Thrive Forward Therapy

11/06/2025

It’s easy to mistake being alone for being lonely, but emotionally, they couldn’t be more different.

Loneliness is the ache of disconnection; the feeling that we’re unseen, unheard, or emotionally distant from others. It can happen even when we’re surrounded by people.

Solitude, however, is intentional. It’s a state of being with yourself, reflecting, resting, and reconnecting without feeling isolated. Solitude helps you process your thoughts, regulate emotions, and build a stronger sense of self.

Both experiences tell us something important about what we need. If loneliness feels heavy, it may be a sign to reach out and reconnect. If solitude feels nourishing, it’s likely helping you restore your emotional balance.

11/05/2025

“The most meaningful inheritance we can pass on isn’t found in bank accounts or jewelry boxes — it’s the values, traditions, and stories that shape who we are as a family.” - Jennifer Wilmoth, LMFT

When we think about building a legacy, we often think of what we leave behind. But what truly lasts are the connections we build, the lessons we live, and the love we model every day.

In her latest blog, Build a Strong Family Legacy, Jennifer shares how storytelling, simple traditions, and preserving family memories can strengthen connection and identity across generations.

🩵 Read the full post to learn how to start building your family legacy - one meaningful moment at a time. You can view it here or in the latest issue of the Suwanee Magazine.

When we think about leaving a legacy, it’s easy to picture heirlooms, property, or financial wealth. But the most meaningful inheritance we can pass on isn’t found in bank accounts or jewelry boxes; it’s the values, traditions, and stories that shape who we are as a family. From the way we cel...

11/04/2025

Family connection is one of the most powerful influences on our emotional wellbeing. It shapes how we relate, how we trust, and how we show up for others, often in ways we don’t even realize.

But when there’s distance, pain, or unresolved tension within the family, it can affect every other area of life. Sometimes, the healthiest thing we can do is slow down, reflect, and talk it out with a professional.

Therapy isn’t just for moments of crisis, it’s a place to understand patterns, heal from emotional trauma, and learn new ways to connect that nurture everyone involved.
Whether you’re working through old wounds or hoping to build a stronger foundation for your own family, healing connection is always possible.

11/03/2025

“You can be completely silent, but if your energy feels distracted, guarded, or impatient—she can feel it.”

In his latest blog post, Austin Shugart, Ph.D., LPC explores what it really means to listen in relationships.
It’s not about fixing, agreeing, or waiting for your turn to talk, it’s about emotional presence.

When your partner opens up, they’re not scanning for solutions. They’re scanning for safety, wondering, “Do you get what this means to me?”

Learn how to shift from simply hearing to truly understanding your partner, on our new blog - up now!

You’re nodding. You’re quiet. You’re doing what you think a good listener should do. And yet, your wife still says, “You’re not understanding me.”It’s confusing, right? You are not interrupting, you are not dismissing them, and you might even be agreeing with what she is saying. So why...

10/31/2025

The Mindset of Overthinking: Understanding & Easing the Mental Loop

Overthinking can feel like a never-ending loop - replaying conversations, imagining worst-case scenarios, or second-guessing decisions. While it may seem like problem-solving, overthinking is often the mind’s way of trying to feel in control when things feel uncertain.

From a psychological standpoint, overthinking is often rooted in anxiety, perfectionism, or fear of the unknown. When we believe we can “think our way” to safety or certainty, our brains stay in overdrive, but instead of relief, we end up mentally exhausted and emotionally drained.

Here are a few ways to quiet the noise:
- Notice your triggers. Pay attention to when and where your mind tends to spiral. Awareness is the first step in breaking the pattern.
- Challenge the “what ifs.” When your thoughts drift to worst-case scenarios, ask, “What else might be true?” or “Is there evidence for this fear?”
- Set time boundaries for thinking. Give yourself space to reflect, but set a timer. Afterward, shift to action or relaxation.
- Ground yourself in the present. Overthinking lives in the past and future. Use your senses - what do you see, hear, or feel right now?
- Prioritize rest and recovery. A tired brain tends to worry more. Sleep, movement, and time away from screens help reset your perspective.

Overthinking is your brain’s way of trying to protect you. With practice, you can retrain your mind to pause and respond rather than react.

10/29/2025

Dissociation is often misunderstood, but at its core, it’s the mind’s way of protecting us from overwhelming stress, fear, or trauma. It’s a defense mechanism that creates distance between a person and their thoughts, feelings, or surroundings when things feel “too much.”

For some, it can look like zoning out, feeling detached from reality, or feeling as if they’re observing life rather than living it. For others, it’s more subtle, losing track of time, forgetting details, or emotionally “shutting down” during stress.

Dissociation is a deeply human response to emotional overload. But when it happens often, or begins to interfere with daily life, it’s important to seek support from a licensed therapist who understands trauma and stress responses.

Here are a few ways to support yourself or a loved one who experiences dissociation:
🌿 Stay calm and patient. Don’t pressure them to “snap out of it.” Safety and grounding come from gentleness, not urgency.
🪞 Use grounding techniques. Encourage sensory grounding - naming things they can see, touch, hear, or feel can help reconnect them to the present.
🤝 Create a sense of safety. Quiet environments, consistent routines, and gentle reassurance can help reduce disconnection.
💬 Encourage professional support. Therapists trained in trauma can help uncover underlying causes and teach coping strategies.

If you or someone you love experiences dissociation, know a therapist can help to bring support and change.

10/28/2025

What we say to ourselves shapes how we see the world, and how we show up in it.
Our inner dialogue can either build us up or quietly chip away at our confidence and motivation. Shifting to a mindset of positive self-talk isn’t about ignoring challenges; it’s about responding to them with compassion, perspective, and belief in growth.

From a therapist’s perspective, here’s what happens when we practice intentional self-talk:
💡 Reduced stress & anxiety - Positive inner dialogue helps calm your body’s stress response, allowing clearer thinking in tough moments.
💪 Improved resilience - When setbacks happen, self-encouragement builds confidence and keeps you moving forward.
💞 Healthier self-esteem - Speaking kindly to yourself nurtures self-worth and helps replace harsh criticism with understanding.
🌱 Greater emotional awareness - Listening to your thoughts helps identify unhelpful patterns - the first step toward changing them.

Try this shift:
Instead of saying, “I can’t handle this,” reframe it to, “This is hard, but I can take it one step at a time.”
✨ When you learn to speak to yourself with the same care you offer others, you begin to heal, grow, and see yourself through a lens of compassion - and that’s where real change begins.

10/27/2025

Sleep and anxiety share a powerful connection, one that can easily become a difficult cycle to break. When we don’t get enough rest, our brain struggles to regulate emotions, process stress, and respond calmly to challenges. On the other hand, heightened anxiety can make it harder to fall or stay asleep, creating a loop that leaves us feeling drained and overwhelmed.

From a therapist’s perspective, improving sleep isn’t just about rest - it’s about emotional recovery. Here are a few evidence-based ways to support both your sleep and mental health:

🌙 Create a wind-down routine – Dim the lights, put away screens, and do something calming like reading, journaling, or light stretching before bed.
🕰️ Keep a consistent schedule – Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day helps train your body’s internal clock.
🧘‍♀️ Practice relaxation techniques – Breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness can quiet the mind before bed.
🚫 Limit stimulants & screens – Caffeine and blue light both delay the brain’s release of melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep.
💬 Address racing thoughts – If anxiety peaks at night, try writing your worries down before bed to get them out of your head and onto paper.

Small, intentional changes can have a big impact on how rested and resilient you feel. If you need more tips and support in finding a place of true rest, our therapists are here to help you restore balance.

10/24/2025

📌 Nearly 3-in-4 parents are extremely or somewhat worried that their child will struggle with anxiety or depression. (Minkin & Menasce Horowitz, 2023)

The pressures facing today’s youth are unlike any generation before, and screens often play a significant role in that story.

Join us for a virtual screening and community discussion of the award-winning documentary, Screenagers: The Next Chapter.

This powerful film dives beyond “screen time” to explore the emotional, social, and developmental effects of the digital world on today’s youth, and how families can find balance and connection in an always-online world.

💬 After the film, stay for an optional guided discussion to unpack key insights, share experiences, and walk away with actionable tools to help kids (and ourselves) navigate technology more intentionally.

📅 Sunday, November 2 @ 2PM-4PM ET
Reserve your spot and be part of this important conversation. ⬇️
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-film-screening-screenagers-next-chapter-tickets-1657311877439?aff=erelexpmlt

10/21/2025

Leaders and business owners this is for you! We are partnering with Gwinnett Leadership Forum to host a leadership roundtable series.

🗓 Starts October 22nd (meets Wednesdays- 5 weeks)
🕙 9:00AM- 10:00AM
📍 Thrive Forward Therapy- 4485 Tench Road Suite 830 Suwanee GA 30024

We’re diving into The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle for our Leadership Roundtable series. These in-person roundtable discussions are a great opportunity to connect, grow, and discuss practical leadership takeaways from the book with other leaders. Space is limited and the conversation is rich!

10/17/2025

| Protect Youth in the Digital Age: Virtual Expert Panel - Free Virtual Event |

Hear Top Strategies to Protect Your Family Online from Special Agent Dennis Fetting, Melanie Hempe, RN, BSN and Jennifer Wilmoth, LMFT, CEO this Tuesday!

🖥️ Virtual Event: October 21st 12-1:30 PM ET

Reserve your spot today! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/protect-youth-in-the-digital-age-virtual-expert-panel-tickets-1708891724149?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawNfeBRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnRUNLbFRzRTU0V2hmUnN3AR67f6oy5NWTLq7-qH3C95QDpP4JzQrP9HBl6TSAFBRBa3mmV-RYVkuM_1CSHw_aem_BaPWUkeX_h7HruRQwrKCEQ

How do we keep our kids safe online? This is one of the most important questions parents are asking themselves today. Nearly 70% of parents say parenting is now more difficult than it was 20 years ago, with children’s use of technology and social media as the top two reasons (Source: HHS.gov).
In today’s digital world, raising and guiding youth comes with new challenges- constant access to screens, exposure to online pressures, and navigating safety in an ever-changing landscape.
Join us for a virtual expert panel discussion: “Protecting Youth in the Digital Age,” where experts in digital safety, medical, and families come together to provide tools and insight for parents and educators.

🎙️ Expert Panel Includes:
- Homeland Security Special Agent Dennis Fetting
- Melanie Hempe, RN, BSN, founder of ScreenStrong
- Jennifer Wilmoth, LMFT, founder of Thrive Forward Therapy

This free event offers expert tips and actionable strategies to help you protect and equip the young people in your life.

10/16/2025

The Comparison Trap, we all fall into it sometimes.
Scrolling through highlight reels, seeing others’ success, relationships, or appearance can quietly trigger thoughts like “I’m behind,” “I’m not good enough,” or “Why can’t I have that?”

Comparison often starts as harmless curiosity, but over time it steals our peace, distorts reality, and disconnects us from our own growth.

Here’s what it can look like:
🔹 Constantly measuring your worth against others
🔹 Feeling deflated after social media scrolling
🔹 Downplaying your own wins because someone “has it better”
🔹 Chasing perfection instead of progress

Why it’s dangerous:
Comparison shifts our focus from what’s real to what’s perceived. It feeds insecurity, fuels anxiety, and makes it nearly impossible to feel content.

How to avoid the trap:
🌿 Practice gratitude daily - it grounds you in your own life.
🧠 Reframe: “Good for them” instead of “Why not me?”
💬 Limit social media time if it leaves you feeling low.
❤️ Celebrate your own pace, growth isn’t a race.

When you stop comparing, you make space for confidence, peace, and genuine joy in your own story.