Betsy McBride, LMFT

08/03/2024

Need a little refresher about problematic phrases to avoid during a conflict? This article is a helpful reminder of why some phrases should be avoided and what to say instead.

Having a fight? “You’re overreacting” will only make it worse.

27/11/2023

As we enter a season of giving to others, let's not forget about giving to ourselves. One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is our own love and attention. Enjoy this holiday season and enjoy yourself!
www.betsymcbridetherapy.com

18/07/2022

To reach the National Su***de Prevention Lifeline for mental health crises, it now takes only three digits: 988.

On July 16, Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit that operates the lifeline on behalf of the US Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), launched the 988 dialing code available to everyone across the United States.

Text messages can also be sent to the three-digit number.
Veterans can dial 988 and press 1 to reach the Veteran Crisis Line.

"One of the goals of 988 is to ensure that people get the help that they need when they need it, where they need it. And so, when a person calls 988, they can expect to have a conversation with a trained, compassionate crisis counselor who will talk with them about what they're experiencing. If it's the case that they need further intervention, then likely the crisis counselor will connect with a local mobile crisis team," Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, the administrator of SAMHSA.

If you are experiencing or witnessing a mental health crisis, there is help. Please use the new 988 number if you need it.

23/06/2022

You may be asking yourself: "When is the right time to start?" - whether it's a big goal or attacking tasks on your "to do list."
The answer is: "Right now is the right time."
The "perfect time" is a myth. Do not leave your goals or tasks for later. The time is always right to do what's right.

19/06/2021

Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future.
Fear stifles our thinking and actions.
"Always say 'yes' to the present moment ... Surrender to what is. Say 'yes' to life - and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you." Eckhart Tolle

28/10/2020

Hope can be a PPE - a Personal Protective Emotion - but for many people it is in short supply.
The good news, though, is that you have some influence over your feelings of hope (or hopelessness).
Unlike optimism (which is the belief that things will work out no matter what you do), hope is a belief that you have some power to make something happen in the future.
This helpful article gives advice on how to boost your feeling of hope right now by tapping into your sense of agency to achieve a desired goal, and creating a strategy to do that.
For example:
"Future cast" - Identify your goals by asking yourself how you would like your life to look in the future in four areas: Home and family, career, community and recreation.
"Take a small step" - Increase your sense of control by setting one goal for the week and identifing the steps needed to reach it. As you experience success in those steps, we start to see that we have power to achieve our bigger goals.
"Watch your words" - Think carefully about your words and use hopeful language: "I can." "We will." "It's possible."
Have real hope, not just wishful thinking, about your future.

Hope is important for resiliency. Here are ways to boost it.

26/07/2020

This is one of my favorite images: Richard Stine's "Dog Face to Face with the Second Step."
It's a good reminder that when we are making changes in our lives, we can be confronted with what seems like an insurmountable obstacle to our progress and growth.
But that obstacle may simply be the "next step" we need to take.
As James Baldwin stated, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."
Courage to those facing their "second step" and wishes for a clear perspective to see how to climb it.

19/03/2020

I wanted to share this short video from Rick Hanson, PhD that helps us address our natural tendency to feel afraid and anxious during times like these with the coronavirus pandemic. I hope you find it helpful!

19/01/2020

Each of us is on our own journey and is a work-in-progress. Continue, with compassion, to put one foot in front of the other in creating your own path.

17/01/2020

It's what we therapists do.

It’s what we do. 😊