5 Tips for Managing Social Anxiety

5 Tips for Managing Social Anxiety

At one point or another, most people will experience embarrassment and fears of acceptance, but for some, this experience is much more acute. If you suspect that you have social anxiety, you do not have to manage it alone. Read on for tips and information about how social anxiety can be treated through mental health therapy.

What Is A Systems Therapist? Q&A with ECC Intern Therapist Riley Brennan

What Is A Systems Therapist? Q&A with ECC Intern Therapist Riley Brennan

“I don’t believe in anything being a ‘personal problem,’” says Riley Brennan, our current graduate intern therapist who is completing her Master’s in Couple and Family Therapy at Adler University. In her Q&A on our blog today, Riley shares what it means to be a systems therapist: someone who works with clients to consider the system influences that impact their mental health, from family and friends, to workplace dynamics, religion, and politics. Keep reading to find out why she finds this framework helpful for connecting with clients.

Engaging Mindfully with Mental Health Content on Social Media

Engaging Mindfully with Mental Health Content on Social Media

Social media has created new channels for people to discover more information about mental health, which often leads to curiosity about whether a particular diagnosis might apply to them. In this post we’ll talk about the benefits and risks of learning about mental health conditions through social media, as well as ways to seek clarity to ensure you’re getting accurate information and the right care.

Why Do We Fall in Love with the Idea of Someone?

Why Do We Fall in Love with the Idea of Someone?

Why do humans fall in love with the idea of someone, rather than the actual person? What function does this serve in the course of a relationship? Should we avoid doing it? How do we handle it when we start to see our partners for who they really are, and they’re different from who we expected? It turns out there are actually some very good answers for all of this.

Is My Partner Gaslighting Me? Here's How to Know

Is My Partner Gaslighting Me? Here's How to Know

Is my partner gaslighting me? Chances are if you’re in a relationship that you’ve wondered this before, especially in the midst of a conflict or disagreement. Gaslighting is a term that has entered the cultural lexicon in the last decade, yet we often hear confusion from clients about whether their experiences actually meet the definition of gaslighting, or something less serious. In today’s post, we unpack this loaded term to help you discern gaslighting from other communication issues in relationships.

Practicing Self-Love Around Valentine's Day

Practicing Self-Love Around Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day as it is celebrated in modern culture is a chance to celebrate romantic love, yet it can also be a painful reminder if you’re currently single, have recently lost or ended a relationship with a romantic partner, or are processing relationship trauma. Even in a relatively healthy partnership, Valentine’s Day can be fraught with social pressures to demonstrate romantic commitment in certain ways like expensive gifts and romantic dates. It’s all too easy to feel disappointment, grief, or stress around Valentine’s Day, which is why practicing self-love and compassion are important. Here are a few therapy tips for honoring your authentic needs and values around Valentine’s Day.

Do You & Your Partner(s) Need Relationship Therapy?

Do You & Your Partner(s) Need Relationship Therapy?

February and Valentine’s Day focus our collective attention on romantic love. Gifts, quality time with romantic dates or getaways, and public declarations of commitment are the most common expressions of romance we see in modern culture around Valentine’s Day, and they’re all wonderful ways to shower your partner(s) with love and affection. Yet at the same time, they can also be distractions or band-aids for relationship issues that need attention and work. If you’re looking for a deeper connection with your partner(s) this Valentine’s Day, there are some therapy approaches that might be right for you.

Counseling vs Therapy: What's the Difference?

Counseling vs Therapy: What's the Difference?

If you’ve never sought or received mental health services before, it can be difficult discerning the differences between the different types (therapy, counseling, or psychiatric help) and deciding which is the right fit for your needs. Here's a quick primer to better understand the differences between different types of mental healthcare services so that you can choose the treatment that will best support you.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Accepting Reality & Embracing Change

Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Accepting Reality & Embracing Change

Do you ever feel like managing emotional dysregulation is a full-time job? Like your emotions are running the show, and it’s hard to function or focus on anything else? When tricky situations happen and the emotions feel overwhelming, do you resort to behaviors you know are harmful, such as cutting, binge-eating, or drinking? If you’ve suffered a serious loss or trauma, or you’re experiencing acute depression or anxiety, Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a method that might help you tolerate stress with healthy habits and access emotional equilibrium.