I.C. Lightstone Counseling & Coaching: Charlotte H Gilmore, LPC, LAC, SAP

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I.C. Lightstone Counseling & Coaching: Charlotte H Gilmore, LPC, LAC, SAP

Hi! Don't feel your best self? Contact me and find out more about counseling and coaching.

I would recommend that you verify with your insurance provider validating that I am in-network with your plan.

02/23/2026

How open is your sensor?
In photography, exposure is simply the amount of light that reaches the camera's sensor. The more light, the more detail is revealed. But as any photographer knows, it’s a delicate balance:

Too much light and the image is overexposed—it becomes distorted and washed out.

Too little light and the darkness encompasses everything. The picture loses its soul.

I’ve realized that living is a lot like photography. To have a "good image" of the world, you need exposure to ideas, thoughts, and people. This exposure is the light that reaches the sensor of your heart.

Empathy is the result of good exposure. When we let that light in, we see the details in others. We see their humanity. We relate.

Bias is the result of underexposure. When we close our sensor to "the other," we produce a dark, cold, and bitter picture of life. We stop seeing people as they are and start seeing them through the shadows of our own prejudices.

Photography is an art that requires a "good eye," and living is no different.

So, I have to ask: How is the "exposure" on your life right now? * Are you open to the light of new ideas?

Or is your picture becoming dark and bitter because the sensor is closed?

MentalHealth #

02/16/2026

I’ve been quiet for a while. Not for a lack of things to say, but because there has been "so much" lately—so much noise and so much happening—that it was hard to pick a single thread to pull.

But in that silence, I realized something: When we stop being "questionable," we stop being connected.

Whether it’s a stolen cookie or a major life mistake, the structure of how we handle being questioned doesn't change:

The Defensive Path (Escalation)

The Question: "Did you eat the last cookie?"

The Reflex: "What cookie? Why are you blaming me? Maybe you should plan better!"

The Result: Deflection and aggression. The questioner feels unheard; the listener becomes a fortress.

The Open Path (Resolution)

The Question: "Did you eat the last cookie?"

The Ownership: "Yes. I didn't realize it was yours. I’ll get more."

The Result: Immediate de-escalation. Ownership restores the connection.

The Lesson:
If we can’t be questioned, it usually indicates one of two things: we aren't confident in what we believe, or we aren't open to the possibility that we might be wrong. Both choices build a wall that eventually traps us inside.

I’m moving past the "noise" and choosing to be "questionable" again. I’m putting something positive back into the world—not because I have all the answers, but because I’m finally open to the questions.

What’s one small thing you’ve "owned" lately that made a big difference?

MentalHealth #

01/12/2026

A poem to support overall health and encourage people to take care of physical and mental health.

01/12/2026

Make mental health a priority this year! Your mind and your soul are a critical part to your overall health. As you take to the gym, change your diet; don't forget to focus on improving your thoughts!

12/08/2025

Truth as the Treatment

Anxiety and depression are often rooted in the quiet, insidious lies we accept as fact. Your perspective says you're broken, but that perspective is based on feelings, not a stable Truth.

Truth is not emotional. It’s the consistent, external reference point that gives you a fixed point to start healing from. Stop navigating by your feelings and start anchoring to reality.

The STABLE TRUTH: "You are fearfully and wonderfully made." "Your value is inherent, not earned." "Letting go of control is the beginning of peace."

For the full article see my website and more, https://iclightstone.com/weekly-dose-of-clarity

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12/01/2025

How do you know if you are sick?
It sounds like a simple question. We know the symptoms of a cold immediately. But do we recognize when our minds are unwell?
The symptoms of secrets and lies are just as physical: unexplained fatigue, a lack of concentration, anxiousness, and constantly being "on edge." That feeling? That is your conscience attempting to fight back.
But be warned: If you let the infection go unchecked, a weak spiritual immune system can lead to the death of your peace and your relationships.
The Immune Boost: The only immune booster for secrets and lies is Transparency and Truth. Just like a shot from the doctor, the decision to be truthful brings immediate relief. But the medicine only works if you take the most important step first:
You have to recognize that you no longer want to be sick.

Like this tip, check out more at my website at www.iclightstone.com.

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11/24/2025

We need to stop treating mental health struggles as a "Get Out of Jail Free" card for poor behavior.
Here is the reality:
• Your diagnosis explains why you might struggle with emotional regulation.
• Your responsibility is to do the work to manage it.
It’s like having a stomach flu. You don’t walk around getting sick on people’s shoes and say, "Well, I have a virus, deal with it." You get help. You take medicine. You protect the people around you.
Trauma is valid. Fear is real. But projecting that onto others without trying to heal? That’s a choice.
Take ownership of your healing. Go to therapy. Do the work. Don’t let your history become everyone else’s problem.

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11/17/2025

My mom asked me, "Why counseling?" several times after I quit my day job. But I’m asking you the real question: Why NOT counseling?

You know you aren’t feeling like yourself. You know those negative thought habits are there, and you wish you could figure out how to stop them.

You know you want help—help you can trust that won't worry someone, offend anyone, or put your business on blast. That help exists.

Think about this: If the pain caused by your thoughts created half as much pain in your chest, you would have seen a doctor immediately. Your mind deserves that same urgency.

A Word for My Community:
For my Christians: Christ healed in many ways—a word spoken, laying on hands, and using people. Professional health providers are a resource gifted to us. 🙏

For everyone feeling the mental mess: Get rest and relief from an unbiased health provider whose only focus is YOU.

Your mind is a battlefield. If the coping weapons you've developed are dull, or if you need new ones, get the help you need. Whether it’s a quick bootcamp or a long-term program, the time for relief is NOW.

Don't wait for the pain to become physical.

11/14/2025

Is the idea of "I should be" making you mentally sicker than your actual life? 🤯

We spend so much time battling reality in our minds because we are obsessed with an imaginary standard.

It goes like this: ❌ The Lie: I should have more money, a perfect job, and be... more. ➡️ The Internal Tantrum: "I am not!" 🔥 The Result: Shame, isolation, anxiety, and depression.

When we focus on what we don't have, we deny ourselves credit for what we are and what we possess. That pressure is the true destroyer.

The shift? Embracing reality is not settling, it's sanity. It gives you purpose and a place to start planning, rather than hiding in shame.

Stop focusing on where the Joneses or Kardashians are. Focus on where it is best for you to be. That’s where hope, possibility, and control live.

➡️ Read the full blog: https://iclightstone.com/weekly-dose-of-clarity

11/10/2025

Let's challenge a common myth: Medicine for mental health is not designed to remove or numb your "bad" feelings.
In fact, our feelings—even those we label "negative" like anger, sadness, grief, or anxiety—are essential guides and powerful indicators. They're meant to help us pause, process, and respond thoughtfully.
• Anger can fuel you to address injustice.
• Grief is profound evidence of love and care.
• These emotions signal whether we feel safe, valued, or if life has simply changed.
Medicine's true goal isn't to solve your problems or make you numb. It's a tool to give you the clarity and capacity to engage with your emotions effectively. It helps turn down the overwhelming volume so you can look at the emotion, determine a thoughtful course of action, and act in a way that truly represents your best self and values.
Embrace your full spectrum of emotions, and understand medicine as a tool for management, not eradication.

Read the full blog post for deeper insights:
https://iclightstone.com/weekly-dose-of-clarity

11/05/2025

It's not the whole solution, but it is the foundation for wellness. Simple, but not simply done.

For more, see https://iclightstone.com/weekly-dose-of-clarity

11/02/2025

The Truth About Medicine: When Diet & Exercise Aren't Enough

I was in shape and eating well, but at 19, I got a high cholesterol diagnosis. I tried harder—exercise, no eggs, oatmeal daily. After months? A disappointing 1-point change. For 20 years, I tried to fix a genetic problem with a lifestyle solution. I was managing it, but never getting truly healthy.
Your wellness journey is similar, whether it is physical (like cholesterol) or mental (like anxiety or depression). You can't always out-run your DNA or complex life experiences. It took seeing a specialist to finally get the right medication and a normal result.
Sometimes your Primary Care Physician or Counselor is your first step, but the Lipidologist or Psychiatrist is the one who diagnoses and treats the root cause.
The takeaway: Don't let frustration stop you. You never know how good you can feel until you get the right, specialized help that's tailored to your unique condition.

Read my full story: https://iclightstone.com/weekly-dose-of-clarity/f/the-truth-about-medicine-how-diet-and-exercise-dont-always-work

Address

11949 Bricksome Avenue Suite C
Baton Rouge, LA
70816

Telephone

+12252065742

Website

https://iclightstone.com/

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I.C. Lightstone Counseling & Coaching: Charlotte H Gilmore, LPC, LAC, SAP

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