Anxiety Archives - Real Life Counseling

Accessing Your Inner Relaxation Resources

May 3

In this previous post, I discussed how the imagination can help us feel empowered, calm, and confident or can bring anxiety, depressed mood, and insecurities. When you feel stuck with negative thoughts and images scrolling through your mind like an unending film reel, here are some things that may be helpful.

Developing a Container

A mental container is something you create to hold all the distress, tension, and negative images that overwhelm and feel unhelpful to you. The mental container is not simply another way to dismiss, avoid, or ignore thoughts and emotions. It is … Read more

Navigating Our Collective Trauma: Part 1

May 4

By Joel Ybarra, LCMFT

It is not a stretch to say we are undergoing a collective trauma now as this pandemic exerts its will on our lives in some pervasive ways. Even if it has not had an impact on us directly, the looming nature of the virus seems to be casting a dark cloud over us, keeping us from embracing hope for the immediate future, and at the very least reminding us of the inevitability of our own illness and death. As is often true with these sorts of happenings, we experience some of the effects now and we … Read more

OCD Support Group Starts This Week

April 21

Location: Online currently; future meetings will be held at Real Life Counseling Derby (1720 E. Osage, #200, Derby, Kansas).

Start Date: April 22, 2020 from 7:00pm-8:30pm; Additional dates/times to follow.

Open to: Adults presenting with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, preferably currently in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) treatment.

Fee: Free

Contact: This peer support group will be facilitated by Shauna Meier, LSCSW.

If interested, please email Shauna or call (316)425-7774, ext. 3013.… Read more

Helping Children Harness Fear: Lightning in a Jar

August 27

By Seth Hock, LMFT

As a child, I was very anxious about many things. I would worry about how long my parents would be away when they left home, about going on campouts or to church camp for a week, and perhaps most of all, I would worry about storms. I can, when I choose to visit my inner child, still experience the anxiety he once felt about those Midwestern storms that would slowly roll though our part of the prairie. I remember listening closely when the weatherman came on the TV or radio; I would scan the skies looking … Read more

Dealing with Trichotillomania And Other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB’s)

July 30

By Krista Reed, LSCSW

Trichotillomania. Say that word 5 times as fast as you can. Not only is it a tricky word to say, it is a challenging behavior to overcome. Pronounced “trick-o-till-o-may-nee-uh,” “TTM” or “Trich” is also identified as the ”Hair Pulling Disorder.” It is part of a group of behaviors referred to as Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB’s), in which a person pulls, picks or bites his or her hair, nails, or skin causing injury to him- or herself. TTM is currently categorized in the Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders section in the DSM 5; however, it is not … Read more

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Adult and Teen Groups Enrolling Now

July 17

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training Group is now open for new members to join both our Adult and Adolescent groups!

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a broad-based cognitive behavioral treatment aimed to enhance your ability to regulate emotions, improve interpersonal relationships and crisis management skills. Emotion dysregulation has been linked to a variety of mental health concerns stemming from patterns of instability in emotional management, lack of impulse control, ineffective interpersonal relationships, and a distorted self-image. Helping clients find true balance in emotion, thoughts, and behavior and/or choices is the fundamental practice of DBT.

DBT Skills Training Group is … Read more

Teen Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Group Starting January 8th, 2017

December 5

Emotion dysregulation has been linked to a variety of mental health concerns stemming from patterns of instability in emotion regulation, impulse control, interpersonal relationships, and self image.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a broad-based cognitive behavioral treatment aimed to assist with regulation of emotions. Often overcontrolled and undercontrolled emotions create frustrations within ourselves and within our families, causing us to behave and interact with one another in undesirable ways.

This DBT group is specifically designed for families and teens who may struggle with emotion dysregulation, making family connection difficult.

WHO: Adolescents (12-18) and parents
WHAT: 23 week DBT Skills Training

Mindfulness – Finding Peace in the Present

November 15

By Shauna Meier, LSCSW

There is something powerful we all have within us, something we can practice any place and any time. It is known to ease anxiety, lighten depression, interrupt impulsiveness, and bring more happiness and peace into our lives. This powerful practice is called Mindfulness. Simply stated, mindfulness can be defined as “Paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn). Although mindfulness has been around for centuries, it has just recently received the attention and accolades it so rightfully deserves.

Mindfulness, being fully present in the moment, takes perseverance and patience as our minds are … Read more

The Importance of Engaging Emotion (Yes, from A Therapist)

September 12

By Joel Ybarra, LCMFT

One of the most oft-cited reasons people do not go to therapy is because they do not want to “sit around and talk about their feelings.” People envision themselves in therapy talking about what is going on in their lives and the therapist making them talk about “how it makes them feel.” Well, not exactly, but engaging with our emotions is an important part of therapy. Oh, and life in general.

It is no wonder people have this stance toward therapy and emotion. The downplaying and dismissal of emotion is pervasive in our culture. Emotions … Read more

Working Through Anxiety

December 23

When we are working through our anxiety, we often hear in our minds the decidedly unhelpful mantra “don’t worry about it.” We believe we should not have a care in the world and any anxiety at all is bad. Most of us probably know, however, anxiety does have some function. It helps us focus on things that need attention. When you are in danger, anxiety is there to help you avoid the danger. On a lower level, anxiety helps focus our attention on things we need to take care of and things that need to change.

If you have ever … Read more