PVD Psychological Associates

  Who are Marriage and Family Therapists? Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are mental health professionals trained in psychotherapy and family systems, and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems. Marriage and family therapists are a highly experienced group of practitioners, with an average of 13 years of clinical practice in the field of marriage and family therapy. They evaluate and treat mental and emotional disorders, other health and behavioral problems, and address a wide array of relationship issues within the context of the family system. https://pvdpsych.com/therapy/

  Individual therapy is one type of psychotherapy in which a trained professional helps a single person work through personal issues they have been facing. It is an effective treatment for a variety of emotional difficulties and mental illnesses. Also known as talk therapy, it can help improve or control symptoms that influence an individual’s well-being. https://pvdpsych.com/about/

  What is depression? Depression is a mental health condition that entails persistent sadness, apathy, hopelessness, and/or lack of interest in life. Mild versions of these feelings are normal parts of day-to-day life. It’s common, and even healthy, to feel sad or hopeless in reaction to a difficult life event, the state of the world around you, or just to go through a period of time where things feel off. But when these feelings become especially frequent, intense, or long-lasting, they can interfere with the daily life activities. Find therapists   who specialize in depression near you . https://pvdpsych.com/nicole-issa-psyd/

  Topics addressed in couples counseling Couples counseling  can help you navigate urgent concerns, address ongoing issues, or learn general relationship skills. People choose to see a  couples counselor  for many reasons. The catalyst could be a pressing, urgent issue that you’re not currently equipped to handle, or it could be a subtly simmering issue that you want to tackle before one of you snaps. Still other couples choose to go to a therapist simply to build relationship skills or grow closer as a couple. The exact focus of your treatment will depend on the particulars of your relationship, and your therapist’s approach. https://pvdpsych.com/

  College Mental Health: Resources & Self-Care Strategies College is an exciting time for students, but also one that often poses challenges. Not only are you in a new environment and perhaps away from home for the first time, but also, the college age range has the highest prevalence of mental illnesses among any age group. These may include anxiety, depression, ADHD, learning disabilities, and alcohol and marijuana use. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, and is generally not something that a person can simply “snap out” of. A mental illness can affect all aspects of a person’s life, including school and grades, relationships, social life, work, and everyday functioning. If you feel that you are struggling with your mental health, it is important to reach out to get the help you need and to take your mental health seriously. Learn about anxiety and depression in college, self-care strategies, and how to find a therapist below. Prevalence of mental illness among colleg...

  Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear. Feeling nervous or apprehensive is normal – even healthy at times. After all, that “fight or flight” feeling is what incentivizes you to prepare for a test or presentation, or makes your palms sweaty before a first date. But when anxiety runs deeper and feels unshakeable, it can potentially stand in the way of a healthy lifestyle. When worrying becomes the go-to response to everyday situations, it becomes debilitating. Prevalence of anxiety disorder Anxiety is very common in the United States. According to the ADAA, anxiety disorders are cumulatively the most common mental illnesses in the United States. Additional stats on anxiety:   Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults in the United States aged 18 and up – over 18% of the population Women are twice as likely to experience anxiety disorders as men, according to some studies Your Health And Safe...

  Relationships are an important part of all of our lives. Whether romantic or platonic, our relationships with our nearest and dearest can bring us joy, meaning, and connection like nothing else. But in part because they mean so much to us, relationships can be stressful. What are relationship issues? While some level of conflict in any relationship is normal and can even be a healthy way to grow and connect, relationship issues can also lead to symptoms of common mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, relationship issues can escalate into emotional and/or physical abuse. When relationship issues become extreme or frequent, they often interfere with a healthy lifestyle. Therapists  differ in their approaches to treating relationship issues. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Get online therapy and psychological counseling for depression, anxiety, panic attack, phobia, bipolar disorder, relationship issues, breakup, autism, sleep disorder, stress, anger issues. Receive Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and relationship counseling through PVD Psychological Associates . https://pvdpsych.com/online-therapy/

  Finding a lesbian, gay, trans, or queer-identifying therapist can be one of the most important factors in an LGBTQ person’s therapist search. For many, sexual orientation and gender identity can be an important part of therapy (for example, coming out to family or friends); for others, it may not be the focus of therapy, but seeing a therapist who has an understanding of LGBTQ experiences at a personal level can be empowering and reduce the amount of explanation needed of their unique experiences. https://pvdpsych.com/lgbtqia-affirming-services/

  Treatment Treatment can help reduce the intensity and frequency of your panic attacks and improve your function in daily life. The main treatment options are psychotherapy and medications. One or both types of treatment may be recommended, depending on your preference, your history, the severity of your panic disorder and whether you have access to therapists who have special training in treating panic disorders. Psychotherapy Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is considered an effective first choice treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder. Psychotherapy can help you understand panic attacks and panic disorder and learn how to cope with them. https://pvdpsych.com/therapy/

  How trauma counseling can help It is important to recognise that if you are experiencing trauma or PTSD symptoms, this is your brain’s way of coping with what happened to you. The mind is an amazing tool. However, if you are effected by trauma symptoms, it may be useful to see a therapist to talk through your experience. https://pvdpsych.com/about/

  Counseling for depression focuses more on present thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and how these things are affecting your life currently. That's why CBT has been a useful model to use in counseling sessions. https://pvdpsych.com/mary-elizabeth-ruggiero-phd/

  Making anxiety therapy work for you There is no quick fix for anxiety. Overcoming an anxiety disorder takes time and commitment. Therapy involves facing your fears rather than avoiding them, so sometimes you'll feel worse before you get better. The important thing is to stick with treatment and follow your therapist's advice. If you're feeling discouraged with the pace of recovery, remember that therapy for anxiety is very effective in the long run. You'll reap the benefits if you see it through. Finding a Therapist Who Can Help You Heal https://pvdpsych.com/

  Why does group counseling work? When people interact freely with other group members, they tend to recreate the same patterns of interactions that happen to them outside of the group. This creates the opportunity for meaningful change or increased self acceptance . With the help of the group leaders, members learn how their behavior affects other people. The group becomes a safe place to experiment with alternative ways of treating oneself and others, ways that can be more satisfying and successful. Many of us feel we are somehow weird or strange or that some aspect of ourselves seems unacceptable because of our problems, or thoughts, or the ways we feel.  It is very encouraging and humanizing to learn that others have some similar difficulties, thoughts, and emotions. The focus shifts from considering ourselves defective to learning to live our lives as fully and richly as we can. https://pvdpsych.com/about/

  Self-harm, also called self-injury, is where someone deliberately injures themselves in a way that is not intended to end their life. Strong emotional reactions to self-harm are common, and some people may find it distressing to read the following information. It is important to seek help if you are feeling distressed. There are many different ways a person might hurt themselves, such as: Cutting Burning Scratching Punching or hitting Taking too many tablets Swallowing things In many cases, people self-harm as a way of coping with or expressing overwhelming emotions; however, while self-harm may provide short-term relief, it poses risk and danger to the individual’s safety , and people usually end up feeling worse. With the right treatment, it is possible to learn safer and healthier coping mechanisms, soothing techniques, and communication skills . Prevalence of self harming behavior Research suggests that 1 to 4% of adults and 15% of adolescents in the United States have self-h...

  If you have a teen struggling with a mental health condition – whether that be depression, an eating disorder, or even prescription drug abuse – it is critical to find a professional who can help. Untreated mental health conditions can lead to an increased risk of suicide, substance addiction, violence, unsafe behaviors, and worsened mental illness into adulthood. For this reason, early intervention is essential for teens’ long-term mental, emotional, and physical health. https://pvdpsych.com/student-mental-health/

  In most cases, if we have higher levels of self-esteem, we tend to like ourselves more. This helps us to maintain good mental health.   On the other hand, lower levels of self-esteem are associated with mental health challenges such as depression. People with low self-esteem often have a poorer quality of life. For example, if we have lower self-esteem, we are more likely to think that we are not clever enough to get that job, or that we are deserving of poor treatment because we are not worthy of love. If you struggle with low self-esteem and notice that it affects your life negatively, seek help.  Therapists can help  you learn to reassess how you think and feel about yourself. What is self-esteem? Self-esteem relates to how positively we feel about ourselves and our worth. We tend to base this assessment of ourselves on qualities and characteristics such as: Our physical self-image Our view of our achievements and abilities Our values and how well we think we li...