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Five Ways to Ground Yourself When You Feel Overwhelmed
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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…
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Navigating Holidays with Family
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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…
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What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session
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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…
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Play, Paradox, and Psychotherapy: Reflections on the Transformative Potential of Therapy
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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…
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Is Therapy Right for You?
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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…
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What’s the Deal with “Self Care”?
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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…
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How Play Therapy Helps Children Heal and Grow
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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…
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Introducing Jake Johnson
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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…