Shorehaven Behavioral Health, Inc

11/11/2025

THERAPISTS USE METAPHORS AND STORIES
THERAPISTS USE METAPHORS AND STORIES to get across various points and encourage changes. I made up a metaphoric story in supervision recently and my colleague told me two days later it was so apt he had used it several times. I realized that over 5 decades, nearly 3 of them at Shorehaven building our wonderful team and serving thousands of clients over that time, I have come up with many stories, many metaphors. You probably have as well. I realized our best stories and metaphors are locked away in our own consulting rooms. We can share them! I can gift them to you and you can add yours on the comments. Or at least you can be inspired to write them down. All that wisdom can be shared. I have shared 4 stories and today I will share 2 more. I'll also store them on my Instagram page where they can be found and on Shorehaven's LinkedIn and pages and the Helpful Resources page of our website.

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We make it easy to refer or to become a client, just a call to Ty or Monet at 414-540-2170 or write referrals@shorehavenbhi.com.

Our website is rich with resources, www.shorehavenbhi.com. All of our 2-Minute Tips are on the Helpful Resources page of our website.

11/11/2025

DESCRIPTIVE PRAISE - On learning strength-based reinforcement

A STRENGTH-BASED approach to giving praise by naming the specific behavior, but let's take it another step and name the skill. I think naming the category helps with stabilizing the behavior. So, instead of criticisim, "What's wrong with you for leaving the classroom without permission?" we could use BEHAVIOR-SPECIFIC PRAISE for staying in the seat, "Today was better, you stayed in your seat."

NEW: We could use my broader form of DESCRIPTIVE PRAISE, "You showed self-control by staying in your seat and thinking ahead by realizing you didn't want to be scolded or disappoint me. Plus, you showed sensitivity to your classmates by not creating a disturbance. You are a good cooperator. How about every everyone seated around you giving you a high five and thank you?" "You can say something new about yourself like 'I can figure out what is important to do in class to help others and be a good learner.'"

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We make it easy to refer or to become a client, just a call to Ty or Monet at 414-540-2170 or write referrals@shorehavenbhi.com.

Our website is rich with resources, www.shorehavenbhi.com. All of our 2-Minute Tips are on the Helpful Resources page of our website.

11/08/2025

11/07/2025

FAVORITE THERAPEUTIC STORIES & METAPHORS I

I've cataloged some of my favorite ways of explaining concepts and influencing change as a psychotherapist -- I have been at this over 50 years and accumulated many favorites. I want to share them, 1 or 2 at a time. I plan to post them a couple of times a week. I hope some of you find them helpful. Perhaps you have some you would also like to share. This first post has two metaphors I have used countless times, Kryptonite and The Lightning Tree. Both can be adapted to a number of change situations

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We make it easy to refer or to become a client, just a call to Ty or Monet at 414-540-2170 or write referrals@shorehavenbhi.com. Our website is rich with resources, www.shorehavenbhi.com.

11/07/2025

"YOU NEVER!" "WHY DON'T YOU!?" Criticism is so often our go-to and automatic reaction. "You left the towel on the floor." That can become "I can't believe you did that again. You never pick up after yourself."

We want partners to request what they need. "It's easier for me when everything is picked up. " "It feels good for me to know things are taken care of and not left on me to do. What I would like is...."

Let's delve into the subject of criticism.

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We make it easy to refer or to become a client, just a call to Ty or Monet at 414-540-2170 or write referrals@shorehavenbhi.com. Our website is rich with resources, www.shorehavenbhi.com.

11/07/2025

Sometimes, the fastest way to calm your thoughts is to stop thinking and start moving.

Take a slow walk and focus on each step — your heel touching the ground, your breath, the sounds around you.
This simple grounding technique brings you back to the present moment.

You can’t be in two places at once.
When your body is here — your mind follows.

🌻 Try it today: Walk, breathe, notice, repeat. Peace can be as simple as one mindful step at a time.

🌟 I Can Help YOU! 🌟
Take the first step toward a healthier mind and a happier life today. 💙
Visit ShorehavenBHI.com to schedule your appointment now!
💻 Virtual & In-Person Sessions Available
🏡 Proudly serving Brown Deer, Greenfield, & Racine, WI

11/07/2025

"I dont' care!!!" We here this so often from teens. t's a defensive reaction, demand avoidance, renunciation of adult influence, avoidance behavior, feelings of not being able to meet demands. The avoidance of responsibilities reinforces the defense and leads to more "I don't care."

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We work extensively with youth and families. It's easy to refer or become a client, just call Ty or Monet at 414-540-2170.

11/06/2025

Shorehaven November Updates

Our update is to recognize staff who began as interns and now achieved full licensure or have gotten their training licenses. We have 2 group programs running and we are accepting referrals for DBT and for people with disabilities for virtual group.

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11/06/2025

Increased Capacity at Racine Office

Our Racine-Mt Pleasant team has increased capacity for child, adult, couple, and family clients. Our staff is easy to access for a rapid start to treatment, just a call to Ty or Monet at 414-540-2170 or email referrals@shorehavenbhi.com. If you are in the Racine-Kenosha area and are in a program or agency that could benefit from a referral relationship or knowing more about Shorehaven, one of our staff will gladly come out to meet with you.

Our website is filled with helpful resources for therapists and the public. Check it out at www.shorehavenbhi.com

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11/06/2025

C-PTSD COMPLEX PTSD - When early life is filled with traumas!

C-PTSD presents very differently from PTSD or even chronic PTSD. It is the result of prolonged or repeated trauma events in childhood. In a world of repeated trauma, the child has to adapt to that reality, so it shapes the entire personality around self-protection in a world perceived as persistently dangerous. Leaving the childhood situation, the person carries that internal structure inside, perceiving the adult world as an echo of the childhood world. C-PTSD is often present in Borderline Personality.

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We make it easy to make a referral or an appointment. Just a call to Ty or Monet at 414-540-2170. Or referrals@shorehavenbhi.com

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