Stress Archives - Real Life Counseling

Depressed? Differences between Clinical and Situational Depression

June 3

Note: Only a professional trained in recognizing and treating mental health diagnoses is qualified to diagnose someone, including yourself, with a mental health disorder. This post is for educational purposes, not for self-diagnosis. If you feel like you may struggle with these issues, seek out a qualified professional for clarity and help.

The word “depression” is used in many ways throughout the world. People use the term “depression” interchangeably with burnout, sadness, grief, or when having a bad day. This creates confusion for many when trying to determine whether they or someone they love is experiencing … Read more

Accessing Your Inner Relaxation Resources

May 3

By Sarah Beardslee, LCPC

In this previous post, I discussed how the imagination can help us feel empowered, calm, and confident or can bring anxiety, depressed mood, and insecurities. When you feel stuck with negative thoughts and images scrolling through your mind like an unending film reel, here are some things that may be helpful.

Developing a Container

A mental container is something you create to hold all the distress, tension, and negative images that overwhelm and feel unhelpful to you. The mental container is not simply another way to dismiss, avoid, or ignore thoughts and emotions. It is … Read more

Mindful Imagining: Leveraging The Power of Your Inner World to Feel Different

March 12

By Sarah Beardslee, LCPC

Imagine – eating a favorite meal, hearing a favorite sound, smelling a favorite scent. You may notice your body connecting with such an image. Perhaps you smile as you imagine a funny story, feel warmth and comfort imagining a loved one, or your heart rate increases and muscles tighten when imagining something scary.

The imagination lets us explore our world in new ways. It allows us to create solutions, connect with things we cannot see. However, the imagination may also make us feel trapped within a world fueled by fears, insecurities, anger, or hopelessness. It can … Read more

6 Free Sessions for those Affected by Racial Tensions

June 15

Real Life Counseling clinicians, in partnership with ROSE, Inc. (Reach Out 2 Someone Else, Inc.), are offering 6 free therapy sessions to those affected by racial tensions in our country. Many are struggling with grief over recent events, or live in fear of future violence and unrest. Others would like to understand their own reactions and/or how they can contribute to peace and reconciliation. We would invite anyone affected to take advantage of this offering regardless of race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.

Healthy Eating During Quarantine

April 23

By Maggie Thompson, LCMFT

During these stressful times, so many of us are struggling with over-eating, and we are not sure what to do about it. Let’s first discuss why, then discuss what we can do about it.

There are 4 eating styles that can be employed on any given day. The first is Fuel Eating. This is eating to give your body all the nutrition and support it needs to run at an optimal level. The second is Fun Eating. This is the eating we do to get pleasure. The third is Fog Eating. This is when a person … Read more

Tips for the Transition Back To School

August 14

We hope you’ve had a great summer. It hasn’t been as hot as past Kansas summers (fingers crossed!), so hopefully you and your kids have been able to enjoy the outdoors and the swimming pool or whatever you like to do! Now it’s time for kids to go back to school. This is one of the biggest transitions in the year for families with kids of all ages, and it is important to keep in mind stress is higher around this time. To help with the back to school stress, our Real Life Counseling clinicians have compiled a list of … Read more

6 Tips for Handling the Holiday Hullabaloo

November 15

We all encounter it – the craziness of the holidays. They’re upon us, and we wanted to share a few tips for looking after yourself and your loved ones these holidays. The world around you will speed up and there’ll be pressures and stresses that come around each year about this time. Maybe do a few of these things this year to stay healthy, and make your holidays better!

Acknowledge how you are feeling – if you recently experienced a loss, trauma, or other difficulty, let those who care about you know how you are feeling. We all need support.

A Single Tree Podcast #2: Small Self, Large Self

October 25

Brandon and Joel recorded Episode 2 of A Single Tree Podcast about the “small self” and how to connect with the “Large Self.” You can find all episodes of A Single Tree Podcast here and subscribe on Soundcloud or iTunes. You can also listen to the latest episode from October 24, 2017 below.

Description: More about the “small self” (or ego) and how we can take a proper stance toward it to shed layers and become our fullest selves, connecting with the “Large Self,” where we find connection and wholeness.

A Single Tree Podcast #1: The Larger Context of Which We Are A Part

October 22

Brandon and Joel recorded their first podcast! It’s called A Single Tree Podcast and you can find all episodes here and subscribe on Soundcloud or iTunes. You can also listen to the first episode from October 17, 2017 about connecting with “the larger consciousness” below.

Description: We all search for context to help us find meaning in our circumstances. The largest context that exists is consciousness itself. We are all a part of it and it is that from which we came. If we go back and connect with this largest context which we can call “being-ness,” then we … Read more

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Adult and Teen Groups Enrolling Now

July 17

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training Group is now open for new members to join both our Adult and Adolescent groups!

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a broad-based cognitive behavioral treatment aimed to enhance your ability to regulate emotions, improve interpersonal relationships and crisis management skills. Emotion dysregulation has been linked to a variety of mental health concerns stemming from patterns of instability in emotional management, lack of impulse control, ineffective interpersonal relationships, and a distorted self-image. Helping clients find true balance in emotion, thoughts, and behavior and/or choices is the fundamental practice of DBT.

DBT Skills Training Group is … Read more

Mindfulness – Finding Peace in the Present

November 15

By Shauna Meier, LSCSW

There is something powerful we all have within us, something we can practice any place and any time. It is known to ease anxiety, lighten depression, interrupt impulsiveness, and bring more happiness and peace into our lives. This powerful practice is called Mindfulness. Simply stated, mindfulness can be defined as “Paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn). Although mindfulness has been around for centuries, it has just recently received the attention and accolades it so rightfully deserves.

Mindfulness, being fully present in the moment, takes perseverance and patience as our minds are … Read more

When It’s Time To Go To Therapy

September 13

When you need a safe place to take a look at yourself and where your life is going.

When you’re ready to ask the “big questions.”

When you need some outside perspective from someone not overly involved.

When your stress/emotional stuff is affecting your physical health or you can feel it in your body.

When stress is affecting your work and relationships.

When you are stuck in the same old tired pattern.

When you are ready to enter a new phase in your life and you need a little help getting there.

When you are ready to have help that … Read more