Amy Otterson, Therapist

04/15/2024

Always proud to sponsor great events! A beautiful day of ⛳️ and fundraising for Avery Angels . Happy Heavenly Birthday Avery💚

10/30/2023

Just sharing for anyone interested in helping us to give thanks to our first responders!

*spotfund is the easiest place to create beautiful and free online fundraisers. It takes just minutes to start raising money today.

07/23/2023

Oftentimes people will say "that's just how I am", when really it's just what they have been conditioned to be through circumstances and their inability to see another way. Therapy provides the insight about what's not working (or producing desired outcomes) and can help someone to move from awareness to change.

So ask yourself, "is the way I am getting me the life I want?" (goals, relationships, etc) and then challenge yourself to see if "your way" is actually serving you in best way. If not, then seek assistance to make change!

05/10/2023

This one!! We are not responsible for changing someone's mood, they are. If we have done something to upset someone, apologize, make any reasonable reparation and then give them space to regulate their emotions.

05/04/2023

Just a note...its
Let's try to normalize that EVERYONE experiences challenging times, sadness, fear, struggle. It is 💯 ok to express these feelings in a healthy way (talking about them, crying, being scared). Our society has built a trap that in order to be "strong", men are not allowed to show feelings, especially tears. This often leaves them alone in their experience which can lead to feelings of isolation and depression. Mental health is about being aware of our challenges, seeking ways to improve our management of our feelings, and asking for help when we can't do it on our own.

02/15/2023

Getting to the place where working in your relationship, focusing on growth is where success lies. Far too much time is spent presenting your relationship to others, comparing yours to theirs, etc. Identify the things that you want for your relationship, discuss them with your partner, then make an action plan to give measurable outcomes to focus on. Evaluate your progress along the way, affirm positive growth and challenge lack of movement toward goals in a healthy solution focused way!

01/17/2023

A free course for well-being for the teens.

Learn The Science of Well-Being from Yale University. In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos ...

12/15/2022

Ok information is power so I am sharing this! I know someone directly affected by this scam. A good kid who got stuck in an embarrassing situation and fell prey to a predator. So please share with your kiddos, parent friends, whomever! Talk to your kids about online predators. Help them to understand that they should NEVER SEND NUDES ONLINE! Most especially if they do not know the person in real life. And if someone tells them they have to pay any amount of money or gift cards to get them out of something that is extortion.

The FBI Charlotte Field Office is warning parents, caregivers, and teens about an increase in sextortion crimes across the country.

11/21/2022

It is so important to take each of life's lessons and keep track of what you do and don't want in your life. Make a list of the positive traits/behaviors you want for the people in your life. This goes for friends, family, coworkers and intimate partners. Look for these traits in the humans you interact with and when you find them stay close to them. Then make a list of the deal breakers....these are your NO GO items. When you encounter them the first time raise awareness that this behavior/trait wil not be tolerated. The second time, WALK AWAY! Deal breakers are exactly that. Keep these written down as a reminder to yourself. These items became deal breakers because they caused you pain at some point and will again if you allow them to remain in your life.

11/12/2022

Some very helpful info on Love Bombing! Open the link for the full info.

11/11/2022

All too often people become stuck in the notion that certain things are unchangeable. Bottom line we can change most of our behaviors and attitudes if WE want to do it for OURSELVES.
So if something you're thinking or doing isn't working for you, start with a plan to change and work that plan. Have grace with yourself when its hard and keep f**n going. Be willing to be open to change and do the work!

08/31/2022

Ohhhhh yes!!!! They are singing my song! Every life event, positive or negative, gives us an opportunity to learn and grow. The more challenging ones also help us to build strength in resiliency, self advocacy, empowerment, etc. Just past the lesson is the time to let go of the negative feelings(shame, guilt, anger, sadness and so on) from the event. Its too heavy to carry the lesson and the feelings so take the lesson,make amends when necessary, make changes to improve your life, DUMP THE FEELINGS, then keep it moving forward ❤️ you cannot be present in the now if you are dwelling in what's passed.