Open Door Counseling Center Blog
Healing Through Play: How Play Therapy Unlocks Emotional Growth
Therapy doesn’t always have to involve a serious setting with the patient and therapist facing each other in chairs. In fact, this scenario may be intimidating for some people, especially children. That’s where play therapy comes in. This is a powerful tool for clients of all ages to explore emotions, reduce stress, and develop healthy
Blended Families: Navigating Fairness, Behavior and Connection
The portrait of today’s family looks much different from it did even a few decades ago. Many of them are forming new bonds through second marriages, partnerships, and co-parenting arrangements that don’t necessarily fit into the traditional mold of nuclear families. According to the Step Family Foundation, 1,300 new stepfamilies form every day, with more
The Power of Calm: How Vagus Nerve Therapy Can Help You Reset and Regulate
Stress can sneak up on you at the most inopportune times—in the grocery line, during rush hour traffic, or even while scrolling through social media on the phone. Our nervous systems are constantly being bombarded by stimuli, and sometimes our bodies and minds struggle to process it. Without access to the right coping tools, it’s
Somatic Therapy: Unlocking the Mind-Body Connection For Emotional Healing
Our emotions aren’t just in our minds; they are deeply intertwined with our bodies. Whether your stomach is in knots when stressed or you feel that tightness in your chest when worried, this is your body’s way of reacting to those complex emotions. Somatic therapy explores the link between emotional stress and physical ailments. By
Therapy For Therapists
Why even helpers need help—and how Open Door Counseling Center can guide you Therapists are trained to help their clients navigate emotional storms, but when the tide turns, who is there to support them? We assume that because therapists have schooling, training, and experience in helping others, that they always have it together. But therapists
Coping with Anxiety
Anxiety can often feel draining and take the motivation right out of you. The interesting fact about anxiety is all of the different ways it can affect your body. The symptoms associated with anxiety can be felt in your head, stomach, chest, and other areas of the body. Some of these symptoms could include: headaches,
Talking to Your Teens About Sexting
We live in an age where our phones are usually never further away than arm’s reach. As the capacity for cell-phone usage has grown, it has undoubtedly become a centerpiece for the way we interact with one another and the world. The call to begin more conversations around its usage, especially for our up-and-coming teens,
What to Know About Working with a Counseling Intern
The novice, the apprentice, the trainee, the student, the underdog, the intern – these are all names for newbies in various fields of work. It’s normal to worry about whether they have enough knowledge and/or experience to take clients, patients, or customers under their wing. In the world of counseling, though, you can absolutely trust
A New Challenge to Try for Your Mental Health
If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you like the idea of a challenge, which means you’re already off to a great start! Fair warning: this challenge might take some persuasion; however, you’ll be proud you gave it go, and I think the effects and benefits you’ll experience from it will be worthwhile. So what’s the
Seven Ways to Make the Most out of Therapy
You’re here! I’d be willing to bet you’ve either just started therapy, have made the decision to set up your first appointment, or you’re still contemplating it and leaning toward the “let’s do this!” side. Wherever you are, I applaud you and I applaud your interest in figuring out how to squeeze the most juice
