After the Storm Counseling LLC

After the Storm Counseling LLC After the storm provides quality mental health services for children and adults. We provide individ

01/14/2024

Cold weather can be a negative influence on our mental health. Try to take time each day to do something nice for yourself. Stay warm.

05/24/2023

Remember to check in on friends who may not be working in the summer due to lack of child care, type of work they do (teachers, etc). Sometimes they become very depressed and isolated. Sometimes the parent taking care of the children all day without a break may feel overwhelmed. Many people think summer is a happy time for everyone, but that is not necessarily true.

Here are some signs you may not be feeling so great as summer rolls around:
1. The sun drains you instead of rejuvenating you.
2. You are having trouble sleeping
3. Yo are constantly irritable or cranky
4. You feel anxious
5. Your appetite has changed
6. Difficulty completing tasks, such as chores or self care

Reach out to a friend, family member or a professional if your symptoms get worse. You do not have to feel alone.

11/20/2021

Just a reminder that holidays are not always happy and pleasant times for everyone. Some have lost loved ones. Some never really had a "family." Some just may be having a difficult time adjusting to weather changes. No matter what the cause, please spread kindness and compassion as we go through this season.

07/21/2021

Many have been asking me about forming a relationship after having experienced a Narcissistic Relationship. How will they know what a healthy relationship looks like? As a result, I formulated a list of what I consider should or can be "Red Flags." I have heard this phrase used often, but never have really heard anyone identify what a Red Flag might be. As I considered the topic, I created the following list:

Red Flags

1. Inability to Communicate Effectively: Cannot express emotions, cannot resolve conflict, cannot tell you what is bothering them, etc.
2. They are immature, irresponsible, and are unpredictable in a bad way. This should be measured by your own standards
3. Lack of trust: They have lied to you, have a history of lying to others. They have broken your trust.
4. Multiple friends do not like this person
5. They have controlling behavior (tell you who can be your friend, what to wear, how to spend your time).
6. They constantly need you to affirm their worth or they appear insecure
7. They are very secretive about their past. They have a dark past. Not all dark pasts necessarily warrant a red flag.
8. Non healthy resolution of past relationships
9. The relationship is one sided, the person gets their needs more than you, they seem to need more than you
10. They have abusive behavior. This is not limited to physical, mental health, emotions, but also drugs and alcohol.

06/22/2021

We have exciting news! We are opening a second location in Grandview Heights in August! We have immediate openings for anyone ages 4-100+. Reach out today and get scheduled! We have many qualified professionals waiting to help.

06/16/2021

Many people may ask "Are you doing self-care?" But, how many of us know exactly what that means? Sometimes, people respond "I do not have the time or money to take care of myself." I am going to list some easy self-care ideas that may help. These ideas may brighten your day just a little and get you moving toward feeling a little better.

1. Sit outside in the sun.
2. Take a walk around the block.
3. Take a nice warm bath.
4. Watch some comedy.
5. Take a nap.
6. Read a book.
7. Take some time to breathe deeply
8. Spend 10 minutes alone in a quiet room
9. Call a friend who makes you smile.
10 .Light a scented candle
11. Watch your favorite tv show.
12. Listen to music.

06/09/2021

At After the Storm Counseling, you can work one on one with a licensed therapist to identify and progress toward your personal goals. After the Storm offers couples and family counseling too! You can work as a team alongside your significant and/or family members to build and strengthen your relationship(s). Appointments can be in our office or from the comfort of your own home. Reach out via our website or give us a call to set up an appointment.

06/06/2021

We have immediate openings starting as early as this week. We accept most insurances. If you have been thinking about starting therapy, now would be the perfect time. Please reach out so that we may get services started. We have in person or Telehealth availability.

05/20/2021

This is a topic I speak about frequently with my clients: guilt and shame. Many individuals struggle with one or both frequently, but are often surprised that there is a difference between the two. We often use these words interchangeably.

Some differences between the two:

Shame often comes from a mistrust in yourself. Shame stems from the values of others and the judgment of others. This feeling often stems from being told over and over again that we are "bad people" or "we have done something wrong" or we "should not feel the way we do." These feelings, ideas, etc. often make us feel like we are broken, damaged, or inadequate.

Guilt often stems from our own values, morals, and beliefs. We feel guilty if we do something we never thought we should. Guilt often arises in situations that present an ethical or moral dilemma. We tend to look back and judge a circumstance from our past that feel today we made some poor decision.

So how do we battle the two?
1. Recognize what triggers your shame and/or guilt
2.Tell your story to whomever you wish (remember it is your story to tell)
3. Accept that some people may not like your story because of the "role" they played in it. If the do not like it, they probably should have played a different role, not passed shame on to you.
4. Challenge your thoughts (Is this true? What evidence do I have against it? Can I forgive myself for past decisions?)
5. Stop your negative self talk.
6. Get in touch with a mental health professional to help you sort out the difference and what you can do to help.

05/08/2021

This is a tough topic to discuss often. Many individuals seek help to stop their food addiction. In our society, food represents many things and it is very ritualistic. If someone has a birthday; we eat. If someone gets married; we eat. If someone passes away; we eat. If it is a holiday; we eat. If we want to see a friend; we eat. Unlike other substances, we need food to live.

We are taught from birth that when we cry, we are given food. As a baby, food represents safety and security. It often ceases or satisfies our emotions. Even as adults if someone is trying to show you love, they will ask you if you have eaten.

Food often makes the emptiness we feel inside feel absent at least for a short period. Sugar sends a signal to our brains that is very similar to the signal co***ne sends. For a short period, it makes us feel happy and without pain.

It is clear to see how many people who feel sad, lost, hopeless, anxious, lonely, uncared for and empty would use food to fill that void. The weight we feel from our unhealthy mental health is often represented by our bodies. Stopping food addiction is often very difficult because we cannot completely abstain. We need food to survive. Lastly, food is often there when no one else is.

If you find yourself struggling with food addiction, contact a local mental health provider to start the journey to learning about your food relationship.

05/05/2021

May is Mental Health Awareness month. Did you know Mental Health Awareness month has been celebrated since 1949 in the United States? Here are some important things to know:

1. Your mental health is as important as your physical health.

2. Mental health concerns are very common. It is estimated that
at least 19% of Americans have an anxiety disorder. I
personally believe it is much higher than this.

3. You can start addressing your mental health concerns today!

Have you ever heard of the "Spoon Theory?" “The Spoon Theory” is a personal story by Christine Miserandino, is popular ...
04/02/2021

Have you ever heard of the "Spoon Theory?"

“The Spoon Theory” is a personal story by Christine Miserandino, is popular among many people dealing with chronic illness (this includes mental health). The theory is about the idea of limited energy, using “spoons” as a unit of energy.

Have you ever heard "You don't look sick? You look like you feel fine to me?" It is difficult to articulate how you may be feeling to others. The chart below demonstrates how spoons are calculated and how many you may get in a day.

The theory helps us be more patient and kind to ourselves by seeing that we are "not lazy, but rather our energy is depleted." It also reminds us to "recharge." If your cell phone battery was on 10%, you would be searching for a way to charge it. We need recharging to, which requires rest and self-care.

03/19/2021

There are some great pages on social media to follow that support mental health and have educational information. Some of those pages include Mental Health America, Real Warriors, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Waves of Wellness to list just a few. Of course, you can also always come here for information. If you are looking to start treatment, please reach out and get the process started.

03/17/2021

Many people are not certain what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is exactly. Many people assume that trauma would have to be something that was the absolute worst horrific thing they could imagine in order to be PTSD. However, trauma does not have to be experienced directly nor does it have to be the worst thing you can think of. You can hear about someone's experience and be traumatized. Clinical PTSD requires certain symptoms to be experienced by an individual such as nightmares, avoidance of stimuli, flashbacks, physical reactions, emotional reactions and others.

If you are wondering if you might have PTSD I suggest at least meeting with a therapist to process your experiences, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors surrounding possible trauma.
Contact our office today to get scheduled for an assessment. We have openings and can get you scheduled quickly. Our therapists have been trained in trauma modalities and have experience working with others who have PTSD. Take back the control in your life.

Our phone number and website are on this page. Either is an accepted way to contact us. We have a messaging service to send messages through a chat feature if you prefer that on our website. Please leave a message if you do not get an immediate response and someone will contact you promptly.

03/09/2021

You may experience some anxiety and uneasiness related to integrating back into society as more things open. Be patient with yourself, you most likely recently became comfortable with the way things are or were and are now being asked to change again. You may even realize you have suffered some trauma related to the pandemic. Reach out to a professional to get the support you need during these anxious and uneasy times.

03/05/2021

“A contented heart is a calm sea in the midst of all storms.” Anonymous

03/05/2021

Most people complete self-care to be more productive. This is not a healthy way of thinking. We should complete self-care to promote our mental well being. Here are some simple and low-cost ways you can complete self-care tasks:

1. Drink lots of water
2. Go for a walk
3. Spend time with a friend
4. Coloring
5. Take a hot bath and maybe even use a bath-bomb
6. Take a nap
7. Watch your favorite show
8. Use your favorite scented candle

Do NOT let someone convince you that you are being selfish by performing self-care. You are your most important resource.

03/03/2021

What is Mental Health?
1. Important
2. Something everyone has
3. Ever changing
4. Real
5. Something we need to pay attention to and take care of.

Mental Health is Not
1. A sign of weakness
2. Shameful
3. Feeling good all the time
4. Something you can just get over
5. All in your mind

Please be sure to take care of your mental health just as you would your physical health. If you need assistance, reach out to a local provider. There are emergency numbers you can use if you are feeling very bad. The National Su***de Prevention Number is 800-273-8255.

Please reach us if you need an appointment. We can get you seen in less than a week.

Address

90 East College Avenue
Columbus, OH
43081

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 9pm
Saturday 9am - 9pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16147836010

Website

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