Puglisi Counseling, LLC

Puglisi Counseling, LLC In-person and Telehealth Mental Health Counseling in Scranton, PA. Offering services including DBT, EMDR, CBT, Anger Management, and more.
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Check out Puglisicounseling.com or give us a call at 570-766-0772 for more information.

01/28/2026

If you sit in your car before going inside, this is for you.

You’re already home. Or at work. Or parked outside somewhere you’re supposed to be. The car is off. You should go inside. But instead… you’re just sitting there.

Maybe you’re scrolling your phone without really reading anything. Maybe you’re staring straight ahead. Maybe that song ended a while ago and you did not notice. Maybe you are giving yourself a quiet pep talk. Maybe you are just trying to remember what it feels like to not be exhausted.

You tell yourself, five more minutes. That is all you need.

Five minutes where nobody needs anything from you.
Five minutes where you are not “mom,” or “the strong one,” or “the one who holds it all together.”
Five minutes where you do not have to talk, smile, problem solve, or explain how your day was when you are barely holding it together.

The car is that in between place. You are not at work anymore, but you are not home yet. You are not dealing with what you just left, and you are not ready for what is waiting inside. You are just there, needing a moment to switch gears.

And here is the part people do not say out loud. This is not you being lazy or dramatic. It is not you falling apart. It is you trying to regulate yourself. It is you taking a breath before you keep going.

Somewhere along the way, your car became your decompression space. The one place where no one can ask you for anything. Where you can sit quietly and remind yourself, I can do this for a little longer.

So if you are reading this from your car right now, parked outside wherever you are supposed to be, take your five minutes. You are not doing anything wrong. Nobody inside even knows you are out here.

And when you are ready, whether that five minutes turns into ten, you will go inside. You will do what needs to be done. Because that is what you always do.

But right now, the car is yours. 🚗

01/28/2026

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. And sometimes it gets stuck. If you’re still drowning, if basic tasks feel impossible, if you’re avoiding everything that reminds you of them, that’s complicated grief. It’s real, and you’re not failing.

Some losses are too heavy to carry alone. Grief therapy helps you process what feels impossible to move through. You can honor their memory and still move forward.

Call (570) 766-0772 or visit puglisicounseling.com

You don’t have to face this alone

Feeling overwhelmed? Ground yourself in 30 seconds.Your thoughts are racing. Your chest feels tight. Everything hits at ...
01/28/2026

Feeling overwhelmed? Ground yourself in 30 seconds.

Your thoughts are racing. Your chest feels tight. Everything hits at once. You need to get out of your head and back into your body, right now.

This is a simple grounding exercise that actually helps. It is called the 5-4-3-2-1 method, and you can use it anywhere without drawing attention to yourself.

Name five things you can see.
Look around you. Your shoes. The door. A tree. A clock. Anything in your space. Take a moment to really notice them.

Name four things you can touch.
Feel your feet on the floor. Your clothes against your skin. The chair supporting you. Your phone in your hand.

Name three things you can hear.
Traffic outside. Your breathing. A fan. A refrigerator humming. Whatever sounds are present.

Name two things you can smell.
Coffee. Fresh air. Soap. Even faint smells count.

Name one thing you can taste.
Gum. Your last sip of coffee. Even just noticing the inside of your mouth.

That is it. Thirty seconds. When your brain is focused on what is happening right now, it cannot spiral as easily into what if thoughts.

This will not fix everything that is stressing you out, but it can pull you out of panic mode and help you think more clearly about what comes next.

Save this for the next time you need it. And if feeling overwhelmed is becoming your normal, support is available.

01/27/2026

What’s one thing you wish people really understood about mental health? 💭

We’ll go first: you do not have to be in crisis to talk to someone.

Too many people wait until they are barely holding it together before reaching out. But therapy is not just for rock bottom. It is for “I’m functioning but not happy,” “I’m stressed all the time,” “I keep having the same fights with my partner,” or “I just feel off and don’t know why.”

You would not wait until your car completely breaks down to get an oil change. Mental health works the same way. Maintenance matters.

Now your turn. What is something you wish people really understood about mental health, therapy, or taking care of yourself?

Drop it in the comments. Let’s talk about it 💭 ⬇️

Feeling angry? Ask yourself these three questions.Anger gets a bad reputation. We are told to calm down, not overreact, ...
01/27/2026

Feeling angry? Ask yourself these three questions.

Anger gets a bad reputation. We are told to calm down, not overreact, and just let it go. But anger is not the problem. Anger is information. It is your mind and body saying something is not okay.

The trouble starts with what we do next. We snap at the wrong people. We hold it in until it spills out sideways. We replay it over and over. Or we turn it inward and blame ourselves.

So when you feel that heat rise, your chest tighten, or the urge to say something you might regret, pause and ask yourself these three questions.

1️⃣ What actually triggered this?
Not just the surface issue. Yes, the dishes are still in the sink. But is it really about the dishes, or is it about feeling unheard, unsupported, or taken for granted? Getting curious helps you see what is really going on.

2️⃣ What do I actually need right now?
Anger often shows up when a need is not being met. Maybe you need respect, rest, support, or to feel seen. When you identify the need, you stop fighting the symptom and start addressing the cause.

3️⃣ What would actually help in this moment?
Not what feels good for five seconds, like snapping or shutting down, but what will help long term. That might be speaking up calmly, stepping away, letting the feeling pass, or deciding this is not the hill to die on.

Anger is not bad. Ignored or unexamined anger is what causes damage. When you listen to it instead of fighting it or letting it take over, it becomes a guide instead of a problem.

If anger feels like it is running your life, you do not have to figure it out alone. We can help you understand what is underneath it and how to respond in healthier ways.

📞 570-766-0772
🌐 puglisicounseling.com
Scranton | Taylor | Peckville

Therapy is for everyone. Every story. Every struggle.You do not need to have it all figured out to start therapy. You do...
01/27/2026

Therapy is for everyone. Every story. Every struggle.

You do not need to have it all figured out to start therapy. You do not need to be in crisis. You do not need the perfect reason.

If you are struggling, that is reason enough.

Maybe you are a parent trying to break patterns you grew up with. Maybe anxiety feels constant and exhausting. Maybe you lost someone and cannot find your footing again. Maybe your relationship feels fragile. Maybe you just feel off and cannot explain why.

Whatever your story is, you do not have to carry it alone. 🤍

At Puglisi Counseling, we work with individuals, couples, families, and children across our Scranton, Taylor, and Peckville locations. We offer approaches like EMDR, DBT, play therapy, art therapy, and more because healing looks different for everyone.

Therapy is not just for certain people or extreme situations. It is for anyone who wants to feel better, understand themselves more, and move forward with support.

If you are ready to take the first step, we are here for you.

📞 570-766-0772
✉️ hello@puglisicounseling.com
🌐 puglisicounseling.com

01/26/2026

Some days feel like too much before noon.

You are balancing work, kids, bills, family stuff, and that one thing you forgot that will not leave your brain alone. Your chest feels tight, your thoughts are everywhere, and all you want is a way to get through the next few minutes without falling apart.

This is where a simple DBT skill can help. It is called IMPROVE, and you do not need to use every part. Just pick what fits the moment you are in.

I – Imagery
Picture a place where you feel calm. Maybe it is the beach, a quiet room, or sitting by a fire. Slow down and really imagine being there.

M – Meaning
Find one reason this moment matters. Maybe you are doing this for your kids. Maybe it is proof that you are stronger than you give yourself credit for.

P – Prayer or meditation
Whatever helps you feel grounded. A short prayer, a few deep breaths, or a moment of stillness can be enough.

R – Relaxation
Lift your shoulders up toward your ears. Hold them there. Then let them drop. Notice how your body feels afterward.

O – One thing in the moment
Do just one small task and give it your full attention. Wash one dish. Fold one shirt. Nothing else matters right now.

V – Vacation, but brief
Give yourself permission to step away for ten minutes. Watch something funny, take a short walk, or scroll without guilt. Then gently come back.

E – Encouragement
Talk to yourself the way you would talk to someone you care about. You have handled hard things before. You can handle this too.

If stress, anxiety, or overwhelm are starting to feel constant, support can make a real difference. At Puglisi Counseling, we help individuals learn practical skills to manage emotions, reduce anxiety, and feel more in control again. Appointments are available in person or through telehealth.

Call 570-766-0772 or visit www.Puglisicounseling.com to get started.

You deserve support, not just survival.

01/26/2026

So… that snowstorm yesterday. How is everyone holding up?

We made it through the snow day. Barely. ❄️

If you spent Sunday stir crazy while the kids climbed the walls, or alone scrolling your phone for hours trying not to think too much, or just feeling that cabin fever slowly creep in, you are not alone.

Being stuck inside when you cannot leave hits different than choosing to stay home. Even if you had no plans. The walls feel closer. The day feels longer. Your patience gets thinner.

But here we are. Monday. You made it through.

Maybe you binged a show, stress cleaned, ate your feelings, took a 2 p.m. nap, or did all of the above. However you survived counts. 🙌

And here is the reminder we all need right now. Spring is coming. We are past the worst of winter, even if it does not feel like it yet. Every snowstorm from here on out is one closer to the last one. The days are already getting longer, even if only by a minute or two. 🌱

We will get there. One snow day at a time.

How did you survive yesterday? What got you through? And more importantly, is everyone dug out today or are we still trapped?

Drop a ☃️ if you are over winter or a ☀️ if you are ready for spring.

01/26/2026

Your anger isn’t the problem. It’s the alarm system trying to tell you something needs attention. Maybe it’s protecting your boundaries, your dignity, your safety, or something you love. We help you decode what your anger is really saying at Puglisi Counseling.

The parts of you that still hurt are not broken. They are asking to be cared for.Inner child work is not self help fluff...
01/23/2026

The parts of you that still hurt are not broken. They are asking to be cared for.

Inner child work is not self help fluff. It is the process of healing the younger version of you who learned the world was not safe, that emotions were inconvenient, or that love came with conditions. That part of you never disappeared, and it still deserves compassion and attention.

Begin by speaking to yourself with care. Notice the tone of your inner dialogue. Would you speak to a child the way you speak to yourself? That critical voice was learned somewhere. With intention and support, it can be softened and reshaped.

Allow yourself moments of play and joy. You do not need to earn rest or pleasure. Draw, move your body, sit outside, or do something simply because it feels good. Joy is a vital part of healing, not a reward for productivity.

Set the boundaries you needed but did not have. You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to leave situations that harm you. You are allowed to protect your peace. The safety you needed as a child is something you can build for yourself now.

This work takes time. Healing is not a quick fix. It is a gradual reconnection with the parts of yourself that still show up in your relationships, your self worth, and how you move through the world.

At Puglisi Counseling, we support individuals through this deeper trauma focused work. Your whole story matters, including the chapters that were painful.

Scranton | Taylor | Peckville
570-766-0772

Healing begins when every part of you is finally allowed to matter.

01/23/2026

You wouldn’t feel guilty about treating a broken bone. So why apologize for taking care of your mental health?

Your brain is an organ. Sometimes it needs help. That’s not weakness, that’s healthcare.

Mental health IS health. Period.
Serving NEPA: Scranton | Taylor | Peckville
570-766-0772

How do you actually feel loved? Everyone’s different.Most people give love the way they want to receive it. That creates...
01/22/2026

How do you actually feel loved? Everyone’s different.
Most people give love the way they want to receive it. That creates disconnection. Learning your partner’s love language changes everything.

Words of Affirmation: “I’m proud of you.” “You matter to me.” Words hit different when this is your language.

Quality Time: Put the phone down. Be present. Undivided attention matters more than fancy plans.

Physical Touch: Hugs, hand-holding, sitting close.
Physical connection makes you feel safe and loved.

Receiving Gifts: It’s not about the price tag. Thoughtful gifts show “I was thinking about you when you weren’t around.”

Acts of Service: Actions over words. Making coffee, filling the gas tank, handling the thing you’ve been dreading. That’s love.

When you don’t know each other’s love languages, you end up trying hard but missing the mark. One person feels neglected while the other feels unappreciated. Both are trying. Both are confused.

The good news? Once you understand how your person feels loved, connection gets easier. You’re not guessing anymore. You’re speaking their language.

Address

201 Lackawanna Avenue
Scranton, PA
18503

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+15707660772

Website

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