Genesis Counseling Services Ltd

04/11/2026

Therapy is often viewed as a quick fix to problems but the reality is far more complex.
The truth is that therapy is non linear work. It is a gradual development of insight, learning skills, discovering patterns, and bringing awareness to responses that have gone unnoticed.
It is normal to go through cycles of insight, healing, triggers, and blocks throughout the process. And sometimes the pain gets worse before it gets better.

Remember however that growth in therapy is not defined by constant improvement. These cycles and shifts are part of the process and how meaningful and lasting change takes place.

04/04/2026

04/04/2026

A perfectly obedient child is often an anxious child in need of love and more autonomy to make mistakes and decisions. This often stems from a parent/guardian that either over corrects behaviors or unknowingly reinforces compliance.

03/22/2026

Any relationship that repairs after rupture(s), becomes stronger than those who haven't experienced a rupture at all.

03/18/2026

A Madison based support group for ages 60+

03/16/2026

Its a very snowy Monday morning! Genesis Counseling will be closed today due to the weather. We hope everyone stays safe and warm today and we will be open again tomorrow morning.

Thank you for your understanding.

03/10/2026

03/10/2026

Putting feelings into words does more than help you reflect. Brain imaging research shows it can shift activity inside emotional circuits.

The amygdala is often described as the brain’s threat detector. It helps you quickly respond to stress and uncertainty. When emotions feel intense or overwhelming, this region can become more active.

Studies using brain scans have found that labeling emotions — even briefly — is associated with reduced amygdala activity and increased engagement of the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex supports planning, reasoning, and self-regulation. In simple terms, writing about emotions appears to shift processing from automatic emotional reactivity toward more deliberate control.

Expressive writing research, including randomized controlled trials, suggests that structured emotional writing can reduce rumination and improve psychological well-being over time. When experiences are translated into language, the brain organizes them differently. What felt chaotic becomes structured, stored, and easier to reflect on.

This does not mean writing erases stress. It means the act of labeling feelings recruits regulatory networks that help the brain process emotional information more efficiently.

Even brief writing sessions have been linked to measurable changes in emotional processing patterns.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology; Mindfulness (Springer)

03/06/2026

We can’t fix an emotion we won’t look at.
In this clip, Dr. John Gottman shares a stance that can change conflict fast: curiosity. When our partner is angry, disappointed, or sad, we can meet it with questions and a real desire to understand, not dismissal, avoidance, or defensiveness.
Want the full conversation? Watch here: https://bit.ly/3NmACG9
Note: This advice does not apply in situations involving abuse.

02/27/2026

Impact matters more than intention. Just because you didn't intent it, doesn't meant you are absolved of accountability to repair any harm caused.

Some of the worst outcomes have been caused by good intentions.

02/18/2026

Learning Spotlight: Stages of Grief

Most of us have heard of the 5 stages of grief published by Dr. Kubler-Ross: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

What most of us don't realize is that those 5 stages were studied and published exclusively for explaining the emotional stages that an individual with a terminal illness might go through. They were not intended to be applied to other types of grief - Death of a loved one, empty nesting, job loss, retirement, etc.

While there are no agreed upon stages of grief, we do know there are common responses including:

Reduced concentration
A sense of numbness
Disrupted sleep patterns
Changed eating habits
Roller coaster of emotional energy

These are all normal and natural responses to loss and their duration is unique to every individual. Even while these are common reactions however, they do not appear in everyone who experiences grief.

Take aways: There are no absolutes in grief. There are no universal reactions, timeframes, or stages and that is totally normal.

For more grief resources checkout: "The Grief Recovery Handbook" by John W. James & Russell Friedman

Also check out our Griefshare Support Group here at Genesis Counseling: Thursdays 6pm-7pm. Call for info.