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Showing posts from June, 2017

10 Things Parents Need to Teach Their Teen

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By: Christine Hammond LMHC The goal of parenting teenagers is to raise fully functioning adults by 18 years old. The age is predetermined by the legal system that declares a person an adult at that age. Therefore, regardless of the emotional maturity of person, they need to be equipped to accept adult responsibility at 18. The problem is that most parents forget this detail unless a teen is already engaged in defiant behavior. Then parents tend to use the approaching 18 year old as a feared deadline. Other parents want to delay “adulting” by treating their teen as a larger ten year old. But the transition from childhood to adulthood should be an exciting time.  Becoming an adult is a process and should be a time of pride for both the parent and the child. It is a time for the new adult to “leave the nest” and learn to fly, trusting that the things they have been taught will be sufficient to lead a productive successful life. Here are the areas that should be

10 Psychological Benefits to Moving

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By: Christine Hammond LMHC Sorting, packing, transporting, unpacking, and organizing all belongings can be a daunting task. The process takes much longer than anticipated as decisions about the status of each item can be made several times before finalizing. It drains mental, emotional and of course physical energy leaving a person exhausted. Most moves are predicated by some necessity in life such as a change in family size, new vocational opportunity, or an investment possibility. While the task of moving is tedious, there are also some psychological benefits. 1.        Simplifies life. The end goal of a move is to simplify life in some manner. Whether it is to move closer to work, family, school, or neighborhood, the idea is that life will be easier in some fashion. This type of streamlining can reduce tension and stress. 2.       Role shifts. New environments generate an opportunity to adjust and eliminate old and unwanted roles. This is a chance to branch

7 Tips on Overcoming Anxiety

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By: Christine Hammond LMHC The other day I was in the dentist office. Within minutes of being placed in the chair, the hygienist’s gloved fingers were inside my mouth. There was an immediate emotional reaction of anxiety as I tried to divert my thoughts from biting her fingers. (Yes, even therapists have strange phobias.) Fortunately, that same week a client presented with severe anxiety so the steps for overcoming an attack were in my mind. Here is what I did to calm down in the moment: 1.        Be aware. Anxiety can manifest in different ways. There are physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, sweaty palms, tightness in the chest, and a knot in the stomach. And there are mental symptoms such as foggy thinking, confusion, obsessive thinking and racing thoughts. Become aware of the early signs of anxiety before it reaches an attack. 2.       Welcome the feeling. Instead of becoming anxious about being anxious which only increases the te