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Kids are amazing. When we give them the opportunit

Kids are amazing. When we give them the opportunity, space, and tools, they will make their feelings known! I never get tired of watching kids find ways to communicate to their parents and seeing adults respond to those needs. Tantrums start to either decrease or at the very least-shorten significantly!

#mentalhealth #therapistsofinstagram #familytherapy #parenting #gentleparenting #parentingtips #playtherapist

Be safe! Office will be closed tomorrow to keep us

Be safe! Office will be closed tomorrow to keep us all off the roads.

Part 2/2. Tackling a loaded but common question: W

Part 2/2. Tackling a loaded but common question: Why is it so hard to find a good therapist who accepts Medicaid/state insurance? This is a topic that is important to me and I personally accept state insurance. However, there are many reasons why providers do not. I am by no means perfect and still have a lot to learn about people different than me.

#therapyproblems #therapistproblems #healthcare #therapistsofinstagram #honestanswer

Part 1/2. Tackling a loaded but common question: W

Part 1/2. Tackling a loaded but common question: Why is it so hard to find a good therapist who accepts Medicaid/state insurance? This is a topic that is important to me and I personally accept state insurance. However, there are many reasons why providers do not. I am by no means perfect and still have a lot to learn about people different than me.

#therapyproblems #therapistproblems #healthcare #therapistsofinstagram #honestanswer #medicaid

Yes, abusive partners absolutely need to change an

Yes, abusive partners absolutely need to change and heal themselves. Also, did you know that falling for abusers/unsafe people tends to be a pattern? This is called a trauma bond, where we feel an intense loyalty to those who hurt us. This can happen for many reasons and is incredibly difficult to heal from. I have been fortunate enough to do some personal work with this and see many of my clients begin setting boundaries with harmful people. One of my favorite phrases to teach is that it does no good being a “team player” in a game that’s set up for you to lose.

#mentalhealth #traumarecovery #boundaries #traumabond #therapistsofinstagram

I’m booked up, unfortunately!! #therapyhumor #be

I’m booked up, unfortunately!!
#therapyhumor #besafe #therapistsofinstagram #strangerthings

Obviously this doesn’t apply to everyone and is

Obviously this doesn’t apply to everyone and is meant to be funny. However, I do know that if we grew up in a home where connection had to be earned through good behavior, following the rules, or being calm, we will feel very uncomfortable with our own child’s meltdowns or dysregulation. The message some of us received was, “I can only handle you when you are calm.“ This can sound like “stop crying,” “go to your room until you calm down,” or “you are fine, don’t be a baby, be a big boy/girl.”

Unconditional love says “I can handle your big emotions and I am here even when you make bad choices.” This doesn’t excuse bad behavior and can still come with consequences. We can even make a plan if our kid wants space during a meltdown. But If we don’t get support with this, we will end up passing conditional love down to the next generation. #mentalhealth #playtherapist #familytherapy #playtherapy #secureattachment #avoidantattachment #anxiousattachment #disorganizedattachment #attachmentstyles #therapistsofinstagram

Hope this doesn’t spoil the mystery for you all!

Hope this doesn’t spoil the mystery for you all! 😄 What do you do in between sessions, therapists?
#therapistsofinstagram #playtherapist #therapyhumor #copingskills #mentalhealth

Just don’t do it!! Here are some fun, general th

Just don’t do it!! Here are some fun, general things to avoid to boost mental health and kind communication.
#therapyhumor #mentalhealthawareness #therapyiscool #kindness #therapistsofinstagram

Have you given your kids a narrative for their exp

Have you given your kids a narrative for their experiences? Narratives create safety. This is one of the reasons play therapy is effective. We use play and toys to process stories that can relate to our lives. We can also use books, movies, shows, etc. to supplement this. Get help from a play therapist near you or via telehealth in your state if you need support with this!

#therapistsofinstagram #playtherapy #parenting #talktoyourkids #familytherapy #informedparenting #anxietysupport#parentingtips #traumarecovery #playtherapisitsofinstagram

If we rely solely on others to know our needs, set

If we rely solely on others to know our needs, set boundaries for us, or respect our time… it doesn’t end well. Controlling people will be very attracted to you. We must develop the skills to communicate about these things and advocate for ourselves. Yes it would be great if everyone considered our time and valued our contributions, and it’s important to recognize who does this already. But when they don’t, it’s our responsibility to speak up.

I also understand that sometimes we are in situations where placing a boundary may be unsafe or lead to more harm in the moment. Maybe you will be fired for not picking up an extra shift or your partner will hit you if you don’t share a photo of where you are. There is no shame in this and you did nothing wrong here. Also, it is good practice to slowly create small boundaries and increase your support network so you rely less and less on those who are unsafe for you and are eventually able to separate from these people. Once you are free and safe, a good therapist can help you understand how to stop these patterns from happening again.

#mentalhealthawareness #therapistsofinstagram #boundaries #anxiousattachment #peoplepleaser #traumahealing #copingskills #emotionalintelligence

💃🏻Therapist fit check!! #therapistsofinstagr

💃🏻Therapist fit check!! #therapistsofinstagram #therapyhumor

Having a plan for emergencies can make a big diffe

Having a plan for emergencies can make a big difference at any time, but especially during the holidays.

#mentalhealth #traumarecovery #prevention #therapistsofinstagram #suicideprevention #anxietysupport #depression #copingskills #seasonaldepression

Anyone’s kid freak out if they make a mistake? H

Anyone’s kid freak out if they make a mistake? How many pieces of paper do they go through trying to get the PERFECT lines JUST how they want? You may need a professional to help distinguish between general anxiety/perfectionism, Autism Spectrum patterns, and OCD. I use play therapy to help kids embrace imperfections and families come together to find the root of what is exacerbating this distress!

#mentalhealth #familytherapy #playtherapist #perfectionism #parenting #gentleparenting #anxietysupport #therapistsofinstagram

My top 3 recommended times to welcome your child’s emotions is first thing in the morning, as soon as you pick them up from school, and before bed. This absolutely does not have to be a direct question, but can be done with charts, drawings or games. #mentalhealth #emotionalawareness #copingskills #familytherapy #playtherapist #playtherapy #avoidantattachment #therapistsofinstagram

Say things to your kids like: “We never share or

Say things to your kids like: “We never share or show our private parts with any other person- even family members! We don’t keep secrets from our parents about private parts. If anyone ever tries to play a game with your or their private parts, tell me FAST! We never take pictures of our private ares or look at pictures of other peoples’. You will NEVER be in trouble by me for telling me someone touched your private areas. If anyone tells you to keep a secret like that THEY ARE NOT SAFE. If another kid touches you inappropriately, you tell them NO and find an adult.

#mentalhealth #familytherapy #playtherapisitsofinstagram #prevention #parenting #talktoyourkids #childabuseawareness

Therapists (like everyone else) are responsible fo

Therapists (like everyone else) are responsible for maintaining our own boundaries and mental health. It’s my hope that every professional therapist has done at least a few of their own personal counseling sessions as a client as needed. I absolutely feel that this helped me have increased empathy for clients as well as making me less codependent, less reactive, and more self aware. This could also greatly reduce harm done in our profession by therapists who cross boundaries with clients.

This holiday season, I am trying to actively cope by making lists of things I need to do, including breaks and supervision. This helps to maintain the plates I have spinning in my own life!

#mentalhealth #therapistsofinstagram
#endthestigma #therapyhumor #peoplepleaser #codependency #anxiousattachment #therapistsupportingtherapists

I teach attachment based play, co-regulation, and

I teach attachment based play, co-regulation, and parent training to promote healthy parent/child relationships! This is a multi-step process where adults learn to tolerate/manage their own feelings, then interact with their children in a way that brings connection. I know this is hard and the old ways of discipline or automatic protective responses creep up so easily!

#mentalhealth #playtherapisitsofinstagram #therapistsofinstagram #traumarecovery #parenting #gentleparenting #attachmentstyles #endthestigma #coregulation #childhoodtrauma #parentingtips #consciousdiscipline #traumainformed

🎁This time of year means SO many calls, message

🎁This time of year means SO many calls, messages, emails, etc. I try year round to promote preventative measures for this season to lessen the crisis mode response in my community. A lot of therapists are booked and not accepting new clients due to demand being more than we can match.

🎁If you are a therapist, it’s a good idea to have your trusted referral list at the ready so you don’t guilt yourself into taking on more than you can sustain. Also, please leave some way for clients to feel informed and cared for even if you are unavailable. I have a voicemail with the option to auto reply for my referral list. Many people have said other therapists don’t get back to them. I have sadly experienced this myself in trying to connect with referral sources.

🎁If you are a potential client needing support, please don’t give up! If a therapist is full, don’t be shy to ask for trusted referrals. Check out @openpathpsychotherapy or @psych_today to see who is available in your area. Or get on a waitlist and don’t cancel that future appointment. Even monthly treatment in the future can make the difference between needing minor support and calling desperately next year!

#mentalhealth #playtherapist #therapyhumor #marriageandfamilytherapy #prevention #crisismanagement #emotionalawareness #therapistsofinstagram #anxietysupport #holiday #seasonalaffectivedisorder

One of my favorite play interventions is helping c

One of my favorite play interventions is helping children feel empowered through their fears! Instead of trying to quiet your child’s fear or reason with it, try listening to them and giving them tangible ways to remember they are safe!
#mentalhealth #copingskills #familytherapy #playtherapist #anxietysupport #anxiousattachment #secureattachment #therapistsofinstagram #playtherapisitsofinstagram #therapyhumor

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