Elevated Life Counseling

09/14/2022

Did you know that a constant sense of urgency and rushing can be a response to trauma?

Traumatic events often require us to act quickly without much thought for the long term. These trauma responses can limit our ability to slow down and be mindful of the big picture.

So what can you do? When you notice yourself feeling like you need to figure everything out at once, pause and pay attention to your breathing. Validate the part of you that feels threatened.

09/08/2022

Focusing on having the right morning routine and starting the day off right with mental health and wellness as priorities should be an essential part of our lives. So, today, try to remember: YOU GOT THIS!

09/06/2022

Being cheated on is hardly ever simple. While infidelity might not be the funnest topic to address with your partner, it’s important to be on the same page about what cheating means to each of you. These open and honest topics of conversation can help you voice your concerns in a constructive manner vs a destructive one. Here are a few questions to help lead a productive conversation around cheating with your partner:

• What do you consider cheating?
• How can we continue to build trust and transparency?
• What other things would betray your trust?
• Outside of our relationship, what would you consider flirting?
• Have you ever cheated on your partner?
• Have you ever been cheated on?

09/02/2022

When we feel down, our bodies may be trying to find a source of relief to release bottled up emotions. It's okay to cry! Crying actually has numerous benefits for your overall mental health.

It's a healthy way to express emotion and heal - so don’t hold back those tears 🥹

08/31/2022

Repressed emotions are emotions that we unconsciously avoid. These are different from suppressed emotions - the feelings that we actively and consciously push aside because they overwhelm us. When we repress our emotions, they don’t get a chance to be processed, but, they can still affect our behavior.

Sure, bad days aren’t fun, but they can and will most likely happen from time to time. Here are a few ways to prepare yourself to better cope with negative emotions and thoughts:
✨Focus on the positive
✨Change negative self-talk into positive self-talk
✨Try to be present
✨Surround yourself with positive people
✨Be thankful!

When you are able to find the good in the negative, it can make a huge difference in your well-being!

08/30/2022

There are many traits of a healthy, family dynamic that contribute to a family's well-being. And some of these can take practice if the emotional and relational skills were not taught to you as a child. Every family is different and it's important to understand that you can still be a strong family unit and have problems at the same time!

Here are a few characteristics of healthy families:
🔹Honest communication
🔹Acceptance of each other
🔹Strong coping skills
🔹Spending time with each other
🔹Having love and compassion

08/26/2022

Lying and gaslighting. Both signs of narcissistic abuse. Oftentimes, the narcissistic partner will compose a story about being victimized or mistreated in their last relationship to elicit empathy and caring. When you try to discuss the abuse with your partner, they usually claim to forget their abusive behaviors or will tell you that what you experienced never happened (ie, gaslighting). This can leave you doubting your own perceptions and feelings.

It can take time to realize that something might be “off” in your relationship - and that’s okay. The emotional and psychological effects that stem from narcissistic abuse can lead to the development of PTSD among survivors of this type of trauma.

Some symptoms of PTSD from narcissistic abuse might include:
🔹Inability to feel positive emotions
🔹Reliving the trauma through nightmares, terrors or flashbacks
🔹Feeling the need to avoid anything that reminds you of the trauma
🔹Inability to relax and feel safe
🔹Trouble with sleeping

The ELC team is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy. This is recognized as one of the best approaches for trauma therapy. It uses eye movement to help change distorted beliefs we hold on to as well as allows us to think about painful events with less emotionality.

08/24/2022

There’s nothing wrong with a relationship that might need a little boost - in the bedroom. Many couples that have been together for a long time find it difficult to have a fulfilling s*x life that is just as good as it was at the beginning of the relationship.

Low-s*xual desire in a long-term relationship is a common reason many individuals (and couples) seek out professional help from s*x therapists like myself and the team at ELC. It’s important to understand that just because you might have a low desire, it does not mean that there is anything wrong with you! You can still love your partner and still be part of a fulfilling relationship where you and your partner crave each other s*xually. Our founder and s*x therapist, Erinn Williams LCPC, discussed the topic in her blog: When the Desire Wanes.

As a s*x therapist, I find myself reminding my clients that relationships need attention to often remain fun and fulfilling. Both partners need to be invested in rekindling the relationship. This can be awkward and inconsistent for many couples and that’s why it’s okay to ask for help from a tra...

08/22/2022

It can be hard to feel hopeful when things are frightening or uncertain. But, having hope for the future can help build our resilience to get through the tough times and also recover from setbacks. If you are struggling to find hope, you are not alone! Keep trying and remember that leaving room for the unknown is a good thing.

08/20/2022

Did you know that the smell of rain can have a calming effect? When it’s raining (during safe conditions, of course), head outside and take a deep breath. How did it make you feel? Drizzly days can also bring about other benefits to your health and wellbeing including:

🌧 Helping shift your perspective by being more present
🌧 Breathing in cleaner air
🌧 Teaching us acceptance
🌧 Giving us space

Grab your ☔️ and try taking a stroll the next time it rains!

08/19/2022

Meltdowns. Bursting into 😭, snapping at others or running away from stressful situations. Many of us have them when we become overly-stressed and overstimulated. When we learn to manage the stressors in our lives that can lead us to a meltdown, it can help us press pause in order to take the necessary steps to calm down before we respond to the situation at hand.

Try exploring grounding techniques such as breathing exercises, tapping your fingertips together and sending awareness to your feet the next time you start to feel the signs of being overwhelmed.

08/18/2022

Just because painful s*x is common, doesn’t mean that you have to accept or settle for it. Experiencing pain during s*x is a common problem that can affect anyone - and it’s more prevalent than you might think. Nearly 75% of women will experience pain during s*x at some point in their lives. Our founder and s*x therapist, Erinn Williams LCPC, tackled the topic in her most recent blog: Ignoring Sexual Discomfort: There is Hope.

Just because painful s*x is common, doesn’t mean that you have to accept or settle for it. Experiencing pain during s*x is a common problem that can affect anyone - and it’s more prevalent than you might think. Nearly 75% of women will experience pain during s*x at some point according to the Am...