-
Exploring the Depths: Therapy Beyond Symptom Reduction
Therapy isn’t just for times of crisis or managing symptoms; both of these solution-focused therapies are necessary and helpful in certain seasons of our lives. However, engaging in depth work through psychodynamic psychotherapy moves beyond these “last resort” therapies and into a proactive tool for long-term wellness and personal growth and development. Shifting From…
-
Real Talk, Work Edition: Are You Stressed or Burnt Out?
Are you feeling exhausted or overwhelmed at work? How can you tell the difference between experiencing general stress vs total burnout? And what, if anything, can we do about it? The following is for informational purposes only. For an official diagnosis or medical advice, please consult with a medical professional or mental health counselor…
-
Navigating Holidays with Family
With the holidays rapidly approaching in the U.S., they can bring with them their own special cocktail of celebration and dread. For some, the pressure of hosting, or even attending, family gatherings can loom over like a wet blanket, dampening holiday cheer and adding additional strain or stress. A few of the most common…
-
What’s the Deal with “Self Care”?
There sure is a lot of buzz out there about self-care: what it is, why we should do it, and a host of ideas for self care practices. Some people find the idea to be cringy! Self-care is so broad that it encompasses everything from the “treat-your-self” mentality of indulging and pampering yourself with…
-
Introducing Jake Johnson
Ann and I are thrilled to announce our newest member of the Ampersand Counseling Collective: Jake Johnson! We met Jake through our therapist training at the Seattle School and are excited to continue working together ‘out in the real world.’ In light of our “Why Your Therapist Matters” series, we’ve asked Jake to introduce…
-
Why Your Therapist Matters – Part II
Last week, Ann wrote about the therapeutic alliance and why it is important to have a strong relationship of trust and safety in order for psychotherapy to be successful. Building on this “relational fit,” I want to continue the conversation on why your therapist matters by looking at your therapist’s training and theoretical orientation…
-
Resource Round Up
This week Ann and I wanted to share some of our favorite resources for the various areas of focus we work in within our counseling practice: What are some of your favorite resources? Drop them in the comments!
-
Healing Through Story
The Importance of Story in Healing Work It was often said during my training at the Allender Center that “we do not heal in generalities, but in the particularities of our story.” Simply put, our stories matter; the details of our experiences of harm and heartache are the pathway towards healing. Our stories of…
-
Psychoanalytic Theory through Board Games
We’re excited to share that this month Maggie had an essay published in the Board Game Academics online journal Victory Points! In her essay titled Something More: Nested Realities & Desire in Veiled Fate, Maggie explored Lacanian psychoanalytic theory around desire and ‘nested realities’ through her time playing a game of Veiled Fate. Here’s…
-
Why Psychotherapy
We are often asked: What’s the difference between counseling and psychotherapy? Counseling is often short-term and solutions focused around particular issue or issues. These are things that can be “resolved” within a few weeks or months. The work of psychotherapy is deeper and longer, taking many months and even years. Psychotherapy looks at what’s…