GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
The theory of the cycle of abuse was developed in 1979 by Lenore E. Walker. Walker identified 4 stages that occur in an abusive relationship: Tension Building, Incident, Reconciliation, and Calm. Defining these four stages has been instrumental in learning about abusive relationship patterns and how they affect both the abused and the abuser. Coming […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Managing a client in crisis can be challenging for a therapist. When confronted with a situation in which a client is expressing that they are in danger of causing harm to themselves or is in danger of being harmed by someone else, it is important that a therapist does all they can do to keep […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
It is always alarming when a client comes into your office and begins to express plans or thoughts about harming themselves. Therapists are responsible in such situations to do what they can to keep their clients safe. Having a plan of action for such situations helps a great deal with reducing stress and maximizing recovery […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
One of the most important responsibilities a therapist has is knowing how and when to screen clients for indicators that their safety may be compromised. As professionals, therapists do this to make sure their clients stay safe between sessions and have a plan in place when needed. While not every client will require safety planning, […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Sometimes when people suffer from low self-esteem, low confidence, or mood disorders like anxiety and depression, it is easy to focus on the negative and forget about the things that they appreciate in their lives. When clients focus only on the challenging or painful parts of their life, it is hard to imagine a life […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Suffering from abuse is hurtful, but it is not always easily seen or identifiable. People can commonly find themselves in abusive situations long after it has started, and many do not even realize they are being abused until much later on- or even at all. Abuse is scary to go through, but it is more […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
In therapy, a client learns a lot about their emotions and gain perspective on their life challenges. Through self-exploration, they learn different ways to cope with the challenges they face. Therapy teaches coping skills that help clients relieve their symptoms in real-life situations. They learn valuable life skills in sessions, but sometimes it can be […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Experiencing a traumatic event is a challenging experience. It can cause our bodies and minds to react in a number of different ways. Reactions to trauma can be obvious, like shock and fear, but there are other reactions that may not be so obvious. People who have suffered trauma may be reacting to their trauma […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Trauma can affect a person in different and unexpected ways. People can suffer from different symptoms without realizing that they are from the traumatic event they experienced. Helping a person get in touch with their trauma can help them understand how they are feeling and learn what to expect from the experience. Going through trauma […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
It can be scary to think about, but people deal with suicidal thoughts, which should always be taken seriously. Sometimes suicidal thoughts are just thoughts, and sometimes people have suicidal thoughts but know that their motivation is to overcome life’s challenges and not self-harm. Sadly, some people have suicidal thoughts and are at risk of […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
People who are in unsafe relationships often feel trapped in their situation. It is common for people who are in a domestic violence situation to stay quiet about their circumstances, which prevents them from reaching out for help. People who are struggling with domestic violence may fear judgment from others or retaliation from their abuser, […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Change takes time. Change can be challenging for people to accomplish, and it is often something that people resist. Change is scary, but can also be exciting, healthy, and liberating. Some changes cause pain while others cause relief. Whatever the need is for change, it can be difficult for a client to facilitate change in […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Between sessions, clients need to practice coping skills. Worries happen each day of a person’s life, but they should not be strong enough to consume a person. That is why it is important to remember to use coping skills each day. A great way to make sure a client remembers to use coping methods to […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
A strong social support network is an important component of maintaining mental health. Whether suffering from a mental health condition, recovering from addiction, or just managing daily stressors, social support can be a huge resource for managing mental wellness. Sometimes it can be hard to reach out for support, but helping a client know who […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Emotions can be challenging to understand. Sometimes they have concrete reasons for being felt, and sometimes we are not sure why we are feeling a certain way. When we feel emotions we do not understand, we can struggle to understand how to cope. People who struggle to understand how to identify and cope with their […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
It is not uncommon for a person to get stuck on the past, present or future. Each frame of time is important to consider when planning goals or the best way to move forward with life. When a person focus too much on the past they can get stuck because they don’t know how to […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
When dealing with a client who is struggling with self-confidence and low self-esteem, it is important to ensure that they are aware of their protective factors. Knowing your own protective factors is important. Protective factors serve as a source of strength, hope and comfort when dealing with a challenge. Sometimes a client is not aware […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Being aware of a client’s triggers is a critical component of learning how to cope with symptoms of mental health challenges. Triggers are situations that can cause a person to react in an unwanted or unhealthy way. Triggers can cause a person to struggle with unwanted thoughts, feelings, and impulses. They are especially challenging when […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Dialectical behavioral therapy is particularly useful when it comes to teaching a client how to handle distressing or upsetting situations. DBT teaches coping skills for stress tolerance, emotional regulation, and the reduction of mood swings and panic attacks. DBT provides several different tools that help a person learn how to cope with upsetting emotions like […]
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GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Sometimes it can be tough for our clients to know what words to use to express what they are feeling. Feelings and emotions are complex, and can sometimes be uncomfortable and overwhelming. When our clients struggle to articulate their feelings it can be helpful to provide a guide to help navigate them through the words […]
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