Jeni Woodfin, LMFT

04/14/2022

Many people avoid stress proactively by living in a predictable routine. They wake up, go to work, see some friends, and wind down for the day. Living this way gives us a sense of control over our own lives and minimizes the amount of anxiety we risk.

If anything is going to force millions of people to change their routines, it’s a global pandemic.

COVID-19 took many things from us—the people we love, the jobs we rely on, the activities that energize us, and more. You may feel vulnerable and stressed now more than ever before. You may even hesitate to integrate old habits back into your life out of fear of losing them again.

Fret not—while we can’t stop unexpected events from happening, we can manage the stress they bring to our lives. Here are four ways to manage stress in an ever-uncertain world.

While we can’t stop unexpected events from happening, we can manage the stress they bring to our lives. Here are four ways to manage stress in an ever-uncertain world.

03/31/2022

Most of us were taught to associate love and romance with monogamous relationships only. However, love exists in many forms! The number of people involved doesn’t define whether it is or is not a genuine relationship. As long as there’s consent from everyone involved, you may find that relationships are more meaningful to you when you add more people!

Let’s break down consensual non-monogamy.

Most of us were taught to associate love and romance with monogamous relationships only. However, love exists in many forms! Let’s break down consensual non-monogamy.

03/25/2022

Depression can happen to anyone, but it might not look the same from person to person.

When our head fills with negative thoughts and feelings of hopelessness, it can make us feel deeply alone. Feeling like no one understands us can cause us to self-isolate, worsening our chances of getting better.

Women are more likely to try confiding in a friend or loved one. They’re also more likely to seek out a therapist. It’s socially accepted that they can articulate their feelings.

Men, however, are less likely to accept, discuss, and seek treatment for depression, despite the large number of men it affects every year. If you’re a man, or are concerned that one of your male loved ones is depressed, the first step is acknowledging it.

Here are four different ways depression presents in men.

If you’re a man, or are concerned that one of your male loved ones is depressed, the first step is acknowledging it. Here are different ways depression presents in men.

03/18/2022

Relationships can be fiery and full of passion when you’re still dancing through the honeymoon stage. Eventually, you may discover the unexpected joy of being in a relationship after some time—sweet stability.

While it’s nice knowing that no matter how bad your day was, you get to come home to the arms of someone you love, this knowledge can also make us go into auto-pilot.

You may find yourself taking advantage of your partner’s kind habits, expecting them to be an evergreen part of your routine. When this happens, intention is lost, and we fail to see our partners as the people with whom we fell in love.

Instead, we see them as another cog in the nonstop machine that is our daily lives. Intention matters in our relationships because it gives us a stronger sense of trust, intimacy, and love with our partner.

Intention matters in our relationships because it gives us a stronger sense of trust, intimacy, and love with our partner.

03/09/2022

When we struggle with our mental health, our sense of identity and self-esteem comes into question. Losing control over our own emotions makes us feel weak, as if we did something wrong to lose it in the first place.

The truth about life is that we can’t control everything. However, going through hard times doesn’t immediately change the person we are. We still have control over the way we treat ourselves.

Here are some tips to help you remain calm, even when life feels out of control.

Here are some tips to help you remain calm, even when life feels out of control.

03/01/2022

You’re finally free from the pain of disappearing date nights. Free from the exhaustion of climbing into bed after an argument. Free from the ex who weighed you down more than they lifted you up.

While you can enjoy the weightlessness of no longer loving them, you still have a responsibility to co-parent with them. Co-parenting isn’t a new concept, as the US has a 50% divorce rate. (41% for first-time marriages.)

Do it well by learning five tips from a therapist on successful co-parenting.

Co-parenting isn’t a new concept, as the US has a 50% divorce rate. Do it well by learning five tips from a therapist on successful co-parenting.

02/21/2022

For some couples, therapy is a last-ditch effort before splitting up. However, you don’t have to be considering a break-up to get something beneficial out of couples therapy!

Ditch the astrological compatibility and your petty best friend’s advice. Instead, follow the research! Around 70% of couples achieve positive, lasting change from couples therapy.

Why can’t that be you?

Around 70% of couples achieve positive, lasting change from couples therapy. Why can’t that be you?

02/06/2022

In a COVID-19 world, uncertainty dances around us every day. New variants are forming, new vaccines are coming out, and mask guidelines vary from city to city. It’s all pretty anxiety-inducing, but there are things you can do to cope.

Our brains are wired to see ambiguity as a threat. When we try to focus on something else, our brain redirects us back to resolving those feelings of uncertainty. However, this doesn’t mean that focusing on uncertainty is the best solution to resolving it.

Studies show that job uncertainty can have a more significant effect on your health than actually losing a job will. Similarly, in one study, participants who were told they had a 50% chance of feeling a shock felt more anxiety than those who knew for certain they were getting shocked.

Let this speak volumes to the importance of feeling safe and secure for the sake of your mental health.

New variants are forming, new vaccines are coming out, and mask guidelines vary from city to city. Here are things you can do to cope.

01/18/2022

When two people choose to spend the rest of their lives together, they don’t really plan for if things go wrong.

Love is hopeful, and many of us hope our love will last a lifetime. When it starts breaking down sooner than expected, it can feel like the curtain was lifted too soon, revealing the mess we really are behind it.

If your marriage is struggling and you have children to consider, here are some tips on how to acknowledge the stress without making it their problem.

https://www.jwoodfincounseling.com/blog/what-to-tell-your-children-when-your-marriage-is-struggling/

01/11/2022

Finding out that your partner was unfaithful is one the hardest things we can go through. It makes us feel stupid, broken, and all-around deflated. Many people who are betrayed by their partners feel the symptoms of PTSD. Check out our new blog post on surviving infidelity here:

Thinking about talking to a therapist? Book a free consultation to get started.

12/28/2021

Just over 60% of Americans report feeling stressed around the holidays. That’s a pretty high number for a time of year that’s characterized by joy, giving, and love.

Plenty of people deal with excess anxiety around the holidays, and for good reason. We spend time with family that we have a lot of history with. (Sometimes more history than we’d prefer.) Memories can come flooding back, and for people who struggle with trauma, it can pose a serious threat to their mental well-being.

The holidays also bring a host of logistical planning that can crush any holiday spirit. Don’t let that hold you back from enjoying the holidays the way you want to.

Let’s talk about how to cope with rising anxiety around the holidays, from the planning to the partying stages.

https://www.jwoodfincounseling.com/blog/is-it-normal-to-feel-anxiety-around-the-holidays-how-to-cope

Thinking about talking to a therapist? Book a free consultation to get started.

12/21/2021

‘Tis the season of long text chains, strict schedules, and your dad blaming your mom when things go wrong. We understand the pain and frustration that comes with celebrating the holidays in a broken family.

This year, spend the holidays how you want to. Here is how you can navigate the hard conversations that come with attending multiple holiday events.

https://www.jwoodfincounseling.com/blog/heres-how-to-navigate-those-hard-conversations-about-how-to-spend-the-holidays

Thinking about talking to a therapist? Book a free consultation to get started.