LifeStance Insights
Our team of expert clinicians give their perspectives across a range of subjects, touching on current topics, family and loved one issues, mental health struggles and the comprehensive services that can help you live a better life.
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How To Deal With Social Anxiety During the Holidays: Expert Tips
December 6, 2024
By: LifeStance Health
Read Time: 4 Minutes
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, reconnecting with friends, and cherishing moments with family. It’s a season filled with gatherings, celebrations, and opportunities to strengthen relationships. However, for individuals struggling with social anxiety disorder, this time of year can feel anything but joyful. Instead of excitement, the thought of holiday events often brings overwhelming fear, stress, and a deep sense of dread for these individuals. Navigating crowded gatherings, engaging in small talk, or even just being in the spotlight at family functions can be immensely challenging, making the holidays a season of anxiety rather than connection.
Two LifeStance clinicians, Jennifer Farrell, LMFT, and Richard Carey, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, offer helpful tips for managing social anxiety during the holiday season. They provide practical strategies for navigating social situations and point out symptoms to look out for that may indicate the need for professional help when anxiety significantly impacts one’s daily life or overall well-being.
According to Farrell, social anxiety stems from “an overwhelming fear of being judged, rejected, or embarrassing oneself.” This intense fear often leads to avoidant behaviors, such as skipping events altogether or limiting interactions. For some individuals, social anxiety is tied to sp...
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Depression
Grief After Suicide Loss: Recognizing Signs, Coping, and Preventing Future Tragedies
My name is Amber Hulgan, and I’m a licensed therapist practicing in Oklahoma. But before I became a therapist, I was simply a daughter who experienced a devastating loss. In 2002, when I was 28 years old, my mom died by suicide. She was only 46. My life has since been divided into two pieces: the years before her death and everything after.
My mother battled bipolar disorder and depression for much of her life. Her early years were filled with trauma, and that pain lingered, making her illness even harder to bear. She had moments of light—times when her laughter would fill the room and her energy was contagious. But the darkness she carried was deep, and it eventually consumed her.
I want to share my story to help others recognize the warning signs of suicide, navigate the pain of loss, and understand how to intervene effectively.
I wasn’t a therapist back then. I didn’t know what to do. I tried my best to help her by reaching out to others, but she felt unloved and like a burden, even though nothing could have been further from the truth. I miss her in ways I couldn’t even fathom back then, and 22 years later, her loss is still a part of me. Losing someone to suicide is different from losing them to illness, old age, or even an accident. The grief is wrapped in shame and unanswered questions, though there’s no shame in what happened.
I’ve learned a lo...
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Grief After Suicide Loss: Recognizing Signs, Coping, and Preventing Future Tragedies
My name is Amber Hulgan, and I’m a licensed therapist practicing in Oklahoma. But before I became a therapist, I was simply a daughter who experienced a devastating loss. In 2002, when I was 28 years old, my mom died by suicide. She was only 46. My life has since been divided into two pieces: the years before her death and everything after.
My mother battled bipolar disorder and depression for much of her life. Her early years were filled with trauma, and that pain lingered, making her illness even harder to bear. She had moments of light—times when her laughter would fill the room and her energy was contagious. But the darkness she carried was deep, and it eventually consumed her.
I want to share my story to help others recognize the warning signs of suicide, navigate the pain of loss, and understand how to intervene effectively.
I wasn’t a therapist back then. I didn’t know what to do. I tried my best to help her by reaching out to others, but she felt unloved and like a burden, even though nothing could have been further from the truth. I miss her in ways I couldn’t even fathom back then, and 22 years later, her loss is still a part of me. Losing someone to suicide is different from losing them to illness, old age, or even an accident. The grief is wrapped in shame and unanswered questions, though there’s no shame in what happened.
I’ve learned a lo...
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Chronic Stress Treatment: Expert Advice On How To Deal With Stress
Chronic stress is a widespread yet often unnoticed issue in our high-speed, high-demand world, where constant pressures and obligations make it easy to overlook the toll it takes on both mind and body. When left unchecked, chronic stress can build over time, gradually leading to various physical symptoms and even serious health issues.
Understanding how chronic stress presents itself and recognizing the subtle signs can make a crucial difference in managing it effectively. Mental health experts Lesley Caldwell, LPC, and Nicolina Calfa, Ph.D., provide valuable insights into the ways chronic stress can impact well-being, offering practical strategies for managing stress levels and enhancing resilience.
Recognizing Chronic Stress Symptoms
Chronic stress often slips into our lives gradually, much like the “boiling frog syndrome” metaphor, where a frog placed in slowly warming water fails to notice the rising danger until it’s too late. Similarly, chronic stress can quietly intensify, bringing symptoms that at first seem minor—such as occasional fatigue or irritability—but, over time, escalate to serious health issues.
Day b...
By LifeStance Health
Published: November 27, 2024Read Time: 6 Minutes
Chronic Stress Treatment: Expert Advice On How To Deal With Stress
Chronic stress is a widespread yet often unnoticed issue in our high-speed, high-demand world, where constant pressures and obligations make it easy to overlook the toll it takes on both mind and body. When left unchecked, chronic stress can build over time, gradually leading to various physical symptoms and even serious health issues.
Understanding how chronic stress presents itself and recognizing the subtle signs can make a crucial difference in managing it effectively. Mental health experts Lesley Caldwell, LPC, and Nicolina Calfa, Ph.D., provide valuable insights into the ways chronic stress can impact well-being, offering practical strategies for managing stress levels and enhancing resilience.
Recognizing Chronic Stress Symptoms
Chronic stress often slips into our lives gradually, much like the “boiling frog syndrome” metaphor, where a frog placed in slowly warming water fails to notice the rising danger until it’s too late. Similarly, chronic stress can quietly intensify, bringing symptoms that at first seem minor—such as occasional fatigue or irritability—but, over time, escalate to serious health issues.
Day b...
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How to Overcome Trust Issues in a Relationship
Trust issues in a relationship often stem from fears of betrayal, abandonment, or manipulation. Triggered by past experiences like infidelity, neglect, or dishonesty, these issues can deeply impact emotional intimacy and hinder the ability to form or sustain meaningful connections. However, with intentional effort and therapeutic guidance, trust can be rebuilt.
Drawing on their extensive experience working with couples and individuals facing trust challenges, LifeStance clinicians Veranda Hillard, LPC, James Rogers, LPC, and Darlene Chatman, LPC, share their tips and insights on what they have found works best to address trust issues. From understanding the root causes to implementing targeted therapeutic approaches, they provide valuable guidance for overcoming trust barriers and rebuilding connections.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Trust Issues
Trust issues can present themselves in both overt and covert ways. Veranda Hillard, LPC, a practicing therapist residing in Texas, says, “Challenges with trust tend to exist on a continuum, from overt to covert. Overt indicators may be demonstrated when an individual engages in regula...
By LifeStance Health
Published: November 25, 2024Read Time: 5 Minutes
How to Overcome Trust Issues in a Relationship
Trust issues in a relationship often stem from fears of betrayal, abandonment, or manipulation. Triggered by past experiences like infidelity, neglect, or dishonesty, these issues can deeply impact emotional intimacy and hinder the ability to form or sustain meaningful connections. However, with intentional effort and therapeutic guidance, trust can be rebuilt.
Drawing on their extensive experience working with couples and individuals facing trust challenges, LifeStance clinicians Veranda Hillard, LPC, James Rogers, LPC, and Darlene Chatman, LPC, share their tips and insights on what they have found works best to address trust issues. From understanding the root causes to implementing targeted therapeutic approaches, they provide valuable guidance for overcoming trust barriers and rebuilding connections.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Trust Issues
Trust issues can present themselves in both overt and covert ways. Veranda Hillard, LPC, a practicing therapist residing in Texas, says, “Challenges with trust tend to exist on a continuum, from overt to covert. Overt indicators may be demonstrated when an individual engages in regula...
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Types of Therapy
How Gottman Therapy Helps Couples Build Trust and Navigate Conflict
In my years working with couples, I’ve often relied on the Gottman Method for Couples Therapy, a powerful approach that often helps partners navigate the complexities of their relationships. Developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, it’s not just a set of techniques—it’s a research-based method that provides a framework for understanding the dynamics of love and conflict. While each couple’s story is unique, the Gottman Method offers clear, structured steps to address the problems that threaten to tear them apart.
At the core of the Gottman Method is over four decades of research. Thousands of couples have been studied in an effort to pinpoint the exact factors that make relationships succeed or fail. It’s this research foundation that makes the approach so effective. The therapy aims to increase positive interactions, reduce negativity, and help couples strengthen their emotional bonds by addressing areas of conflict in a meaningful, constructive way.
Central to the method are the Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. These guide the therapeutic process:
Enhance Your Love Maps: Couples need to truly know each other—what they like, what stresses them out, their dreams, and their worries. I often start here, asking couples to reconnect by learning more about each other’s inner worlds.
Nurture Fondness and Admiration: Fostering a sense of a...
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How Gottman Therapy Helps Couples Build Trust and Navigate Conflict
In my years working with couples, I’ve often relied on the Gottman Method for Couples Therapy, a powerful approach that often helps partners navigate the complexities of their relationships. Developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, it’s not just a set of techniques—it’s a research-based method that provides a framework for understanding the dynamics of love and conflict. While each couple’s story is unique, the Gottman Method offers clear, structured steps to address the problems that threaten to tear them apart.
At the core of the Gottman Method is over four decades of research. Thousands of couples have been studied in an effort to pinpoint the exact factors that make relationships succeed or fail. It’s this research foundation that makes the approach so effective. The therapy aims to increase positive interactions, reduce negativity, and help couples strengthen their emotional bonds by addressing areas of conflict in a meaningful, constructive way.
Central to the method are the Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. These guide the therapeutic process:
Enhance Your Love Maps: Couples need to truly know each other—what they like, what stresses them out, their dreams, and their worries. I often start here, asking couples to reconnect by learning more about each other’s inner worlds.
Nurture Fondness and Admiration: Fostering a sense of a...
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Types of Therapy
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Can Couples Therapy Help Narcissists in Relationships?
When someone in a relationship begins to believe their partner may exhibit narcissistic traits, they might seek couples therapy as a way to improve communication and restore harmony. However, when one partner truly displays narcissistic tendencies or has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), couples therapy might not be the best path forward.
Can couples therapy with a narcissist succeed in helping the relationship, or could it inadvertently harm the non-narcissistic partner? LifeStance experts Jodie Hommer, MA, LCPC, LMHC, LMFT, and Paul Eastman, PhD, weigh in on the unique dynamics that arise in couples therapy with a narcissistic partner.
Is Couples Therapy Advisable for Narcissistic Relationships?
There is no clear answer to this question, with some expert opinions warning that it could be harmful and others noting that they have seen some success.
Jodie Hommer, a clinician experienced in working with couples where one or both partners show narcissistic traits, has seen therapy bring some benefit to these relationships—but only under specific conditions. For therapy to work, Hommer emphasizes, the narcissistic partner...
By LifeStance Health
Published: November 19, 2024Read Time: 6 Minutes
Can Couples Therapy Help Narcissists in Relationships?
When someone in a relationship begins to believe their partner may exhibit narcissistic traits, they might seek couples therapy as a way to improve communication and restore harmony. However, when one partner truly displays narcissistic tendencies or has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), couples therapy might not be the best path forward.
Can couples therapy with a narcissist succeed in helping the relationship, or could it inadvertently harm the non-narcissistic partner? LifeStance experts Jodie Hommer, MA, LCPC, LMHC, LMFT, and Paul Eastman, PhD, weigh in on the unique dynamics that arise in couples therapy with a narcissistic partner.
Is Couples Therapy Advisable for Narcissistic Relationships?
There is no clear answer to this question, with some expert opinions warning that it could be harmful and others noting that they have seen some success.
Jodie Hommer, a clinician experienced in working with couples where one or both partners show narcissistic traits, has seen therapy bring some benefit to these relationships—but only under specific conditions. For therapy to work, Hommer emphasizes, the narcissistic partner...
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Types of Therapy
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Is Online Couples Therapy as Effective as In-Person?
Virtual couples therapy and online marriage counseling, which became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic alongside the rise of telehealth, are now mainstream options for couples seeking guidance and support. Many wonder if online couples therapy can be as effective as traditional, in-person sessions.
Numerous studies have shown that online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for various mental health concerns, but few studies have focused specifically on couples therapy. The few research that exists shows interesting findings.
One study found virtual couples therapy can improve relationship satisfaction, mental health, and other outcomes just as well as face-to-face sessions. The quality of the therapeutic relationship also improved over time in both formats. This suggests that virtual couples therapy is a valid and effective alternative, particularly for those with limited access to traditional therapy.
We asked two mental health care experts who specialize in couples therapy whether they have seen any significant differences between their online and in-person sessions and if there are circumstances in which online therapy can be more beneficial than in-person therapy.
According to Jennifer Mercer, MA, LPC, MCC, a therapist who treats couples both in-person and online in the state of Michigan, the therapeutic environment in vir...
By LifeStance Health
Published: November 8, 2024Read Time: 5 Minutes
Is Online Couples Therapy as Effective as In-Person?
Virtual couples therapy and online marriage counseling, which became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic alongside the rise of telehealth, are now mainstream options for couples seeking guidance and support. Many wonder if online couples therapy can be as effective as traditional, in-person sessions.
Numerous studies have shown that online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for various mental health concerns, but few studies have focused specifically on couples therapy. The few research that exists shows interesting findings.
One study found virtual couples therapy can improve relationship satisfaction, mental health, and other outcomes just as well as face-to-face sessions. The quality of the therapeutic relationship also improved over time in both formats. This suggests that virtual couples therapy is a valid and effective alternative, particularly for those with limited access to traditional therapy.
We asked two mental health care experts who specialize in couples therapy whether they have seen any significant differences between their online and in-person sessions and if there are circumstances in which online therapy can be more beneficial than in-person therapy.
According to Jennifer Mercer, MA, LPC, MCC, a therapist who treats couples both in-person and online in the state of Michigan, the therapeutic environment in vir...
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The Rise of Self-Diagnosis: Exploring “Hidden ADHD” in Adults and the Role of Professional Evaluation
A recent survey conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine revealed a striking statistic: about 25% of American adults suspect they may have undiagnosed ADHD. Of that group, only 13% have shared their concerns with their doctors. This data sheds light on a growing trend among adults who believe they might be living with ADHD without an official diagnosis, and it raises questions about the influence of online quizzes and social media on self-diagnosis.
The Influence of Online Quizzes and Social Media
Over the past few years, the internet has exploded with quizzes and checklists for various mental health conditions, including ADHD. These screeners are widely accessible, quick to complete, and often shared on social media platforms like TikTok, where influencers and content creators discuss their personal ADHD experiences.
However, these online tools are not diagnostic instruments. They are one-size-fits-all informational devices that lack the scientific rigor required for a thorough and accurate assessment of ADHD. In many cases, they place improper emphasis on symptoms that may not ev...
By LifeStance Health
Published: November 1, 2024Read Time: 7 Minutes
The Rise of Self-Diagnosis: Exploring “Hidden ADHD” in Adults and the Role of Professional Evaluation
A recent survey conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine revealed a striking statistic: about 25% of American adults suspect they may have undiagnosed ADHD. Of that group, only 13% have shared their concerns with their doctors. This data sheds light on a growing trend among adults who believe they might be living with ADHD without an official diagnosis, and it raises questions about the influence of online quizzes and social media on self-diagnosis.
The Influence of Online Quizzes and Social Media
Over the past few years, the internet has exploded with quizzes and checklists for various mental health conditions, including ADHD. These screeners are widely accessible, quick to complete, and often shared on social media platforms like TikTok, where influencers and content creators discuss their personal ADHD experiences.
However, these online tools are not diagnostic instruments. They are one-size-fits-all informational devices that lack the scientific rigor required for a thorough and accurate assessment of ADHD. In many cases, they place improper emphasis on symptoms that may not ev...
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