategies for stress. This may include outbursts of rage, tantrums, or acts of […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that a person may develop if he or she has experienced at traumatic event. PTSD is a serious disorder that affects a person’s sense of safety and security. It creates different symptoms that are difficult to cope with on a daily basis. People with PTSD will experience symptoms […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
The memories of fear and pain that a person feels when going through a traumatic event will not go away. They are significant and influential memories that will have a deep and withstanding impact on a patient. It is possible to decrease how intensely these memories affect the patient. With therapy the emotional and behavioral […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
People often think that bipolar disorder develops when people do not know how to control themselves. This is rarely the case. There are several different contributing factors that can cause bipolar disorder. While bipolar disorder can cause a person to behave erratically and irrationally, it is not due to a lack of control. There are […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
A patient with bipolar disorder is not the only one who suffers from its effects. If left untreated, bipolar disorder will affect a patient, along with his or her family, friends, and loved ones. It is important for family and friends of people with bipolar disorder to be educated on what it means to have […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Conduct disorder is a disorder in which an adolescent, between the ages of 12 and 18, exhibits socially unacceptable behavior. This behavior can sometimes lead to criminal acts or acts of violence. The behavior that is caused by conduct disorder is often dismissed as delinquency, but actually stems from deep emotional issues. Adolescents with conduct […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Manic episodes are a symptom of bipolar disorder. A manic episode is considered the ‘high’ point on the bipolar spectrum. A manic episode causes a person to become very excitable and irritable. These episodes can last anywhere from a few days to several months. A patient will feel very energetic and restless during a manic […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
There are millions of people who currently suffer from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes highs and lows in mood. At one end, the mood swings can cause the patient to experience episodes of depression. This could include sadness, numbness, feeling hopeless, not interested in everyday activities. The other end is […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder that causes a poor self-image and self-destructive behavior. It is difficult to cope with BPD because the affected person’s self-esteem is low. As a result, the he or she believes that others do not value him or her. This causes a fear of abandonment. It also causes […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Dependent personality disorder (DPD) is a disorder in which a person has an extreme fear of abandonment. This fear causes a person to go to great lengths to prevent abandonment or rejection. People with DPD face many issues with regard to the way they see themselves and the people around them. A person with DPD […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two similar disorders. They both affect a person’s ability to focus and concentrate. People with ADHD will also struggle with behavioral issues related to hyperactivity. ADD and ADHD can affect people at any age, and is typically diagnosed during childhood. Those who do not […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Maintaining a relationship with a person with borderline personality disorder (BPD) is challenging. BPD causes a person to believe that they are not valued or worthy of love and affection. This belief creates an intense fear of abandonment. The fear of abandonment causes the affected person act destructively. A person with BPD will have many […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Social anxiety is when a person becomes very anxious in social situations. People who have social anxiety tend to be overly critical of themselves. They overthink social interactions and are hypersensitive about not embarrassing themselves. These are all signs of social anxiety: Becoming really nervous when having to meet new people Tend to shut down […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
People with antisocial personality disorder do not show concern for rules or safety. A person with antisocial personality disorder engages in reckless behavior. They are impulsive and are not remorseful for their actions. A person with antisocial personality disorder will struggle with authority figures. They will engage in criminal activity that will get them in […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Depression is a condition that manifests in many different forms. There are many different types of depression. Each type affects a person in different ways and for different reasons. This article explains the different types of depression and what it is like to live with each of them. Atypical Depression Atypical depression is a type […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Dependent personality disorder (DPD) is a disorder that causes a person to be depend-ent on others. A person with DPD often has an intense fear of abandonment. Dependent personality disorder causes a person to be ‘clingy’ or ‘needy’. Considering the insecurities that come with DPD, relationships are often strained. It is unclear why people develop […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Having a panic attack is a scary experience. Often a person who is having a panic attack does not know they are having a panic attack. It can be triggered by something known or can happen unexpectedly. A panic attack is something that occurs as a result of being overwhelmed with anxiety. Sometimes, that anxiety […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Many of women experience postpartum depression after giving birth. Postpartum depression is a depressed mood a mother may experience after giving birth. This depressed mood can last for several weeks or months, depending on the mother’s unique circumstances. There are several factors that contribute to postpartum depression. Such factors that contribute to postpartum depression include: […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Postpartum depression is a form of depression in which the mother of a baby falls into a depressed state. This depressed state typically results in the following behaviors: Avoiding the baby Feeling anger or resentment toward the baby Crying spells Feeling overwhelmed with the changes that a baby brings Mood swings and depressed mood Irritability […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Binge eating disorder is a condition that has serious health consequences on an affected person. People who binge eat face many health consequences, like obesity, diabetes, heart problems, and kidney dam-age. Binge eaters are also at risk of suffering from emotional issues, like anger, anxiety, and depression. People who binge eat tend to feel hopeless, […]
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
For those who do not suffer from binge eating it can be difficult to understand why people binge eat. You may ask, “why don’t they just stop eating so much and learn to control themselves?” The simple answer is it’s not that easy. Binge eaters overeat for reasons that go beyond a love for food. […]
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