Gratitude exercises can help clients in therapy cope with challenging feelings. Different conditions, including anger, depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, and more cause patterns of negative thoughts. When a client learns how to practice gratitude regularly, their negative thought patterns become more balanced. They start to consider the good things happening around them, which can reduce […]
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Clients in therapy often struggle with living a life based on their values. As clinicians, we know that people do not always stay true to their values, which can cause us to struggle with different life challenges. A client’s self-image and ability to cope with stress is impacted when they are struggling to stay true […]
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Children often struggle with mental health challenges like anxiety and depression, but these struggles can be confused with behavioral issues. Kids are learning how to express themselves and how to regulate their emotions during their childhood years, so it is important to consider their emotional needs when navigating behavioral challenges. Gratitude exercises can be a […]
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A common component to a client’s experience with low self-esteem or emotional issues is poor self-image. There are many reasons that a person may have a poor self-image, but one reason that can affect a client is not being aware of or understanding the things they value in life. Being disconnected from personal values can […]
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Exploring values can be a rewarding experience in therapy. Everyone deals with life experiences, and similar life experiences between people can help facilitate shared life values. Sharing your values with others can help people in therapy learn about how to build strong value systems, and how those value systems can help with promoting good mental […]
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Children find it hard to cope with things they do not understand. There are many people, places, and things in the world that scare children, and when children are afraid they feel lost, alone, and vulnerable. A fearful child will have a hard time developing the confidence they need to face their fears, but helping […]
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It can be difficult for clients who suffer from emotional issues like depression and anxiety to keep from falling into bad habits, like isolating and cutting off things that bring them joy. With such mental health challenges, it can be difficult for a client to enjoy the moment without having to deal with uncomfortable symptoms. […]
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When working with clients who fixate on the negative it is difficult to break away from the cycles of negativity and shift focus onto good and hopeful thoughts and feelings. Therapists will often work with a client who does not acknowledge anything besides the negative in their life, which not only is detrimental to their […]
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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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People who are suffering from mental health challenges can often feel discouraged from being able to achieve their goals. Sometimes their ambitions and efforts to make progress toward their goals are overshadowed by defeating thoughts, like “why bother?”, “it’s too much, I won’t be able to do it” or “I will start tomorrow”. Having an […]
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Utilizing gratitude skills with clients in therapy is a great way to help them learn how to cope with stress and frustration. With all the responsibilities we have each day, it is easy to get wrapped up in the stress of the moment and miss out on the things we appreciate in this world. When […]
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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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A major challenge that comes with depression is the way it affects a person’s motivation. When a person is depressed, they may find themselves struggling to stay motivated to achieve their goals. This, in turn, can cause feelings of self-doubt and helplessness, which can fuel feelings of depression. Depression has a way of getting people […]
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Fears can hold us back in many ways. It can develop for different reasons and can cause us to react with unhealthy behaviors, like overcompensating, avoiding, and resisting things that may be good for us. Facing fears is an important part of personal growth, so learning how to overcome your fears can make a difference […]
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Core beliefs are the strong and withstanding beliefs that a person has about themselves and how they relate to others, the world, and their future. These beliefs are based on what a person has learned through life experiences and begin being formed during childhood. The way a person sees each aspect of their life is […]
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Treatment for substance use can be challenging. The experience is different for everyone, and people enter treatment with different levels of motivation for recovery. Knowing how motivated someone is in treatment for substance use is an important part of treatment planning. In order to set someone up for success, it is important to understand their […]
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A major factor in the success of achieving a goal is how a person plans for a goal. Oftentimes people set goals that are not realistic, but they do not realize that until they are overwhelmed with work. Because of this, it is important to develop proper goal-setting skills when creating a plan for the […]
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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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Life gets stressful for everyone. Managing all of the responsibilities that come in a day can be challenging, and it is not uncommon for people to struggle with managing time and stress. Whether a person takes on too much at once or has unexpected changes in their lives, time management is not always easy and […]
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When it comes to addressing a child’s behavior, consistency is key. Consistent and expected rewards and consequences can be a great motivator for behavioral modification. When it comes to encouraging good behavior and discouraging bad behavior, understanding consequences helps a child understand how to behave. Planning rewards and consequences do not need to be complicated. […]
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A major component of mental health is promoting wellness in day to day life. Without proper attention to wellness, a person can feel lost and lack direction in their life. People who struggle with wellness often struggle with anxiety, depressed mood, and trouble with stress management. Well is not a state of mind, but rather […]
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People in therapy often face challenges when they are not in touch with how their thoughts affect their behavior. Without understanding the connection between these two things, clients can struggle to understand how to reflect on themselves to become healthier individuals. Both thoughts and behaviors should be challenged when working to build a healthy lifestyle. […]
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Setting life goals is an excellent way to set a path for a client in therapy. When a client has a goal they are trying to achieve, the feel a sense of purpose. A goal can give direction and motivation in a client’s day. It can also help them identify and modify their own behaviors […]
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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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Issues in relationships often stem from a problem with communication. Communication is a critical part of a healthy relationship. Without proper communication skills, it is difficult for a couple to work together as a team and resolve issues. Good communication skills are important both during the good times and the bad times. People often think […]
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Relationships can be challenging. In any relationship, there are points of strength and points of struggle. In the more challenging times, it is important to be able to work as a team. The goal of resolving problems in a relationship is finding resolution, not winning an argument. To be a strong team, each partner must […]
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Relationships can be challenging at times. There are many obstacles a couple faces throughout the course of their partnership. It is not uncommon for a couple to fall out of sync with each other. Whether it is dishonesty, unfaithfulness, or just troubles with managing work and family, every long-term couple will face its trials. Every […]
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It can be challenging to have a balanced and healthy perspective on life’s challenges. Clients often struggle to understand how they think and feel, and how their thoughts and feelings can affect a situation. When a client is being negatively impacted by their behavior, it is important to help them take a step back. A […]
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Self-image is an important part of understanding who you are as a person. Many people who seek therapy struggle because they do not have a good relationship with themselves. They do not understand who they are, and that can be for many reasons. Sometimes people are so distracted with who they want to be they […]
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Understanding your own positive traits is an important part of building your self-worth and self-esteem. When you do not know your own positive traits, it is hard to feel like you know yourself. You often do not know how to make proper decisions, or how to behave in a healthy way. Your self-worth and moral […]
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Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) is a form of therapy that can be very effective in helping clients. It offers a means to gain perspective on challenging situations. REBT suggests that the way people understand situations causes them to be reactive. The concept of REBT implies that a situation is neither positive nor negative. A […]
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Exploring values can help a great deal in therapy. When a client understands their values, they can gain a better understanding of their goals and what they want from life. They also learn about the type of person they want to be, and how they want to behave. When a person does not have a […]
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Children often struggle to talk about how they feel. They struggle to work through their own emotions to feel okay. When a changing family affects a child, they may act out or shut down. It is important to be mindful of these changes, and to help the child work through their feelings, rather than punishing […]
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A huge part of being able to build a strong relationship is to know how to acknowledge your partner’s qualities, and be able to articulate why the qualities are important to you. Building a strong foundation takes time, dedication and patience. Couples need to learn how to communicate, compromise, and express appreciation for one another. […]
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A huge part of encouraging a child to continue to engage in good behavior is to provide positive reinforcement. Reinforcement is a powerful tool because it helps a child learn what behaviors will get a positive reaction from the people around them. It helps them to understand consequences and how to behave in a way […]
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Mindfulness is an important exercise to practice regularly. Clients must learn how to be mindful of themselves, their needs and their emotional wellness in order to ensure good mental health. Families often need mindfulness exercises to ensure their mental health and relationships as well. Family mindfulness is a great way to bring families closer together. […]
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When used properly, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very effective form of therapy. CBT helps people work on their problem behavior by providing a means to understand their thoughts and feelings. People often react to stressors quickly, and that can prevent them from thinking things through. CBT teaches a person how to slow down […]
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Practicing effective self-care techniques is a very important part of mental health. Without self-care, people cannot grow and learn how to cope with the stress of their daily lives. It is particularly important to practice self-care when struggling with mental illness. This is because self-care helps to promote skills to maintain good coping strategies and […]
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Having healthy communication skills are important, but also challenging to develop. Some people may struggle with articulating their feelings and needs. It is common for a client to struggle with being assertive or understanding what it means to be assertive with your needs. Learning how to reflect on a situation before confronting another person can […]
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A huge part of successfully developing effective communication skills is understanding what it means to be assertive. Assertive communication skills are essential for clients who are learning how to express themselves effectively. When a person is assertive, they are able to make their point and perspective clear. They are able to state their needs and […]
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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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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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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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Many people in therapy struggle to see their daily lives from a healthy perspective. It can be a challenge for people in therapy to remove the lens of negativity that causes them to feel anxious, depressed, or angry. While it is unrealistic to expect someone always to see things positively, it can help to balance […]
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An important part of teaching a child responsibility, accountability, and maturity is to provide structure and routine in their daily schedule. Assign children daily chores can help with their development, as they learn how to manage responsibilities and maintain a routine. Chores help children learn ways to interact with their environment and take initiative, which […]
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Exercises that reinforce good behavior are helpful when teaching healthy habits to children in therapy. Using techniques that encourage wanted behavior helps teach children how to behave in school, at home, and in counseling. Incorporating a reward system into a child’s routine helps with encouraging wanted behavior. Reward systems engage kids in learning healthy behaviors […]
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When a child is suffering from the effects of anxiety, trauma, abuse, or behavioral problems, they feel helpless and vulnerable. These feelings can be overwhelming and impact their confidence when facing life challenges. To ensure a child develops the skills needed to build mental and emotional resilience, they must know their strengths. Knowing what makes […]
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Everyone has a story. In therapy, processing key events in a client’s life can help them heal. Processing key memories and events can help clients build an understanding of their challenges with mental health. Exploring life events that contribute to challenges can help with recovery from trauma, anger, anxiety, depressed mood, and more. A helpful […]
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At some point in a client’s journey, he or she will need to take a step back to evaluate how he or she is managing self-care. It is important for a client to be well-aware of what he or she needs to be able to maintain self-care, and to understand a hierarchy in which the […]
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It is important to have a list of goals and objectives for the client and therapist to work toward when beginning a new therapeutic relationship. Setting goals creates a foundation that helps the client and therapist stay on track when helping a client feel better. Setting goals also empowers a client to stay on track […]
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When working with kids, especially those who have behavioral problems, it can be a challenge to teach empathy and healthy socialization skills. Being able to express gratitude and appreciation for others helps a child relate to their peers and teaches them how to identify positive qualities within themselves. When a child can express appreciation, they […]
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Gratitude can create healthy habits that help clients cope with several mental health challenges. Gratitude provides balance to negative thoughts and feelings, so a client can benefit from learning about gratitude and the types of exercises they can use to boost gratitude and mindfulness practices. Teaching a client how to practice gratitude exercises helps them […]
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Healthy communication is an integral part of strengthening relationships. People who are struggling in a relationship often have a hard time expressing their needs openly and effectively. This can cause tension between partners, leading to a rift in the relationship. Exploring relationship needs requires time and planning. Some needs will be addressed daily and some […]
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Teaching emotional intelligence skills is important when working with young children. Often children have feelings they may not understand, which makes it difficult for them to express how they are feeling and if they are upset. This struggle can cause confusion and frustration for caretakers. It also affects the child’s ability to build healthy communication […]
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Many clients in therapy struggle with low self-esteem. They often do not have a strong sense of identity or are unhappy with who they are. Facing yourself in therapy can be scary, so a therapist needs to be equipped with helpful tools to help their clients boost their self-image and self-esteem. A poor self-image can […]
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Many life experiences can contribute to feeling unsafe. It is common for clients in therapy to struggle with feeling safe, which can contribute to anxiety, panic attacks, and feelings of helplessness. A history of trauma, personal insecurities, low self-esteem, and more can all increase the risk of anxiety, panic attacks, and mood swings associated with […]
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Creating mantras is a great way to help your client learn how to cope when dealing with life stress. A mantra is a repeated phrase or saying used to calm the mind and promote relaxation. It is a useful tool when needing to calm anxious thoughts or feel more grounded. Mantras are an important exercise […]
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Awareness of different emotions is an important part of child development. Learning about basic emotions at a young age can help a child learn how to regulate their feelings and empathize with others. It can also help with learning healthy ways to communicate. We learn about emotions slowly- what they mean and how to manage […]
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When working with children and parents in therapy, a therapist is often responsible for providing education about the best methods of using rewards and punishments to influence behavior in children. Child and family therapists are commonly tasked with explaining best practices for teaching consequences for both wanted and unwanted behaviors. One approach that my be […]
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When confronted with a difficult situation or an uncomfortable feeling that is not easily resolved, clients can fall into a pattern of ruminating over the discomfort. Oftentimes, the ruminating thoughts cause a sense of urgency to resolve an issue or find a solution to help you feel better. With that sense of urgency, it is […]
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Teaching a client in therapy how to maintain healthy habits for mental health is an important part of the therapeutic process. Clients learn a great deal while in therapy, and making sure that they learn skills to cope with life challenges helps ensure the client’s success. It is also important to guide the client in […]
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It can be easy to get wrapped up in the moment of a stressful situation and instantly feel overwhelmed. Without direction or hopes of finding a resolution, that overwhelmed feeling can turn into helplessness or hopelessness, and make you lose touch with your authority over how the situation affects you. Each person reacts to stress […]
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Planning the best methods for achieving goals is an important skill that can be used in therapy and other parts of a client’s life. Without proper planning, working toward a goal can quickly become overwhelming. This is especially the case for people in therapy- whether planning for their therapy or life goals. A common hurdle […]
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It can sometimes be tough for clients to know what words to use to express what they are feeling. Emotions are complex and can be uncomfortable and overwhelming to talk about without proper guidance and support. When a client struggles to articulate their feelings, it can be helpful to provide a tool to help them […]
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Sometimes we have clients who struggle with finding motivation. They may struggle to find motivation in developing a career, accomplishing a goal, or moving on to the next phase in life. There are a number of reasons why a person may struggle with achieving a goal. This is why it is important that the client […]
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As therapists, we know that most issues and concerns our clients face are more dynamic and intricate than the client may realize. Many components contribute to presenting issues with our clients, and often there is more than meets the eye. When working with clients on issues like emotional regulation, mood disorders, anxiety, and self-esteem, it […]
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Sometimes clients struggle with learning how to feel happy and fulfilled in their lives. Whether it is due to depression, low self-esteem, or motivation issues, it is not uncommon for clients in therapy to struggle to find traction toward happiness or contentment. These clients will ultimately feel lost and sometimes hopeless in their efforts to […]
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Helping a client build self-esteem can be a challenging process. Many people in therapy suffer from low self-esteem, which contributes to other challenges they may be facing. Low self-esteem makes anxiety, stress, relationships, and depression more difficult to cope with and holds clients back from reaching their full potential in therapy. Helping a client boost […]
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It is common for couples in therapy to struggle with communicating and resolving conflict. Conflict poses challenges for people in relationships because it impacts communication, which is an important part of socializing, bonding, and getting along with others. When a person in therapy struggles with communicating, their self-esteem, ability to relate to others, and overall […]
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Accepting things that are outside of our control is challenging. Many clients in therapy struggle with accepting the limits of control and being tolerant of the things that are outside of their control. Experiences like chronic pain, grief, loss, anxiety, and depression can cause a great deal of suffering, but being able to accept the […]
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It is important for children to feel empowered and confident in themselves. Confidence helps a child feel proud, motivates them to learn and engage with others, and helps them build social skills and resilience that will be useful in the real world. Unfortunately, many children find it difficult to identify the positive traits that make […]
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