Mental Health

  • Five Ways to Ground Yourself When You Feel Overwhelmed

    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…

  • What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session

    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…

  • Play, Paradox, and Psychotherapy: Reflections on the Transformative Potential of Therapy

    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…

  • Is Therapy Right for You?

    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…