Spring has finally arrived and many of us are excited for the warmer weather coming our way

During the winter months days are shorter which results in us getting significantly less sun exposure. This can lead to an increase in the secretion of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep. This means that we are more likely to feel tired, lethargic and lack motivation.

spring can be a great time to start implementing new habits because it’s time to start using the energy that we are getting back and get rid of that "blah" feeling. 

Are you interested in making some changes within your life such as quitting a bad habit that's formed, going to the gym more often or maybe it's simply to spend more time with your loved ones?

In this month's Therapy Moment, Victoria Meeks, ALMFT helps us identify the different stages of change to help create awareness of where you are at in the process of accomplishing your goals!

Have you ever felt disconnected from your partner? 

Feeling more physically connected can be a bridge to improving that emotional connection as well, and a lot of times, the physicality in a relationship can be a lot less daunting than the emotional. 

Ever sit there and wonder, “how did we get here?”, “how did I change?”, “how did my partner change?” If so; you are not alone!

It’s incredibly common for relationships to evolve and change over time. Sometimes those changes can cause a rift in the relationship and I’m here to help you understand how that may have happened.

Do you feel the holidays seem to have a way of bringing up difficult emotions that we so often try to forget? If so; I'm here to tell you that you're not alone and that grief, especially during the holidays, is normal. 

One thing that most of us all have in common across the world is the experience of loss. Loss of a loved one, an opportunity, time, money, a relationship...you name it!

Unfortunately, in these past two years we have been hit by loss in a way that we weren't expecting and as we near the holidays, the impact of those loses can make being joyful and thankful a little harder. 

Are your reactions to your partner based on assumptions you may have from them based on past behavior?

In this month's Therapy Moment, Robyn Ashbaugh, LMFT explains why making assumptions about your partner based on past behavior may hinder the progress made toward improving your relationship!

Do you want to start couples counseling but fear your partner may be turned off by the idea?

A common statement heard in a therapist’s office is, “We need help, but my partner is hesitant about couples counseling”.

If you feel this way about your partner, know you aren’t alone! There are ways to help encourage a positive conversation with your partner about the benefits of doing couples counseling together.

Have you ever found yourself struggling to manage difficult emotions from past experiences that you previously processed and/or healed from?  

Have you ever engaged in unhealthy coping behaviors while managing current difficult situations?

If you answered yes to either of the above, know that you aren’t alone as I have too!

A few weeks ago, I personally found myself examining why certain behaviors, fears, thoughts, and emotions continue to appear in my relationships with others, especially since I have done the work to “let it go”. 

Do you struggle with self esteem issues?

 I personally love working with self esteem clients. It is hard work, of course, but there is something so lovely about watching people realize how amazing they are and feel better and more confident about themselves. It’s one of my favorite things to work on!

Are you currently struggling with the topic of trust within your life? If you are, know you aren’t
alone as trust is something that many people struggle with.

Trust is something that is difficult to identify but we often know within our gut whether we have
trust for someone or not. In fact, you may be surprised that many people find that they lack trust
even within themselves.

Since trust is a tricky thing to identify and put into words, I wanted to share with you something
I’ve come across that helps in explaining it to my clients.

Do you ever feel like the trauma you've experienced in life has taken a toll on your relationship with loved ones?

In this month's Therapy Moment, Jazmine Price, ALMFT gives us 3 tips on how to manage trauma in relationships.

Technology is incredible and has really come a long way over the last decade! “The Little Mermaid’s” Ariel would be very jealous of how many “gizmos” we have these days. 

However, with pros, usually come the cons we must acknowledge which are the disadvantages of such easily accessible gadgets that we have and how they can impact social and romantic relationships with others

Do you struggle with how to work through conflict when fighting with your partner?

In this month's Therapy Moment, Irene Schreiner, LMFT gives us some tips on how to work through your "flooded" emotions to pull yourself out of a fight with your significant other.

Change is something that is inevitable, whether it be expected or unexpected, but how you cope with that change can make the world of a difference! 

I don’t know about you but change can be scary for lots of people! In fact many people find that change can elicit a number of reactions mentally, emotionally, and physically. 

You may be asking yourself, why a relationship therapist is talking about the importance of being a whole person, and not a relational topic like affairs or how to communicate better. 

Well, in my years of being a therapist one of the major themes that continues to show up that keep people stuck in their relationships is people’s inability to spend the appropriate time needed to do the work to be their best selves.  

Have you ever heard the saying “To love others you must first love yourself”?

Do you struggle with how to bring up the topic of sex with your partner without hurting their feelings or starting an argument?

In this month's Therapy Moment, Robyn Ashbaugh, LMFT gives us some tips on how, when and where to bring up the topic of sex so you can effectively discuss the topic with your partner and address what you like or dislike when being intimate with one another.

Have you ever felt “mom guilt” while raising your children?

I know I certainly have! 

Whether you’ve never heard of mom guilt or can’t escape its relentless grip, mom guilt is defined by being an invasive, all-encompassing, persistent feeling of not doing enough as a parent! 

It is the fear of falling short of expectations or making decisions that may “mess up” your kids in the long run. 

Have you ever felt like your relationship suffered due to a betrayal or lie that you told? Maybe it was a small fib or it could have been something much bigger that you felt like you’d never recover from.

Whether it was one lie, a slew of them or an affair, the concept of dishonesty is present in all relationships, so know you are not alone!

I know how difficult it can be for a relationship to bounce back after a lie has been discovered.