Posts by willowcounseling
9 Reasons Why Therapy Didn’t Work for You in the Past
You recognize that you’re struggling with your mental health, and maybe you feel ambivalent about seeking treatment. Many clients benefit from therapy. But what if you met with someone in the past, and you just weren’t all that impressed? Was it them? Was it you? Was it something else altogether? Bad experiences in therapy do…
Read MoreHow to Help a Teenager with Anxiety
You’re worried about your teenager. Maybe you notice how they struggle to regulate their emotions. Or you see how they’ve withdrawn from friends or extracurricular activities. They seem on edge and insecure. You don’t want to make things worse, but you’re concerned about their mental health. Are their anxious feelings just a part of normal…
Read MoreWhy Vulnerability Matters (In Almost Everything You Do)
It can seem like a paradoxical concept to embrace vulnerability. Why should you willingly disclose fear? Why acknowledge weakness or adversity? And why should you value intimate relationships if you’ve been hurt in the past? Vulnerability is the stuff of courage. This applies in every context, among all types of populations and people. At its…
Read MoreHow to Practice Self-Care (Even When You Seem to Have No Motivation)
Self-care has been a trending buzzword in recent years, but the concept isn’t as intuitive or straightforward as it may seem. Sure, it’s nice to enjoy lavish vacations or embrace long afternoon naps, but these experiences just aren’t feasible for everyone. Likewise, they don’t always make people feel better. Busy schedules, demanding careers, mental health…
Read MoreDo You Have a Fear of Death? Here’s How Therapy Can Help
Most of us experience some worry about dying. Even though we know that life is ultimately finite, being aware of your final demise can feel unnerving and frightening. To complicate matters, the topic is largely taboo in mainstream society. We don’t really talk about the fear of death until we’re faced with it directly. Thanatophobia…
Read More7 Tips for Dealing with Anticipatory Grief
Anticipatory grief happens when you start feeling grief before a loss has occurred. This type of grief may arise when faced with a terminal illness or concerning medical diagnoses. It can also emerge when you start preparing for the end of something- whether it’s the end of a job, relationship, or other specific situation. Working…
Read MoreHow You Can Stop Being Indecisive in Everyday Life 
What did you eat for breakfast this morning? Which pants did you decide to wear? What time did you leave for the office, and what email did you choose to respond to first? Did you jog or lift weights after work? Did you order the new ink cartridge from Target or Amazon? What show did…
Read More6 Ways Therapy Can Boost Your Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem is one of the most common reasons people enter therapy. Your self-esteem has a direct impact on your mental health. Problems may affect your relationships, work performance, and overall sense of stability. Low self-esteem is a primary symptom in numerous mental health conditions, including mood, anxiety, eating, and substance use disorders. While low…
Read MoreHere’s How Spiritual Abuse Can Lead to Religious Trauma
Spirituality can offer a profound moral compass for how you embrace to live your life. It may provide a sense of solace and community when going through a difficult time. However, this isn’t always the case. Spiritual abuse can quickly transform a beautiful way of living into a perpetually trapped feeling of discomfort. At times,…
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