Hugs Interrupted || By Annabelle Denmark, MA, LPCC

For most people, a hug can feel soothing, caring, and wonderful. Hugs help regulate the nervous system and help people feel connected. For some, however, hugs can feel overwhelming and claustrophobic. Non-huggers are individuals who usually don’t hug to greet others, or to show affection. There is a continuum of non-huggers, from those who feel…

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Writing Your Trauma: Why, How, & When || By Rev. Mary Coday Edwards, MA

Why Write About Your Pain? Your stories have healing potential—for yourself and others. However, don’t make yourself miserable telling them and then block or stop the project. How To Write Telling your trauma can be triggering. You’re opening yourself up to being seen—by the public or a critical eye. Some trauma survivors unconsciously associate “being…

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Are you ready for ENM? Food for Thought on Opening up Your Relationship || By Tristan (TJ) Dubovich, Affordable Counseling Intern for People House

ENM or ethical non-monogamy, otherwise known as polyamory, has increased in visibility as a relationship style for individuals in recent years. A February 2023 YouGov poll finds that one-third of Americans (34%) describe their ideal relationship as something other than complete monogamy (Sanders, 2023). With this increase in visibility and practice of polyamory, there are…

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The ADHD Cycle || By Annabelle Denmark, MA, LPCC

The cycle of overcommitting and burnout is a common pattern that can affect individuals with or without ADHD, and it may feel a little more intense with ADHD because of increased reactivity, hyper-focusing and the dopamine chase that are typical in individuals with ADHD. The cycle is divided in phases each lasting from a few…

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Connection Beyond Borders: A Samoan story of family bonds after death || By Lisa Martinez, Affordable Counseling Intern for People House, ERYT 200-RYT 500

For the Marriage, Couple and Family Issues in Counseling class in my graduate program, we needed to complete a genogram, a visual family-tree of sorts that details not only family relationships but also the quality of family relationships. While outlining the family issues in my mother’s father’s family of origin, I noticed patterns of distance,…

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