Summit Family Counseling

07/23/2022

Jesse Koskovick, counselor at Summit Family Counseling, shares a bit about exposure response prevention on his blog Teen Focused Counseling. Exposure response prevention is one of the most effective forms of treatment for OCD. With the guidance of our mental health professionals, we can help get you the exposure you need to reduce anxieties and stop the cycle of OCD.

Consider the benefits for seeking therapy for your OCD today. We have current openings and would love to help you get support using the method of exposure response prevention. Call or text to learn more.

07/21/2022

You can best support your loved ones who have OCD by remaining patient, available, non-judgemental, and informed.

Patience shows your loved one that their undesirable urges, thoughts, and behaviors are not an annoyance to you. Often individuals with OCD struggle with feeling like a burden. Coming alongside your loved one in patience shows that you are willing and able to come alongside them in their journey of life with OCD.

Availability is also important because it shows the individual that they can come to you no matter the time or occasion. The easiest thing that you can do is be an open ear to your loved one with OCD.

Being non-judgemental is also key. This means having an open mind and understanding that what your loved one is experiencing something foreign to you. Therefore extend arms of compassion by providing a judgment free zone.

Lastly, being informed is something that is very important when helping someone with OCD. To help an individual with this condition we must be informed about it. Doing your best to ask questions, remain informed, and stay up to date with how your friend or family member is doing is crucial.

07/20/2022

An important thing to know about OCD is that it can look very different between individuals. Obsessions and compulsions are unique to the individual as well as the situations they encounter on a daily basis.

While it is common that ritualistic and repetitive behaviors may occur, these behaviors often vary between individuals. Common themes surrounding OCD include the fear of germs 🦠 or the need to arrange things a certain way.

If you striggle with these, or any other sort of OCD manifestations we would love to be an aid to you.

Summit can come alongside you and help with…
- repeated unwanted thoughts or behaviors
- undesirable urges
-intrusive images that may cause distress or anxiety
- uncontrollable fears

07/19/2022

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (also known as OCD) deals with two major components; both obsessions and compulsions. These are not to be confused or forgotten. In order to be diagnosed with OCD, an individual must have obsessions, compulsions, or both present.

To outline each of these, we have provided definitions to help differentiate between obsessions and compulsions, mainly since they are key indicators of OCD.

If you are an individual struggling with these symptoms, we would strongly encourage you to seek support. This can look like sharing what you are going through with a family member, close friend, or therapist. In doing this, individuals may come alongside you as you deal with your OCD.

If you do not have someone you can talk to about your current struggles, the counselors at Summit Family Counseling would love to be of aid. Contact us today if this is you.

07/18/2022

OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a common condition. It can be described by excessive thoughts or obsessions that lead to compulsions. Compulsions often present themselves as repetitive patterns or behaviors used to “manage” the obsession presented.

Individuals with OCD often struggle because their compulsions and obsessions tend to influence daily living. Because of this, treatment is often helpful. Our counselors recognize that OCD is often a lifelong struggle, but affirm that seeking help can be beneficial as the individual navigates life with OCD.

Our counselors use EMDR, CBT, DBT, and many other strategies to help individuals understand their OCD.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can partner alongside you in your journey with OCD!

07/18/2022

As of July 16, there is a new and more accessible su***de hotline. 9-8-8 is now available to anyone who is in need of help. With only three digits, you can now get connected to an existing lifeline that will give you the support you need.

If you’re struggling and having suicidal thoughts, Summit Family Summit Family Counseling wants to remind you that life is worth living. With this now accessible hotline, individuals may get in contact with trained counselors to help them overcome their current challenges.

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07/15/2022

This week in the blog, Jesse Koskovick, LAC, talks about emetophobia. Emetophobia is the fear of throwing up. Jesse states in his post that “3.1 to 8.8% of children may experience emetophobia to a certain degree, and most learn how to cope with their anxiety and fears into their adult life.” Because of this, we may recognize that emetophobia is quite common and therefore demands attention.

If this is something you struggle with, we would urge you to read about the 4 tips provided on the blog. You can also call today to schedule a session with Jesse Koskovick, who has previous experience with this condition.

https://luttrelldan.wixsite.com/summitfamilynwacom/post/4-tips-for-dealing-with-emetophobia-the-fear-of-throwing-up.

By: Jesse Koskovick, LAC Do you avoid public places? Or do you avoid eating leftover foods? Do you have certain rituals or routines the help you deal with the nausea, anxiety or general fear of throwing up? If you do, you are not alone. Emetophobia is the fear of throwing up. 3.1 to 8.8% of children...

07/14/2022

Listed below are some of the most common phobias paired with detailed descriptions of each.

1. Agoraphobia- fear of places or situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment.
2. Arachnophobia- intense fear of spiders
3. Claustraphobia- fear of small or confined places
4. Acrophobia- fear of heights
5. Ophidiophobia- extreme and overwhelming fear of snakes
6. Aerophobia- fear of flying

Phobias differ in extremity and longevity compared to fears. They often lead to a fearful response even when danger is not present. Because of this, phobias can be extremely difficult to navigate. When the desire is to run from the thing that stimulates a fearful response, the likelihood of overcoming that fear decreases. Counselors at Summit provide beneficial intervention strategies that will help individuals overcome their fears through exposure therapy, EMDR, or cognitive behavioral therapy. Visit our website to learn more.

Www.summitfamilynwa.com

07/13/2022

Listed below are 3 tips for understanding and overcoming phobias.

In order to gain victory over your current phobia, is is important to recognize and evaluate the reality of your fear. You can do this by asking yourself, “Is this fear rational?” or “Is this fear persistent and impacting my daily living?” If the answer is yes, it is important to take next steps.

You can do this by…
1. Being open to therapy
2. Trying not to avoid feared situations
3. Practicing mindfulness techniques

With these tips, you can better take hold of your fears and find a renewed sense of victory. However, it is difficult to manage this alone. Allow our counselors to help you further understand and overcome your current phobia. At Summit Family Counseling we have current openings for this type of intervention.

07/12/2022

The root cause of phobias is unclear, however what is clear are the steps an individual can take to unravel their fears and seek victory over their current phobia.

Phobias can present themselves as a result of
-Past trauma
-Learned responses from early life
-Long term stress
-Responses to panic and fear
-Genetic factors

No matter what may be influencing your phobia, at Summit we want to remind you that you can take control of your life and reorient your thoughts towards truth. Counselors emphasize that this process will take time, but with the help and support you need, it is indeed possible.

No phobia is too large to overcome!

07/11/2022

This week we will be talking about phobias. Phobias are underlined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or particular situation. This condition typically last 6+ months and can impact an individuals normal living. It is recommended that individuals seek treatment, if phobias persist.

Phobias can manifest themselves in many different ways and are a result of a variety of factors. Because of this, treatment time can look different for every individual. Our counselors are skilled in meeting each clients unique needs, helping them gain victory over their mental battle.

Call or text (479)-903-0070 to learn more about services offered.