Launch Point Counseling LLC

03/18/2020

Wellness Wednesday: In light of many folks working from home or remote in some capacity, this a helpful read in exploring how to transition successfully. For those of us who are social creatures and benefit from structure, working from home can be a real challenge.

http://ow.ly/Hqij50yMRFD

I also want to be mindful that there are many folks who do not have the benefit of working from home: healthcare workers, first responders and folks in the service and hospitality industries. What can we do as a collective society to support these folks during a time that will be really difficult financially?

Here are some real tips for supercharging your productivity while working from home.

03/17/2020

Topics Tuesday: I get a lot of questions from clients about whether they should or shouldn't take medication for their mental health issue. For many, it can be a great option in combination with doing therapy. I always encourage clients, friends and family to consult with a psychiatrist first before making a decision.

But with that said, up until recently, it has been very much trial and error which can be really frustrating. Some meds seem to work, some don't. But with more and more research focusing on how specific medications interact with an individual's brain, I believe we are on the cusp of something really significant. This is one such example.

https://www.launchpointcounseling.com

http://ow.ly/P8Vx50yMQ14

Scientists say certain brain wave patterns can predict whether a person is likely to respond to a common antidepressant, or would do better with non-drug therapy.

03/16/2020

Social Distancing. I think my two biggest takeaways thus far are that we have to be proactive in remaining connected with each other (to prevent social isolation) AND this is a unique opportunity to take care of each other and work on ourselves in ways that we typically don't. What is something you have been putting off and now you may have the time to do?

Stay safe and stay connected (from a distance)!

http://ow.ly/TQtD50yMOZq

Another good article too: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-quarantine-socializing/608020/

Being alone doesn’t have to mean feeling alone during the coronavirus pandemic.

03/12/2020

The days come and go and sometimes we practice mindfulness which can bring about inner peace, acceptance and clarity.

Sometimes we exist with a mind that is full which can bring about stress, worry and intrusive thoughts.

Which one are you sitting with today? Take note and consider how you might get to a place that is more mindful. You are worthy!

https://www.launchpointcounseling.com

03/11/2020

Wellness Wednesday: The longer I am live and the more I work with clients seeking relief from the stuff that troubles them, I am convinced that a sense of belonging and feeling connected is vital to our wellbeing. Without that connection, we lose perspective, we feel isolated and we can experience self doubt that can trap us.

One way to cultivate that sense of belong is through friendship.

"Very few people understand that your social relationships can actually change your health. They can change your cardiovascular system, your immune system, how you sleep, your cognitive health."

In her new book, Lydia Denworth makes the case for the vital necessity of friendship, tracing its effects on your genes, on your brain and even on animals like sheep and fish.

03/10/2020

Topics Tuesday: As a mental health provider, I get a lot of questions from clients, family and friends about a range of topics. Sometimes I have the answers and sometimes I definitely do not have the answers.

One topic that has come up in the last week is how does one actually practice mindfulness. It's a bit of a buzzword but there is also some value to engaging in this practice and seeing how it works for you.

Both of these articles are worth a read depending upon how much time/interest you may have...

https://www.mindful.org/how-to-practice-mindfulness (shorter)

https://ct.counseling.org/2016/12/cultivating-practice-mindfulness (longer)

Becoming more aware of where you are and what you’re doing, without becoming overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around you.

03/09/2020

Men's Health Monday: I typically use Monday to plan out the week, get organized and so forth. That also includes reading and information gathering for myself and also for social media.

I haven't found an article regarding men's mental health that is worth sharing today. Maybe that's saying something!

Instead I want to say this, vulnerability is bad ass. In the last week, I've had several male clients who have commented some variation of "I wasn't sure about this but it's cool". It's cool to connect, to open up, to get curious. It doesn't have to be in the therapy office.

Find your spot and open up...

03/05/2020

What gets you out of bed and excited in the morning?

When you first open your eyes, even before your feet hit the floor, what is one thing you are looking forward to?

For some of us, it's really hard to identify that one thing. Make that your mission today. Find the thing or person or experience that CAN get you out of bed and help you get going.

https://www.launchpointcounseling.com

03/02/2020

Your journey is wide open.

Regardless of what might be behind you, you have the freedom to choose in this moment how you move forward.

https://www.launchpointcounseling.com

02/27/2020

Ted Talk Thursday: Unintentionally this week my posts have been focused on self care despite the forces that work against us: our own negative self talk, stigma, conflict, limited resources, culture and individual and shared beliefs.

This is not just an American issue. This is a human, global health issue. What can you do for yourself and for others TODAY?

https://www.launchpointcounseling.com

http://ow.ly/viET50yuhns

When stress got to be too much for TED Fellow Sangu Delle, he had to confront his own deep prejudice: that men shouldn't take care of their mental health. In a personal talk, Delle shares how he learned to handle anxiety in a society that's uncomfortable with emotions. As he says: "Being honest abou...

02/26/2020

Wellness Wednesday: I have been thinking a lot about how we treat ourselves, how we talk to ourselves. Sometimes we can be really kind, sometimes we can be really hateful and awful.

If you had $100, how might you treat yourself? How might you practice self care? Self care can look very different from person to person, but each of us is worthy of doing the thing that grounds us and makes us feel whole again. Give yourself permission to go practice self care TODAY!

https://www.launchpointcounseling.com

http://ow.ly/tTGd50yugxR

One company pays its workers $100 per month for anything that contributes to wellness, and not just for things like gym memberships

02/25/2020

Having lived in Columbus for 13 years, I always keep an eye on what is happening in the 614. I came across this story and found the message to be really impactful.

"Each shirt features a semicolon. It is a symbol of an author who could've ended their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you. The sentence is your life. Your story is not over yet."

Even in our darkest hour, we are worthy of using the semi-colon. We are worthy of continuing to write our story despite the peaks and valleys we all will encounter.

https://www.launchpointcounseling.com

http://ow.ly/GJn950yug3y

Isaac McMillan, 18, died by su***de on September 23, 2019.