A Step Forward Counseling

06/19/2025

ISO a couples therapist who:
- Accepts Cigna
- Has immediate Availability
- Can be virtual or in person
- has experience with addiction
TIA!!

06/17/2025

Thinking of starting a page where we clinicians can diagnosis characters in movies or tv shows for fun (our jobs can get too serious sometimes and I love the entertainment of TV) anyone interested if I start it?

04/25/2023

Here is my new Alma profile is you and/or anyone you know is in need of some help just reach out!

Christina Taylor is an LMFT with proven and effective methods to instill self-understanding and encourage you to adopt new attitudes and feelings toward life situations.

03/11/2022

Good Morning and lets celebrate woohoo it's Friday!!!!!!!

This week a common theme that I continue to come across include fear of rejection. I've listened to stories about how this fear is so strong it prevents people from asking for what they want, trying to mend relationships, or set new goals…and to each of these when I ask "Why?" the response is similar "Hearing that 'No' hurts!". So today I would like to share a story with you about the possibilities that could happen if that fear of "No" is challenged…

The Story:

In the 1940s, there was a man who, at the age of 65, was living off of $99 social security checks in a small house, driving a beat-up car.

He decided it was time to make a change, so he thought about what he had to offer that other people may benefit from. His mind went to his fried chicken recipe, which his friends and family loved. He left his home state of Kentucky and traveled throughout the country, trying to sell his recipe to restaurants. He even offered the recipe for free, asking for only a small chunk of the money that was earned.

However, most of the restaurants declined his offer. In fact, 1,009 restaurants said no. But even after all of the rejections, he persisted. He believed in himself and his chicken recipe.

When he visited restaurant #1,010, he got a YES.

His name? Colonel Hartland Sanders.

The Moral:

There are a few lessons that you can take away from this story. First, it's never too late in life to find success. In a society that often celebrates young, successful people, it's easy to start to think you're never going to be successful after a certain age. However, Colonel Sanders is an example that proves that argument wrong.

This story also demonstrates the power of persistence. You have to have confidence in yourself and believe in your work for other people to believe it also. Disregard anyone who tells you "no" and simply move on.

02/22/2022

Lets talk resonsibility (because lets be honest this is something observably lacking among society!

The Four Smart Students
One night four college students were out partying late night and didn't study for the test which was scheduled for the next day. In the morning, they thought of a plan.

They made themselves look dirty with grease and dirt.

Then they went to the Dean and said they had gone out to a wedding last night and on their way back the tire of their car burst and they had to push the car all the way back. So they were in no condition to take the test.

The Dean thought for a minute and said they can have the re-test after 3 days. They thanked him and said they will be ready by that time.

On the third day, they appeared before the Dean. The Dean said that as this was a Special Condition Test, all four were required to sit in separate classrooms for the test. They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last 3 days.

The Test consisted of only 2 questions with the total of 100 Points:

1) Your Name? __________ (1 Points)

2) Which tire burst? __________ (99 Points)
Options - (a) Front Left (b) Front Right (c) Back Left (d) Back Right

Moral of the story:
Take responsibility or you will learn your lesson.

02/26/2021

Well we did it! We made it through the last Friday in February in 2021!!

As this door closes I'd like to remind us about living in the present moment and found this beautiful quote to assist: "When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has ben opened for us."- Helen Keller

This weekend let's practice shifting our eyes to new doors, new experiences, new opportunities; yes, they can be intimidating and some even fearful but that's the beauty of exploration- learning what exists on the other side!

02/22/2021

Hello Happy Monday! Over the weekend it's come to my attention more so how people consistently feel the need to compare themselves to others and I think this is something we're ALL guilty of at times but I need/have to ask 'Why'? Who does this help? If we're looking to others as inspiration or motivation to make changes in our lives that's one thing, however if we're comparing ourselves to others in envy, anger, or judgement who does this serve? Today, while out and about, when doing a scan around the room before you make ANY sort of assumption or comparison I challenge you to consider the following: 'Stop living life like it's a race you're supposed to win. Life isn't a race. It can't be because a race requires everyone to run the same course. You're on your own path. Where you're headed, what route you take and when you get there is unique to you. No one is winning. No one is ahead. Being "behind" doesn't exist because no one is going in the same direction you're meant to go"- Mel Robbins.

Moving forward lets focus on ourselves! What makes us happy and if that serves/helps/attributes to others happiness too that's great but if not keep in mind you're on your path and he/she is on their own; and that's all good because we ALL have places to go!

02/19/2021

Happy Friday!

As you probably already know I remind myself the day of the week several times a day because in the midst of the pandemic it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and lose all track of the day/time. I mention this to you now because 1. I wonder if you share a similar perspective? And 2. I'm curious how you avoid your days from becoming mundane or uninspiring? I ask because after talking to people all week this seems to be a reoccurring theme/trend and again with restrictions/limitations caused by the pandemic this is an easy negative pattern to fall into. Today I share with you one tool to assist avoiding this from happening and that is to appreciate the little things; the smell of coffee in the morning, the cool air seeping in through the windows, the smile on someone's face! "I believe you should focus your life on observing the little things, because one day you look back and realize they were the big things."- Jay Shetty.

This weekend I challenge you to take a step inwards and rather than focusing on the big picture (which we tend to do regularly) focus on the small things that in the normal day-to-day we simply expect to happen and do not take a pause to appreciate because ultimately these are the things that impact us the most!

Have a good weekend and I'll check in on Monday!

01/29/2021

Good Morning and happy last Friday of the month! (not sure about you but I feel like January flew by!) This weekend I want to spread the perspective and benefit of having/keeping an open mind to things. I hear too often how miscommunication causes misunderstandings; and misunderstandings cause conflict within ourselves and our relationships. In attempt to modify/prevent those miscommunications and misunderstandings I challenge you this weekend to hear from others. Really hear them; what they have to share; how they are; and where they want to go (because you may learn something!). I believe this guy said it best “Smart people learn from everything and everyone, average people from their experiences, stupid people already have all the answers.” – Socrates.

This weekend lets choose to listen more and prove to ourselves how smart we actually are (we may even surprise ourselves) and I’ll check in on Monday to learn from you how it went!

12/14/2020

As the world keeps turning we find ourselves at another Monday! As we’ve talked before let’s defy the dread of it being a Monday and instead let’s celebrate it! Afterall we do have the ability, choice to do so, so why not? This Monday I’m celebrating how delicious my coffee tastes, how grateful I am for the people in my life, and for the ability to keep my sanity (at least most of it!) through this chaos we call 2020! What is at least one thing you can celebrate today?
“At the end of the day, the fact we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate. - Meredith Grey

12/11/2020

Good Afternoon! I’m thrilled to wish you happy FRIDAY as we mark off another week in the 2020 year! As you probably know I like to focus on values and how to align with those as I believe they are the ethical GPS that navigate us through life. That said, it’s rarely mentioned in conversations about values the concept of time and more specifically how to utilize it, perceive it, and accept it. To dig a little deeper here and share some food for thought I’d like you to consider the following: "Know the true value of time; sn**ch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it." -- Lord Chesterfield

Today and this weekend I challenge you audit your time and identify how you’re valuing it!

12/07/2020

Good Afternoon and allow me to wish you a Happy Monday! I hope that you had a great weekend and were able to take in a feelgood moment or two! To continue that momentum into today (a Monday which are typically dreaded by most) I would like you to consider a feelgood moment that focuses specifically on you; whether it be how great you’ve done something, learned something, or a direction you’ve grown in. I’m aware this may be easier said than done however if you look long enough I promise you’ll find something! "We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day." --Brad Meltzer