Likewise Mental Health Care

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Greenville, SC
Likewise Mental Health Care

I'm Bethany Pankratz and I’m a trauma-informed Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Mental Health Coach.

12/18/2024

That cram session paid off, and now for a post-exam nap. So proud of my girl, Solveig 🐕 and thank you to Astro Kennels for boosting the training game and testing her.

How many women in the Simpsonville, South Carolina area would love a therapy dog in the room while they process trauma?

12/22/2023

Merry Christmas from , including our therapy dog in-training: Solveig the little toasted white wolf! See you in 2024 💛🐺🎄🎁

10/13/2023

You do not need to shoulder the burden of hard things happening in the world right now. Especially if you are feeling the weight of your own immediate circumstances, I beg you, please do not.

Anthropologist Robin Dunbar, found that our brains can only hold space for and empathize with a maximum of 150 people (the historical average size of a village). In the last several decades in which technology has brought our knowledge of the world’s pain into our hearts and homes, our brains and bodies have not caught up. Just because we KNOW about the hard things that are happening across the globe, does not mean we have evolved to be able to HOLD these things.

Enter in term of “care and release” which I think is such a helpful picture. For my Christian and Bible-reading friends, refer to 1 Peter 5:7 which says, “give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” For those who believe in any kind of higher power, this is a comfort. You were not made to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, but to join in the petition to the One who can.

For those who do not believe in something greater than you, I can appreciate the great weight you might feel. Perhaps you can be with the feelings that come up; witness, acknowledge, and validate them, before sending them off with your well wishes and love. Your support will be felt, and your energy will be preserved for what needs your immediate attention at home and in your social sphere.

09/20/2023

WHY on earth would you think that was a good idea?

WHY do you always have to be like that?

WHY can’t you just do what you say you’re going to do?

The response will have to start with, “because...,” followed by an excuse or explanation to answer the question. The person responding has no choice but to defend herself.

There are other questions you can ask that don’t start with “why” which will give you the same effect, but this tip can help you catch yourself in the moment.

What’s even better is to catch yourself before you launch into questioning. Are you feeling curious or contemptuous? Are you capable of compassion in this moment or only criticism?

Because if only the latter is the case, then no matter how you word your question, you’re going to end up communicating nonverbally that your relationship with this person is less important than your current opinion.

09/19/2023

This probably sounds obvious, but we still tend to try don't we?

Focus on your own healing, and if someone else (partner, friend, parent, etc.) isn't jumping into their own work or keeping up with you and it's causing strain in your relationship, turn back to your own healing process and become curious about the need to control your external relationships. ....(which I can almost guarantee comes out of a good intention to make up for what was lacking at some point in your life).

05/14/2023

Whether you always knew your mom wasn’t who you needed her to be, or you’re just starting to discover this reality and all that comes with it, this one’s for you.

Right now, you may not have much ability to recognize any of the good your mom brought or brings to your relationship. That’s just the part of the process you’re in. If you can’t honor her today, you don’t have to drown in guilt over it. If you have to keep the honoring to a minimum, that’s ok too.

I hope that one day you will have a chance to tell her how you feel and why. But for today, make space to grieve. However that looks, prioritize the importance of expressing those emotions in a safe space. That’s enough for today.

04/19/2023

Feelings are not debatable, they are not opinions.

I know many of my Christian followers will cringe when I say, feelings ARE facts. And even more cringey: they are my/your/his/her truth.

Our feelings are not random, they don't come out of nowhere, nor for no reason. They are our mind + body's very real interpretation and reaction to the world, based on past experiences that tell us how to process the now and predict the future.

So it's no use to try to talk yourself or anyone else out of having feelings. They're not up for debate. They're not opinions asking to be villianized and set straight.

So what to do instead? Slow down if you can. Or begin slowly moving your body if you're stuck. Listen. What are these feelings asking you to pay attention to? Where in your body is becoming activated because of this feeling? This will bring more awareness, give you a chance to name what you're feeling, and thereby buy you more time to decide how you want to respond (in line with your values and/or the Truth) given this new information.

02/19/2023

Found a few more pictures of young me at my parents’ house yesterday. Teach me, little ones, I want to know your heart 💛

10/14/2022

Sound familiar? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Raise your hand if you’re an HSP (highly sensitive person) and can feel this in your bones.

10/07/2022

Welcome to Likewise 🌱

08/14/2022

In our Midwest culture we hear apologies flying out for every little thing. A lot of the time we’re taking responsibility for something that isn’t ours to hold, and/or doesn’t necessitate remorse. But when it comes to the big stuff we’d rather be passive and pretend like we haven’t caused harm.

There’s more to it than this:

But could it be that all the unnecessary guilt we claim for ourselves racks up enough shame that by the time we need to express true remorse we don’t believe we’ll be worthy of forgiveness? That instead we could just cash in on the mercy of the other and hope the relationship maintains status quo.

This is one of the places where we miss out on true, interpersonal connection. Hurt happens in relationships, but so does healing.

Address

230 Adley Way
Greenville, SC
29607

Telephone

+19206590180

Website

http://likewisemhc.com/

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