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Healing in the Upside Down: What Stranger Things Reveals About Trauma and Growth
As a therapist, I was surprised by how deeply Stranger Things mirrors the real-life healing process, showing how trauma, relationships, and self-acceptance shape our ability to grow. But before you go any further, if you haven’t watched the final season of Stranger Things yet, you may want to skip this post until you’ve wrapped…
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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…
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The Problem with “New Year, New You!”
Every January, the phrase “New Year, New You” floods social media, advertisements, and conversations. It embraces the idea of starting with a clean slate and beckons a chance to reinvent oneself. It sounds inspiring, and while I do think that there is some wisdom in new beginnings, I think it’s important to recognize that…
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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…
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Five Ways to Ground Yourself When You Feel Overwhelmed
These small practices can help bring you back into the present moment and help you feel your body and physical surroundings. In turn you feel calmer and gain access to the ability to respond more intentionally to whatever is going on in the moment. Then, later with your therapist or when the situational context…
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What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session
Starting therapy can feel like stepping into the unknown, especially if it’s your first time. Whether you’re meeting with a therapist online or in person, it’s completely normal to feel a mix of curiosity, nervousness, and hope. At Ampersand Counseling Collective we know that even taking the first step to schedule an appointment can…
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Play, Paradox, and Psychotherapy: Reflections on the Transformative Potential of Therapy
Recently, I’ve been playing the solo board game Tin Helm — a small dungeon crawler that is packaged inside of a mint tin. The game consists of delving into a dungeon in search of three gems, battling monsters along the way. It relies on an interesting mechanic — do I choose to visit the location card…
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Is Therapy Right for You?
Do I really need therapy?Are my problems “big enough”?What if I don’t know what I’d talk about? If you’ve found yourself asking these questions, you’re not alone. Many people struggle to determine if therapy is the right next step for them and even the process of deciding can illicit feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, and…
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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…
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How Play Therapy Helps Children Heal and Grow
When children struggle to express their thoughts or feelings, adults often turn to conversation to help. But for many children, especially our youngest kiddos, words aren’t the easiest or most natural way to communicate. That’s where play therapy comes in. What is Play Therapy? Play therapy is a form of counseling designed specifically for…