Family Counseling, Couple Counseling, Marriage Therapy, Teen Counseling, Child (Play) Therapy

Help with depression, anxiety, grief, loss, parent issues, substance abuse, addiction, sex therapy, social anxiety, eating disorders, body image, trauma, and wellness coaching

7 Ways to Know You’re an Awesome Mom

Being a Mom is tough work, we Moms know that. There are times we don't live up to the expectations we have for ourselves, and as a therapist, I find myself needing to let Moms know just how awesome they are. So, I put together a list of ways to know that you are an awesome mom! The most important thing about being an awesome mom is knowing who you are and what you are becoming. You are so much more than Just-a-Mom. Your life is way more than the identifying work, "Mom." You juggle so many things in your life, from being an Kid-Uber driver to rockin' it at the office. Pantsuit by day, messy bun by night, and what you have in between is [Read more...]

By Amanda Myers, M.Ed., LPC, RPT|Tags: awesome mom, parent coaching, parenting is hard, screwing up my kids|

Suffering

Recently, a fellow cancer survivor friend was asked by a publication to write a piece about an experience that she had with her journey through cancer. She agreed, always happy to spread more awareness of the challenges of this devastating, harrowing feat that many go through. She poured her heart out, speaking authentically about both her challenges and her triumphs, but she quickly received feedback from the editors. They wanted a more "positive" piece, and wondered if she could simply edit out some of the struggle? Simple? No. Absolutely not. My Cancer Journey As a cancer survivor myself, I have frequently been put in a position where others have expected me to minimize, or even ignore, my lived experiences in order for them to feel [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|

Listening to Your Gut: How To Handle “Off” Situations

We have likely all experienced a time when we’ve noticed something “off” about someone we care for. It can often be unclear as to what our role is when we make this observation, but when our gut gets moving, I think it's important to take action! It could be something simply, like your friend is having a bad day. Or, it could be that this person is genuingly in trouble and thinking of something like suicide. Do you say something? Do you leave them alone to handle what they need to? Depending on your relationship with the person, you may say something immediately or wait until later. The fact of the matter is, we don’t know until we ask how we may be of help [Read more...]

By Lyndsey Perry, M.A., LPC-Intern|Tags: Friends, helping, support|

Parent Coaching

Parent coaching may seem like an odd concept, and that being a parent seems straightforward in theory. You teach your children good moral values and encourage positive behavior to excel, but life can be messy and parenting is never easy. Whether you have children who are well-behaved and fulfill every expectation or ones who are troubled and get into sticky situations, the bottom line is that parenting is never simple. One key point to remember is that you’re not alone. If you feel like you’re struggling with parenting, there a few easy things to consider. What is Parent Coaching? We all need guidance and mentoring with our parenting. At our office, you've got a team of experts who are not only parents themselves, but who [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|Tags: life coaching, parent coach, parent coaching|

Anxiety

Anxiety can be one of the most difficult and frightening mental health issues to deal with, especially since much of the disorder is self-manufactured fear. The stats say it all: over 40 million Americans are affected by severe anxiety, and 40 percent of adults will experience some anxiety in their life. Unfortunately, however, only a third of adults and one-fifth of teens receive treatment. Not everyone shows signs of anxiety or feels the effects of anxiety the same way. You may think to yourself, "Well, google says anxiety feels like X, Y, and Z. I don't feel like that." The problem with relying on a search engine for answers regarding your health is that not all humans are the same. A common cold for you [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|Tags: anxiety, phobia, stress, worry|

ADHD: A Neurological Disorder of the Brain

ADHD, often used interchangeably with ADD, is a neurobiological disorder of the brain characterized by inability to focus on tasks or follow through with tasks, or hyperactivity. It's important to distinguish life stressors which can cause these symptoms, to that which can be considered a true disorder. The DSM outlines specific criteria that patients exhibit who are clinically diagnosed with the disorder. ADHD can be treated with a multi-pronged approach, including pharmacological options and talk therapy, but the first step is to understand what it is and how it works. What ADHD Feels Like The DSM defines the following three symptoms as indicative of someone suffering from ADHD: Inattention: The inability to maintain focus on tasks, both during work and play, that results in lack of follow [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|Tags: ADD, ADHD, Hyperactive, Inattentive|

Grief and Loss

Grief and loss are excruciating. The loss of a loved one either from the death or the ending of a relationship is like losing a limb. It's part of life and something that everyone experiences at some point, but that doesn't make matters easier when you're in the middle of the depths of sadness. The first step toward healing is understanding what grief is and how it works. Top Grief Emotions Elisabeth Kübler-Ross originally created a step-progression of grief. However, what we now know about grief is that all of these feelings can happen at any time, even on the same day or moment. The Five Stages of Grief are as follows: Denial: Disbelief over the events that have caused the loss. This may be [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|Tags: grief, grieving someone you lost, losing someone you love, loss|

Recognizing and Treating Major Depression

Depression isn’t just having a bad day or feeling down over something that happened at work. The difference between feeling sad and major depression is how it’s defined and how it manifests. Major depression is a state of intense sadness and loss of pleasure that lasts for two weeks. It's feeling irritable, low, unmotivated, unfocused, and generally like you can't find clarity or direction and aren't sure you want to. If feeling depressed or sad is more than just a short blip on your emotional radar, it’s time to seek help. What Debilitating Sadness Feels Like The main factor that sets clinical depression apart from having a rough day is the duration of the feeling. Also significant is the severity of the sadness, your ability [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|Tags: bipolar, Depression, guilt, lonely, Sadness, suicide|

Assigning Words to Emotions: Why It’s a Learning Curve

I’ve got this amazing ability (no, really!), to know how my clients are feeling the moment I greet them in the waiting room. All of my clients know this is true! I can feel the energy they’ve brought to the space, and if you've ever walked into a room where someone has been arguing, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Emotion is more of an energy that creates a physiological response, but still, putting words to those feelings is extremely important, especially in relationships. When I ask the clients how they are out in the waiting room, they always answer with “fine,” “all right,” “okay,” or “great,”— something along those lines. But when I get them back to the office I will say, “So, [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|

Yearly Mental Health Check-up: Are You Sad, or SAD?

Mental Health Mental Health At I Choose Change, we encourage change that lasts a lifetime. That’s why every month, we’ll take a closer look at the issues that affect you and your family. In January, we’ll focus on resolutions and starting over, then we’ll switch gears and delve into doing the right thing and justice. I Choose Change serves all of Allen, Plano, McKinney, Wylie, Lucas, Sachse and Fairview, and we offer online and email counseling across the globe. Contact us here for more information. January can be dark, dreary, and cold. You may find yourself more tired than usual, maybe listless, and experience a change in mood. While it’s common to experience a dip in mood after the holidays, there are different types of [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|Tags: Depression, SAD|