Category: In the Loop

Death is the most common experience of the human race. The COVID pandemic, especially taught us, ‘how little separates life from death.’ It throws everything off gear and takes a significant toll on physical and mental health. Apart from guilt, numbness and regret, grief is the most universal response to loss. There are 5 stages of grief according to the Kubler Ross model – Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You can reach out to a therapist to help you work through these emotions if you are highly overwhelmed. Grief is not classified as a ‘feeling’. It is a ‘journey’ that you have to go through to be able to heal completely. Spending time with a professional is the most effective way to return to a balanced state of mind and recover speedily. No wonder the market size of the behavioral therapist industry in the US is $9 billion in 2022 and is expected to increase by 0.4% in the same year. There are several techniques like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Group Therapy. Read on to know how a session is helpful to overcome mental suffering. What is Grief Counseling? Professional therapy is the… Read more »

Family therapy developed in the second half of the 20th century. It is a type of psychological counselling that builds stronger relationships in a structured way. This creates a loving home with a healthy and well-functional family. There are open communications and collaborations while learning emotional validation, cognitive reframing, and empathy. It is a much-needed therapy since the rules of family life have seen a profound change over the years. In a survey of 354 students, it was found that 43.5% reported an estrangement with disagreements being the most casual factor. Another survey reported that there were 64 families with at least one estranged child within a sample of 566 families. Cutting ties is often initiated by children. It is a common phenomenon that rips apart American households. Divorce, separation, arguments, personality clashes, bad parenting decisions and work-life non-balance are other causes. The good news is that science-based techniques and exercises ensure happy and wholesome families. It makes sure everyone is heard, helps members understand each other and teach healthy conflict resolution. Benefits of Family Therapy Behavioral, psychodynamic, and structural methods assure major changes in families. This is quite crucial since the divorce rate in America in 2020 stood at… Read more »

Living in close quarters with your spouse 24/7 is bewildering. It ends up blurring the fine lines between ‘close’ and ‘too close’ which can be problematic. 1 in 3 women experiences sexual or physical violence by an intimate partner. Domestic violence is further intensified amid the pandemic. It is major human rights violations. Studies found that incidents in the US spiked by 8.1% after the shelter in place orders in 2020. Obvious reasons were income and isolation linked stressors that released as abuse. Social and livelihood tensions created a victim-aggressor environment too. Milder issues like irritation, agitation and being on each other’s nerves are also common. So how to figure out better ways of living, parenting and getting along together? Read on. Professional Help Counselling helps address couple issues in a safe space. You are heard and protected while uncovering hidden relationship problems that create anger and frustration. Working together by analyzing personal insights of what went wrong can be helpful. You can also consider special ‘stress therapy’. This is because responses have become counterproductive in today’s modern world and we get triggered easily due to hormonal imbalances. Set an appointment with a therapist, online or offline, who can offer… Read more »

2022 marks the third year of the pandemic. Besides physical distress, COVID-19 has caused ample neurological conditions. The last couple of years also saw a rise in triggering mental health issues due to job loss, isolation, panic and fear and bereavements. A survey of 1,000 people regarding mental well-being found that 59% of participants were affected by COVID-19 and 32% said they are taking medication for their mental health. Many around the world faced increased levels of alcohol and drug abuse, anxiety and insomnia with risks of severe outcomes. Yet not all of us considered psychological therapy. But it is never too late to start. The best one ensures emotional well-being through consistent mindful mediation, stress reduction and relaxation techniques. The counselling session is an educational experience where you learn about the body’s fight or flight reactions. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) will control the stress response. One can also expect a variety of holistic approaches to wellness to counter the significant crisis. Psychotherapy Benefits The new year is a great time to start incorporating therapy into your daily routine. It can induce a sense of positivity that helps deal with multiple behavioral symptoms. Seeking help… Read more »

Seasonal depression is popularly known as a seasonal affective disorder. It is more than the mere ‘winter blues’ and affects over 11 million people in the U.S. Certain hormones created deep inside the brain triggers changes related to attitude at specific times of the year. It usually sets in during Fall and continues till Winter. Some of us can also face this during Spring and early Summer. There is a significant change in mood. You might feel distracted, irritated or overwhelmed. It affects the way you feel, think or carry out daily activities. It usually impacts women more than men and lasts for 40% of the year. The ‘classic’ form of depression involves sleep, lethargy, and appetite disbalance, lack of interest in life and dark thoughts. You might also exhibit compulsive behavior. One major reason could be the lack of sunlight during the winter days. The brain starts producing less serotonin that betters the mood. On the other hand, the sweltering heat is the main cause of summertime depression. Signs and Symptoms Seasonal depression signs are not different from that of normal depression. You might tend to sleep a lot more than usual. Knowing the other tell-tale signs is crucial… Read more »

Work stress can be a motivator. It pushes you to perform everyday tasks in a disciplined and timely manner. But the negative kind of stress could be overwhelming. It usually stems from long hours, conflict with co-workers or job insecurity leading to a drop in performance and depression. Bullying and discrimination are other reasons. Studies have found that US businesses lose up to $300 billion per year as a result of workplace stress. The good news is that stress counselling can help. It is effective if you find yourself dreading Monday mornings, worrying about your job, feeling helpless about your career and feel an increasing sense of tension. Take a look at how exactly it can decrease stress. 1. Solves Your Situation Experienced therapists help you approach the problems sensibly. You can think about your situation vividly. This enables you to deal with feelings of failure. It helps you take practical steps as well rather than impulsive decisions. 2. Identify Stress Thoughts It is a common misconception that anxiety just happens. Nobody has control over these feelings. On the contrary, it depends on our perspective of a situation. Therapy can help you identify your stressors and change self-defeating thoughts. This… Read more »

Feeling blue at times is normal. It fades away with time and you’re back to your old cheerful self. But with depression, that feeling of sadness doesn’t seem to go away, so much so that it begins to impact your daily life and impairs your ability to function. This is why it is important to treat depression early. Leaving it unaddressed could make the feeling worsen to an extent that you might give in to risky behaviors, such as self-harm, or drug or alcohol abuse. Appetite changes, lack of energy and social withdrawal are some of the other key symptoms of depression, apart from the overall feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. These can impact your relationships, health and career, making the whole situation spiral into a self-fulfilling prophecy. So, it is vital to learn about different kinds of depression to ensure quick intervention by professionals. Depression treatment can include medication and therapy and can work wonders to change your quality of life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, meditation training and mindfulness have been found to offer rapid relief. But before that, take a look at the types of depression to make an accurate identification of what you are experiencing. Major Depressive Disorder… Read more »

Did you know that anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues faced by children? Different kinds of anxiety affect younger people at different stages. It could be phobia or separation anxiety at younger ages, social anxiety at a later stage when peer relationships are important. Nearly one in three adolescents witness some kind of anxiety disorder by the age of 18. This includes specific phobia of a thing or an event, social phobia, separation anxiety, panic disorder, and a general anxiety disorder. Dealing with Anxiety Many times, parents in their desire to help their anxious child exacerbate the problem.  What is important is to identify the factor causing the anxiety and then dealing with it accordingly. The goal should be to help the children to face their fears or phobia and manage the anxiety level by offering the right treatments by using the latest psychotherapy techniques, mentions IPG Counseling. Assurance that It Can be Dealt With – Instead of telling a child that his/her fears are unrealistic it is better to deal with them and assure him that they can be managed or dealt with. Rather than telling a child that he won’t fail in an exam, convince… Read more »