Laura Farrell West Counseling

01/02/2025

Love this. Thank you Billie Eilish💕

These words from Billie Eilish remind us that asking for help is not weakness, it's actually one of the bravest things you can do. If you or someone you know is struggling, it's okay to ask for help!⁠
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- Call: 866.662.1235⁠
- Text: 'ALLIANCE' to 741-741⁠
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05/31/2023

Love this!

The ABC's of self-talk 💡

Sketchnote via

05/11/2023

Mental illness is an illness - just like any physical illness. Break the silence!

05/10/2023

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com Did you know that according the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) anxiety affects over 31% of American adults at some point during their lives. Unfortunately, I fall into that category. I have suffered with anxiety for a long time. Over the years, I have worked through it and find that it waxes and wanes....

https://emotionallybalanced.com/2023/05/10/how-to-tame-those-anxious-thoughts/

  Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com Did you know that according the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) anxiety affects over 31% of American adults at some point during their l…

05/09/2023

Frequently I would get questions about the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Sometimes people would get them confused. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. An individual who attended four years of medical school, and then followed up with a residency in psychiatry.  A psychiatrist is the only mental health provider that can write prescriptions. A psychologist cannot write prescriptions.

05/07/2023

Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. It frees you from the burden of carrying around years of hurt and anger. Below is an excellent article on how to let go and forgive.

Replacing ill will with good will has marked mental health benefits.

03/30/2023

Yes - a video game has been approved by the FDA for treatment for ADHD. The kiddos will be jumping for joy.

"The game developers hypothesize that the targeted tasks and skills used during the play sessions activate key brain areas associated with attention and focus."

10/04/2022

Thinking about my dear dear friend Daniel Greenwald. You are very missed!

Elton John · Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player · Song · 1973

07/16/2022

Heading off to college is exciting time, but also can be an anxious time. It’s the culmination of 12 long years in school, so it’s suppose to be a joyous occasion, right?
Yes and no. Change usually produces a bit of stress. It’s normal to feel a bit stress, in fact I would expect it. College is a big step with lots of changes.
The article below outlines excellent tips, resources and discussions points you can have with your child before they head off to college.
Another I resource I have referred students to is Active Minds, (activeminds.org). It’s a student-to-student program on college campus started by a college student named, Alison Malmon. Alison’s brother committed su***de in his freshman year of college. Following his death, Alison started the first chapter at her college. Today it is active on many college campus.

Students should not wait until they are on campus to begin thinking about how to protect their emotional well-being, experts say.

04/01/2022

- The slap heard around the world-

The astonishing act of rage and violence Will Smith displayed on live TV was outrageous and highly disappointing. I can understand, Mr. Smith’s anger, however, the way he chose to manifest his anger was clearly wrong. Chris Rock was disrespectful and hurtful to the entire Smith Family on live TV. Not cool!
As a mental health therapist that facilitated Anger Management Group therapy I was very disappointed that Mr. Smith has not had any consequences. In the real world, when a man or woman, especially a black man assaults another person, they go to jail. It sends the wrong message to young black and white men all over the world that it’s OK to assault someone. It’s never OK, and shame on the Academy for not creating consequences for Mr. Smith’s action.

04/06/2021

Try starting a gratitude journal and see if it helps improve your outlook on life.

Gratitude appears to play a key role in the relationship between zest for life and depression, according to new research published in Personality and ...