It may not be the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. In fact, it is quite common for difficult feelings to peak during this season. A study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 38% of people reported feeling an increase in stress associated with financial pressure, family gatherings and increased obligations around the holidays.
Read MoreA lot of people have now had cell phones for decades at this point; for some people that means decades of apps, decades of conversations, decades of emails, decades of photos. You get the idea. It can be overwhelming to have so much in your phone that you carry with you everywhere you go
Read MoreTherapy can be a powerful tool for enhancing relationships, but what happens when you feel like it's not working for you and your partner? It's essential to recognize when therapy needs a twist and explore other avenues for support.
Read MoreSometimes, life takes unexpected turns, and that includes relationships. What happens when couple therapy uncovers the sobering truth that your relationship may not work out? While it can be disheartening, it's essential to approach this revelation with an open mind and embrace the opportunity for growth and new beginnings.
Read MoreDouble binds are intricate and often emotionally charged communication situations that can leave individuals feeling perplexed and anxious. They occur when conflicting messages are conveyed, causing uncertainty in the recipient about which message to believe. What makes double binds particularly challenging is that, regardless of the response chosen, it often seems to be the wrong one. Let's explore this concept further through the lens of Olivia's experience with her mother.
Read MoreAs someone currently surviving on minimal sleep thanks to the demands of motherhood, I've learned that life often unfolds in phases. Relationships, it turns out, are no different. Just like those precious first few months with a newborn, romantic relationships also go through distinct phases, each with its unique set of challenges and joys.
Read MoreWhen we ask someone we love a question we often hope for more than just the answer. We want conversation. It can be difficult, though, to get the ball rolling into a discussion that keeps you both engaged and this can lead to disappointment.
Read MorePsychological immigration evaluation plays a crucial role in determining the mental health status and needs of individuals during immigration processes. However, there are several misconceptions and myths surrounding this topic. In this blog, we will debunk some of the common myths around psychological immigration evaluation and shed light on the truth behind them.
Read MoreIf you have health insurance, there is a good chance that your policy will cover at least part of the cost of therapy sessions. The first step is to check your insurance policy to see if mental health services are covered. If they are, you should find out what your co-pay or deductible is for each session. Once you have this information, you can search for a therapist who is in your insurance network. You can usually find a list of in-network providers on your insurance company’s website or by calling the customer service number on your insurance card. When you make your first appointment with a therapist, be sure to let them know that you have insurance and ask if they accept your plan. At the end of each session, you will need to pay your co-pay or the full cost of the session if you have not yet met your deductible. Your therapist will then bill your insurance company for the remainder of the cost.
Read MoreA part of relationship building (and maintaining) and requires two actions - attention seeking and responding to that need. Often, when we think of attention seeking it is described in a negative light - right alongside calling people “needy”. However, healthy relationships are actually based on seeking attention from other people.
Human beings do this all day long, at different frequencies, with strangers and intimate connections alike. It is how relationships are first built (smiling at someone new in the school cafeteria) and how they are maintained (telling your partner about your day when you get home from work so they know about you).
In Gottman Method couples therapy, we call the process of seeking attention in order to build connection a “bid for connection”.
Read MoreIf you’re looking to start therapy you might have noticed that many of the therapists you want to work with are not in your insurance companies “network”. This can feel limiting if you want to use your insurance benefits to cover therapy costs. In this article, we will talk about what it means to be “out of network” and how to find out if your insurance will still cover the costs of therapy.
Read MoreStruggles and conflicts are inevitable in a relationship. Whether you've been together for a few months or several years, at some point, you'll face a rough patch that can make you question the future of your partnership. Seeking couples therapy is a wise decision to overcome these issues, and A Better Life Therapy is the ideal place to get the help you need.
Read MoreCouples therapy, also known as marriage counseling, is a form of therapy that helps couples who are facing challenges in their relationship to work through those difficulties and improve their relationship. There are many reasons why people may choose to go to couples therapy. Some common reasons include communication issues, infidelity, financial problems, parenting disagreements, and sexual concerns. Couples therapy provides a safe and supportive space for couples to address these issues and work towards solutions. It can help couples to improve their communication, rebuild trust, increase intimacy, and strengthen their overall relationship. By going to couples therapy, couples can learn skills to overcome their challenges and build a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life together.
Read MoreWhen we experience a distressing event that has a negative impact on us, or our sense of wellbeing/safety, that traumatic experience can become ‘stuck’ in a memory network. When it becomes stuck, we can experience that memory in a very real way- it feels as if it is happening to us in the present. It can impact our physical body, our emotions, and our beliefs about ourselves. The experience continues to cause us pain, or make us feel badly about ourselves, or believe that we are not good enough, strong enough, or worthy, when it is triggered.
Read MoreThe time to consider marriage counseling is not when one (or both) people have already thrown in the towel. For instance, in some relationships, when one or both partners have already decided to end the marriage, they may use counseling as a “safe space” to drop the news on their spouse. This is obviously not the best timing to attempt counseling.Sometimes issues are too ingrained and longstanding for counseling to be truly effective. If a couple has been building up resentment toward one another for five or more years before seeking help, it may be too late.
Read MoreA Better Life Therapy now offers in person therapy services in Easton, Pennsylvania to service the Lehigh Valley. We offer individual and couples therapy and can support people in navigating relationship issues, trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and perinatal mental health (postpartum depression/anxiety, etc).
Read MoreDuring pregnancy and after having a baby, there are many reasons that someone might not feel like themselves. It’s common to experience depression, anxiety, and a sense of “not being yourself” during the process of becoming a new parent. Perinatal mental healthcare helps you take care of yourself during this time.
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