Are you worried about your child/teen?  Has their behavior changed?  Have they withdrawn from the family or even their peers? Unfortunately, there is no shortage of stressors for kids and teens today - a sampling includes: An overburdened school system inadequate to meet the individual needs of each child. Declining empathy skills leading to ever-intensifying forms of bullying. Family changes:...[ read more ]

So you've decided you would like to begin therapy. Typically, that should be the hardest part. Letting someone in, especially someone that you don't know, to share your story in hopes of a better life is hard enough. Unfortunately, "overwhelmed" is a pretty accurate description to how most people feel when they try to find a therapist. If you take...[ read more ]

  Welcome parents! This holiday survival guide is specifically for you, as the stressors you experience are unique. You not only are trying to take care of yourself during this time, but of all the children and extended family who are home for the holidays. So before we begin, let us take a moment to breathe. Deep inhale in, long...[ read more ]

Welcome back one and all to our holiday survival guide! This week's post is for those of you out there who are trying to navigate passing finals, finishing the semester, moving, and surviving the holidays all at once. Otherwise known as "college". This applies to those in undergrad, post grad, or doctorate level. There are just some similarities between all of...[ read more ]

Confessions of a Counselor Part 3 How aware are you of your self-talk and the words you use with yourself and others?  It’s time again to share another hidden treasure of therapy, which at first can seem really annoying, but over time becomes a tremendous asset. That hidden treasure: awareness of the actual words you use with yourself and others....[ read more ]

Welcome back to our holiday survival guide! Last week, we explored how gaining awareness of ourselves and those around us is crucial in not only surviving the holidays, but thriving.  This week, we explore the next three guideposts in surviving the holidays.   Guidepost 3: Time to evaluate There are two main questions for this guidepost: Was this Thanksgiving break...[ read more ]

Welcome one and all to our guide on surviving the holidays! (Part 1) If you are one of those rare individuals who do not have family drama, conflict, or a long lost relative that chooses to reappear during the holiday season, that's wonderful. For the majority of the population, the holidays seem to bring something out of those around us...[ read more ]

I guess I am going to turn this into a mini-series (check back to last week’s blog post). Except, I am not going to a Catholic Priest to confess and then do my penance. I have done that twice in my life though. I was a child and had no idea what I was doing. Had I been going to...[ read more ]

Have you ever wondered what some of the hidden benefits or struggles are with therapy? Have you ever wondered how you came into therapy wanting to reduce anxiety, and a few months later you are grieving losses from your childhood, and seeing the world differently? You see, here at Phenix, we have a strong belief in transformational work, which is...[ read more ]

How do you combat despair?How do you keep worries in perspective?   I'm here to propose an answer to you. There is a power in remembering the good, no matter the situation we are in.  Today's topic and answer to combatting despair, living a life of anti-misery, is gratefulness. What comes to your mind when you hear the word "grateful"?...[ read more ]