The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

  By: Megan Brewer, LMHC Some of the bravest people come to counseling. They are brave because of what they have faced and overcome just to make the appointment and walk into the counseling room. I like the word brave because it has little to do with the absence of fear or anxiety. Bravery is courage to face fearful, uncertain, or painful things while still feeling fear and anxiety.    When I ask a new client what it is like to be in counseling, the client often says that they feel anxious. This anxiety usually exists because of two reasons: First, they do not entirely know what to expect, and second, they know that they will be walking into their own story in ways they have become skilled at avoiding. They are afraid of what they may find. I think new clients are brave for stepping into the therapy process in the face of anxiety because these things are completely reasonable things to fear, especially at the beginning of an unknown and potentially life-changing jour...

 By: Dwight Bain, LMHC, NCC All people have problems, yet research shows most people who seek professional counseling are female. Does this mean women have more problems than men? Does it mean women are a “weaker sex”? Or does it simply mean women are more honest about facing and working on problems instead of ignoring them? So why are men terrified to face the problems in their life with a therapist? Perhaps it is the perception of a lack of masculinity to admit to problems and seek help. Ignoring problems does not make them go away, but it can be a distraction. Maybe this explains why some men struggle with addictions to sports, alcohol, pornography, gambling, violence, or drugs more than women do. It takes a secure person to seek out wise counsel when facing a challenge while an insecure person refuses help or tries to figure out complicated situations alone. Research from SAMHSA, (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), reveal: -   ...

  By: Dwight Bain, LMHC, NCC   Here’s How to Help Your Child Cope Strategies for parents, teachers , and c ounselor s to manag e trau matic stress facing s tudents who are returning to school during the pandemic Traumatic situations create traumatic emotions – that’s normal for adults and kids. Any event outside the usual realm of human experience which is distressing can create helplessness, anxiety or panic. Traumatic stressors usually involve a perceived threat to one’s physical safety or someone close to them. This is an intense psychological reaction to feeling threatened, which is completely normal.  Traumatic stress overwhelms coping mechanisms leaving children feeling out of control and helpless. Continual exposure to the trauma creates a survival reaction of being depleted, exhausted, or worse, self-destructive. Children experience traumatic stress differently based on age and maturity level as this guide will outline to help parents and teachers.  ...