Togetherness Counseling

01/02/2025

Togetherness Counseling is currently looking to take on additional registered interns for contract therapist positions. If you are interested in learning more, please email your resume to tara@togethernesscounseling.com.

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10/12/2024

As a native Floridian, I am not new to hurricanes. In 2004, Hurricane Charley totaled my car and Hurricane Francis destroyed my home. I have been without power on numerous occasions and even showered at the gym. In 2022, Hurricane Ian flooded my property resulting in upwards of 5 feet of standing water. We had fish visible at the back porch and the water came within 2 inches of the doors. We later learned the hard way that concrete is both porous and absorbent when six months later our newly laid vinyl plank floors became squishy. Not having flood insurance, we had to pay out-of-pocket to have the floors ripped up, the subfloor removed, and the mold abated. Needless to say, my response to hurricanes runs the gambit from numb intellectualization to sheer terror. In the world of counseling and psychology, my reaction to hurricanes is referred to as complex trauma. I am confident that many of my fellow Floridians share in both my experiences and emotional distress associated with hurricanes. In this edition of the Togetherness Times, we are going to discuss the mental and emotional impact of natural disasters and explore coping strategies for you and your family.
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09/08/2024

Every field of study has its own language and acronyms to refer to concepts, theories and practice. To offer transparency around the terms you may hear about in the counseling field, the coming Togetherness Times newsletters will explore different therapeutic modalities that you may be interested in for yourself or a loved one. To begin, we will explore Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a modality that has gained lots of attention over the last 10 years. We will specifically explain what this modality is, identify 9 mental health conditions DBT is used for and discuss 4 techniques that you can use in your daily life to aid in emotional regulation. To be the first to receive the next edition, click the link below. https://taras-newsletter-e3513a.beehiiv.com/subscribe

08/27/2024

Professionally, self-compassion is a topic that comes up with my clients, at minimum, once a day. Personally, self-compassion is something that has been a central focus in my own personal counseling and wellness journey. I was inspired to write about self-compassion in this edition after a series of personal stressors and client stories that all centered around the same theme: suffering. Suffering is a universal human condition that none of us will escape; however, our response to suffering varies widely from person to person. Some of my clients accept failure and imperfection as an opportunity to do better and learn. Sadly, this is not how I commonly hear myself and others talk about suffering. In this edition of the Togetherness Times, we are going to explore 5 common myths associated with self-compassion, learn ways to practice self-compassion and provide 11 self-compassion affirmations for daily use. To receive the next edition, click the link to sign-up. https://taras-newsletter-e3513a.beehiiv.com/subscribe

08/10/2024

The closer we get to November the more conversations I am having with my clients about election stress and anxiety. The 2024 results of the American Psychiatric Association’s annual mental health poll show that U.S. adults are feeling increasingly anxious, with 73% of surveyed adults saying that they feel particularly anxious about the 2024 U.S. election. While not an official diagnosis per the American Psychiatric Association, the term “election stress disorder” was coined by Washington DC-based psychologist Steven Stosny. In the upcoming edition of the Togetherness Times, we explore 5 common emotions associated with election stress, suggest 5 coping strategies for managing distress and share 6 strategies for navigating political conversations. Be the first to receive the upcoming newsletter by clicking the link to subscribe below. https://togethernesscounseling.com/newsletter/.

07/27/2024

Back-to-school season is upon us again. Whether it’s your first year sending your child off to school or your tenth, back to school season ushers in a mixture of stressors. Purchasing supplies and clothing, learning bus routes, obtaining class schedules, and meeting the teacher are some tasks associated with going back to school that parents need to accommodate for in both their schedules and finances. While some stressors are ubiquitous to all parents, other stressors like, adjusting your child’s 504 plan, ensuring supportive services are in place and advocating for your child’s educational and emotional needs are not experienced by every parent. In the upcoming edition of the Togetherness Times, we are going to explore seven common and unique stressors, identify management strategies for each and offer FREE resources for all parents. To be the first to receive the edition, click the link below to sign-up. Https://togethernesscounseling.com/newsletter/

07/12/2024

Summertime advertisements frequently usher in images of svelte and fit individuals. While many people find these images attractive and idealized, this level of physical fitness may not be possible for the average working parent. What these ads don’t tell you is that to maintain an ideal physical physique as you age, you need to incorporate regular strength and cardio training, eat within your daily calorie budget, eat balanced and nutritious meals, and obtain adequate sleep, to name a few. If you are like me, the focus of many days as a working mom is to balance the work and family demands that are already on my plate, pun intended. Creating the space for physical fitness is not always a luxury that time affords. In this week’s edition of the Togetherness Times, we are going to tackle the topic of physical fitness as a lifestyle whereby progress is celebrated and acknowledged through small attainable actions. Specifically, we will address ways five ways to increase physical activity by incorporating it into your daily routine, discuss seven healthy eating habits, and explore six common barriers to adopting a fit mindset and lifestyle. To be the first to receive the latest edition, click the link below.
Https://togethernesscounseling.com/newsletter/

07/03/2024

Did you know that there are many tips and tricks for saving money on everyday items and nice to have experiences? For example, veteran's can receive four free tickets to Sea World annually. While a marked increase in costs for groceries, rent and gas, many families can no longer afford to take an annual summer vacation. In an effort to avoid summertime sadness, this week's newsletter provides readers with 9 tips for how to save money this summer, offers 8 suggestions for how to engage meaningfully and suggests five ways to enhance self-care. If you want to learn how to create meaningful experiences on a budget, click the link below.

Planning for Finacial Strain, Burn-Out and Boredom

06/24/2024

As the cost of living continues to rise drastically, many families experience increased financial strain during the summertime as they try to balance vacations and activities for the kids. In the upcoming edition of the Togetherness Times, we share eight cost cutting strategies that can be used for everyday and nice to have items. To be the first to receive the edition, click the link below.
https://togethernesscounseling.com/newsletter/

06/17/2024

Did you know that mental illness occurs in disproportionate numbers in the LGBTQIA population? While the reasons for this are varied, discrimination, exposure to hate crimes, bullying and rejection from support systems are all major contributors. In this week's edition of the Togetherness Times, we explore the 6 mental illnesses common to the LGBTQIA population, suggest 6 ways that you can support someone who identifies as LGBTQIA and provide 9 local resources for support in the Greater Orlando area. To see the full article, click below.

How to Support a member of the LGBTQIA Community

06/11/2024

Did you know that members of the LGBTQIA community suffer from mental illness, partner violence and hate crimes in greater numbers to the general public? In this week's edition of the Togetherness Times, we will explore mental health conditions that occur in this population and national and local resources. To be the first to receive the article, click the link below.

https://togethernesscounseling.com/newsletter/

06/07/2024

Do you know the difference between sexual identity, sexual orientation and gender orientation? In this week's edition of the Togetherness Times, we explain how each of these constructs differ and impact an individual's coming out. We additionally explore common concerns both parents and youth have upon coming out. To read the full article, click the link below.

How to Support a Loved One's Disclosure