An update to our COVID-19 response and preparedness plan.

Hello everyone. I wanted to get a message out there related to all that we’re currently experiencing. Lillybrook Counseling Services is concerned about your physical and mental health concerning COVID-19 (Coronavirus). I am going to start by explaining our response as an organization to the threat of COVID-19, but I also want to address some of the emotional and distress related concerns that each one of us are having. This will probably be a longer read than I normally post.

It’s been a while since I posted a blog. Sorry about that. For the few that do follow and read, thank you for your patience. I’d like to promise you more consistent posts but that is a promise that I cannot guarantee to keep. However, I do promise you this, I’m always looking for something to post about. The following comments will probably come out a little preachy. This is something that have become increasingly passionate about. What has been presenting itself in life as w

“I mean like people, who’s fighting and what for? Who’s fighting and what for? Why are we fighting? Why are we fighting? We don’t want to fight. Come on!” - Mick Jagger Altamont 1969 In the wake of recent (well the most recent) violence to hit the States (I don’t say the United States, because let’s be honest, when was the last time we were united?) and the subsequent social media outrage I can’t help but hear Mick Jagger’s words running through my mind. No, I wasn’t there in

Normally we would never strive for Cs, but for this, hear me out. It’s pretty common as a parent and as a therapist I find myself repeating requests, directions, commands, etc. There’s a multitude of reasons this may take place. For example, someone is not listening, not paying attention, does not understand, or doesn’t want to follow through. We could spend time focusing on all those different examples but that seems overwhelming. Why not focus on one change YOU can do? It’s

“I’m so stressed.” “My stress is so overwhelming.” “I’ve been stress eating.” There are many ways in which people report their stress. It is indeed though something that everyone “has” or experiences but it’s not an entity someone possesses like a toothbrush. Stress is a much broader concept that though everyone experiences it, the experiences is different for everyone. What stress is. Stress is the body’s response to a circumstance that disturbs it’s normal physiological an

Anything can be a trigger for anyone. It’s truly a matter of perception. Our perception is our reality, essentially meaning “I think therefore I am.” However, whatever triggers me doesn’t necessarily trigger someone else. It’s a subjective experience. Further, what triggers anger in one person may trigger anxiety in another. It’s complicated and simple at the same time. I believe that all triggers can be broken down in to four themes. It’s a minor (or major) over simplificat

For those of you who know me, or have worked with me, you know I am passionate about anger and the many different ways it is expressed. Many conversations, articles, speeches have been about how anger is a secondary emotion, the result of something else. For years I’ve been using the phrase “What’s behind your anger?” Which is why the first two posts in this blog started with that name. However, I don’t think that says enough about my passion, my drive, or my goals when worki

I always laugh with parents about the difficulties of raising children. I do not think it's any more different today than it was for previous generations but I would agree that the complexities have changed. I mean smart phones and social media really are a total game changer. But we'll talk about that another time. Children do not come with a manual. If you're lucky when you become a parent, before you leave the hospital, a nice nurse who's probably overwhelmed and has

We've all been there, at the store, the school, in church, at grandma's house. What seems routine turns array when your child doesn't get their way. You know it's coming, whether they are 3, 8, or 12 you know you're in for the dreaded temper tantrum. Sure, it looks different depending on their age, but for the helpless adult, it feels the same. What exactly is anger? Anger is a strong feeling of displeasure (Merriam-Webster, Online). Anger is nature’s way of helping us