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Therapy in Fort Lauderdale

We are not Label Makers

5/3/2023

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hope in healing stop labels
Ever find yourself labeling something? Something as simple as saying someone has anxiety, or identifying someone as neurotic. ​It's not uncommon for people to use diagnostic labels to describe the behavior of others. It makes it relatable when speaking with others.  However, this is not only unhelpful, but can also be harmful. Diagnoses are complex and nuanced and should only be made by trained professionals who have the expertise and experience to accurately diagnose and treat mental health conditions.

hope in healing stop labels
Lay people who attempt to diagnose others often do so based on stereotypes and limited understanding of mental health conditions. They may also use diagnostic labels to stigmatize and shame individuals who exhibit certain behaviors. 
If you're concerned about someone's mental health, it's important to encourage them to seek help from a licensed mental health professional. If you're unsure how to approach the situation, consider consulting a mental health professional yourself for guidance and support.

For example, in recent years, the term "narcissist" has become increasingly popularized in mainstream culture. It's not uncommon for people to use the term to describe individuals who exhibit certain behaviors, such as arrogance or self-centeredness. However, it's important to recognize that not everyone who displays these behaviors is a narcissist.

While some individuals may exhibit behaviors that are like those associated with the disorder, it's important to understand that these behaviors alone do not necessarily indicate its presence. Arrogance, self-centeredness, and a need for attention are not uncommon traits and can be seen in a wide range of individuals, both with and without mental health conditions.

It's also important to note that using incorrect terms to describe someone can be harmful and stigmatizing. Labeling someone can perpetuate negative stereotypes and prevent individuals from seeking the help and support they need.
hope in healing stop labels
If you're concerned about someone's behavior, it's important to approach the situation with empathy and understanding. Rather than jumping to conclusions and labeling someone, consider speaking with a mental health professional to gain a better understanding of the situation and determine the best course of action.

​Remember, mental health is complex and should always be approached with care and respect. Rather than attempting to label and diagnose others, let's focus on promoting understanding, acceptance, and support for those struggling with mental health conditions.

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The Long Journey of Grief

4/11/2023

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Grief Hope in Healing Therapy
​Grieving is a natural and unavoidable part of the human experience. While most people connect grief to losing a loved one, grieving is experienced in many ways including when we lose a job, a friendship, or safety in our lives. It's important to remember, however, that we do not have to go through the grieving process alone. With the support of others, we can navigate our way through grief and begin to heal.
One of the most important things to remember when grieving with support is that there is no "right" way to grieve. Everyone experiences grief differently, and it's important to give yourself permission to feel whatever emotions come up for you. Some people may feel overwhelming sadness, while others may experience anger, guilt, or even relief. Whatever you're feeling, it's okay.

Grief Hope in Healing Therapy
Another important aspect of grieving with support is finding people who can provide you with the emotional support you need. This can be family members, close friends, a therapist or grief counselor, or even support groups made up of people who have experienced a similar loss. Having people to talk to and share your feelings with can be incredibly helpful in coping with grief.

It's important to take care of yourself during the grieving process. This means getting enough rest, eating well, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and comfort.
Grief is a complex and challenging emotion that everyone experiences differently and it's important to have tools and strategies to help you cope. Here are some tips for handling grief:
  1. Allow yourself to feel your emotions - It's important to give yourself permission to feel whatever emotions come up for you, whether it be sadness, anger, or confusion. Grief is a natural process that takes time, so don't feel like you have to rush through it or suppress your emotions.
  2. Seek support from others - Talking about your grief with friends, family, or a therapist can be incredibly helpful. It's important to surround yourself with people who can listen and support you without judgment.
  3. Take care of yourself - Grief can be physically and emotionally exhausting, so it's important to take care of your physical health by eating well, getting enough rest, and exercising regularly. Engaging in activities that bring you joy and comfort can also be helpful.
  4. Practice self-compassion - Be kind and gentle with yourself as you navigate through the grieving process. It's okay to take time for yourself and to prioritize your own needs.
  5. Create a new routine - If you're grieving the loss of someone or something that was a major part of your daily routine, it can be helpful to create a new routine for yourself. This can help you feel more grounded and in control during a time of uncertainty.
  6. Find ways to honor your loss - Whether it's through creating a memorial or tribute, engaging in a favorite activity of your loved one, or volunteering in their honor, finding ways to honor your loss can help you find meaning and purpose during a difficult time.
  7. Consider seeking professional help - If you're struggling to cope with your grief, consider seeking the help of a professional therapist or grief counselor. They can provide you with additional tools and strategies to help you navigate through your grief.
Grief Hope in Healing Therapy
​It's important to remember that grief is a process, and it may take time to fully heal from a loss. Be patient with yourself, and don't hesitate to reach out for support when you need it. By allowing yourself to grieve with support, you can begin to find meaning and purpose in life again, even after experiencing a significant loss.  Remember that everyone experiences grief differently, and there is no right or wrong way to handle it. Give yourself time, patience, and compassion as you navigate through this difficult time.

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Role Models are Humans Too

4/10/2023

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Hope in Healing Blog Heroes
Children often look up to certain individuals as their role models, idols, or heroes. These individuals could be famous athletes, musicians, or actors. While it's perfectly normal for children to admire others, it's essential to help them understand that these individuals are human and have flaws like everyone else.

It's crucial to have conversations with your children about role models and the importance of looking up to positive influences. Here are some tips on how to talk to your kids about role models and help them understand that their idols are human:
Hope in Healing Therapy Blog Heroes
  1. Emphasize positive qualities: When talking about role models with your children, focus on their positive qualities and what makes them admirable. Talk about their accomplishments and the qualities they possess that make them successful. Encourage your children to focus on these positive traits rather than any negative aspects.
  2. Acknowledge flaws: While it's essential to emphasize positive qualities, it's also important to acknowledge that even role models have flaws. Talk to your children about their role models' mistakes and how they handled those mistakes. Use these examples as teachable moments to help your children understand that it's okay to make mistakes and how to learn from them.
  3. Encourage critical thinking: Encourage your children to think critically about their role models and idols. Ask them questions about why they admire these individuals and what qualities they possess that make them a positive influence. Help them to identify both positive and negative traits and make their own decisions about whether these individuals are worth admiring.
  4. Teach empathy: Help your children develop empathy by teaching them to put themselves in their role models' shoes. Ask them to imagine how their role models might feel in different situations, and encourage them to consider how they would want to be treated if they were in their idols' positions.
  5. Be a positive influence: As a parent, it's essential to be a positive role model for your children. Show them through your actions how to behave with integrity, honesty, and kindness. Be someone that they can look up to and model their behavior after.

Hope in Healing Therapy Role Models
Talking to your children about role models and helping them understand that idols are human is an essential part of their personal growth and development. By emphasizing positive qualities, acknowledging flaws, encouraging critical thinking, teaching empathy, and being a positive influence yourself, you can help your children navigate the complexities of idolizing others and develop a healthy sense of self-esteem and self-worth.

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Regenerating after Covid

4/3/2023

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How to recover from COVID burnout

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted individuals' lives worldwide, resulting in what has come to be known as COVID burnout. This condition is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to the stressors associated with the pandemic.
Regenerating after COVID burnout Hope in Healing Therapeutic Services
Covid Burnout is the state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to stressors associated to the pandemic.
COVID burnout has affected people in different ways, depending on factors such as the duration of exposure to the pandemic, the severity of the pandemic in their location, personal health concerns, job demands, and social isolation. 
Regardless of the specific circumstances, the effects of COVID burnout can be profound and may impact individuals' overall well-being.
​One significant factor contributing to COVID burnout is the extended duration of the pandemic. The prolonged exposure to pandemic-related stressors has led to fatigue, decreased motivation, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and detachment from others. People who have been experiencing these symptoms may feel like they are struggling to cope with the ongoing demands of life.

Additionally, concerns about personal health and safety have contributed significantly to COVID burnout. Fear of contracting the virus has led some individuals to take extreme measures to protect themselves, including social distancing, remote work, and avoiding public places. However, these measures can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can worsen the impact of COVID burnout
Regenerating after COVID burnout Hope in Healing Therapeutic Services
Increased workload and job demands have also contributed to COVID burnout. Many individuals have been required to work longer hours, often from home, to accommodate the changes brought on by the pandemic. This increased workload can lead to exhaustion and decreased motivation, making it challenging to maintain productivity and job satisfaction.  Ever hear of quiet quitting?  That is one example of how COVID has affected our mindsets and motivation.
To prevent and manage COVID burnout, it is crucial to prioritize self-care. This includes setting aside time for relaxation, exercise, and hobbies, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and seeking support from loved ones or mental health professionals when needed. It is also important to stay informed without becoming overwhelmed by the constant stream of news and social media updates.
COVID burnout is a real and significant concern that has impacted many individuals' lives. By prioritizing self-care and seeking support when needed, it is possible to manage the effects of COVID burnout and maintain a positive outlook despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.

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Regaining Trust

6/2/2019

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​Often when I see clients trust is something that has seemed to dissolve in their major relationships.  Infidelity is often a major reason trust is broken in relationships but it’s not the only reason.  It could be that your spouse made a life changing financial decision without consulting you.  Perhaps your best friend stabbed you in the back.  It could also be that you took something valuable from a family member, lied to your partner, or broke promises to your kids….  Trust is something that we take for granted but once its lost it takes a lot to get back on track.
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If you have broken trust with someone who is valuable to you, what can we do?  Below are some tips on things we can do to rebuild trust that may have been damaged:

  1.  Start with Honesty:  In relationships, it’s vital that we work to tell the truth, even if we know that a lie would be better for us.  It would be so easy to bury an inconvenient truth under a lie, but it takes true courage to take ownership.  When we come clean, we are starting to show the other person that their well-being is more important than our own.  Admit it all – even the stuff that would have been easy to stay hidden.  Again, honesty is key!
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  • Apologize:  This seems almost obvious but it’s vital to say those two words:  I’m sorry.  When we are busy admitting what was done it can get easy to return to defensiveness to justify why it made sense to do it, why your friend/partner is “overreacting”, or even to regret sharing the truth.  But apologizing shows the other person not only are you owning what has been done but you also regret what was done and showing regret for the consequences it will have on them.
  • Allow room to process:  If the truth is going to potentially hurt the person you are sharing with, be ready for an emotional reaction.  When we are emotional we are not in the best place to congratulate someone for their honesty.  Be willing to let them process what they have heard and go through the necessary emotional response before they can begin to understand what was shared.  This may take time so be ready to exercise patience and understanding.  Responding in anger or frustration will only damage the newly formed base you are building.
  • Be Transparent:  Its easy to say that our business is our own, but while rebuilding trust it’s vital to remember that the other person may, for a time, not believe what is said.  I can imagine many of you are cringing at the idea of having to share passwords, account for time spent, or the like but as your friend or partner sees for themselves that the words you are telling them match what is happening, it continues to build the bridge of trust.
  • Be Patient:  Even after processing there are going to be times the person you are working to rebuild trust with will revert and get upset, distrust something you say, or challenge your transparency.  This is normal and if you are diligent this will lessen over time.  If emotions show again, go back to steps 2 and 3 in apologizing and allowing room for them to process. 
  • Restore Connection:  At it’s core, deception and the need for self-preservation is rooted in a feeling of isolation.  As mentioned in step 1 we admit truth and rebuild trust by acknowledging the best interests of the person we care about is a higher priority than our own.  If our connection to that person has been broken it becomes easy – almost natural – to do what’s in our own best interest rather than continuing to put another person’s interests first.  Take time to rebuild your connection and welcome a chance for a new dynamic that opens up a new way of communicating.  Therapy with a qualified relationship counselor is a great way to allow for both rebuilding trust and connection.  Spend time together, show appreciation, and continue to allow trust to grow again.
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​Trust is something that takes a moment to lose but could be a lifetime to rebuild….  Take active measures with your relationships to make sure that the latter does not have to be the case.
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​1451 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 300
Fort Lauderdale, FL  33309
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  • Home
  • Why We Do This
    • Who We Are
  • How Can We Help?
    • Individual
    • Couples
    • Families
    • Christian Counseling
    • Mental Physical
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    • Organizational Consulting
    • Workshops
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  • Questions and Info
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