https://www.thrivlifecounseling.com/

ThrivLife Counseling LLC, Virginia Beach, VA (2025)

11/25/2022

Let’s hear it for families with communication breakdowns [hint hint, that’s ALL FAMILIES!] 🧏🏻‍♀️🙋🏽🤷🏽‍♀️🙆🏼‍♂️ And we love what Jenny had to say about her experience with the WIRED Fall 2022 session—because it represents not only her truth but also so many other individuals from the workshop we just completed!

10/30/2022

There is power in laughter! I invite you: make a choice today to laugh even if/when you DON'T feel like laughing. 🙂 🙃 Especially alongside your spouse or family. Here's why:

It's exactly when you (or they) have had a tough day, or you're exhausted, or just "down" that you NEED a good laugh. A little bit of humor will help wash away the stress. 🚿🧼

Laughing will also keep your marriage and family together in moments when you’re coming unglued. Think of laughter as the adhesive that helps you stick together. 🩹😜

Don't you love this pic of these WIRED Workshop grads from summer 2022? Give them some love in the comments!

10/27/2022

Our thoughts determine how we feel and behave. It can be hard to sort out all this on your own, 😵‍💫 but it changes EVERYTHING when you have someone walking alongside you, cheering you on and providing expert counseling.

I love working with clients through the complex layers of cognitive behavioral therapy in a way that DOESN'T overwhelm, exhaust or discourage. ✳️ Our minds really are maps for life and it makes all the difference when you have a guide to help navigate. 🗺️

Be mindful of your thoughts
📍 Your thoughts become your feelings
📍 Your feelings become your actions
📍 Your actions become your habits
📍 Your habits become your identity
📍 Your identity becomes your destiny

Give us a call to set up an appointment if you're interested in how counseling can help you!

10/24/2022

"I have done years of counseling and this has been the best experience by far. Cassy is very knowledgable, personable, and patient. She creates a safe atmosphere in every session and I have been able to experience breakthrough and healing just from finally being able to share."
– Nicole J.

Thank you Nicole for this wonderful review! I love my clients, and helping them reach healing, freedom and wholeness.

10/22/2022

15 minutes! ⬅️ All it takes to shift the daily dynamic with your teen. We've now hosted our second WIRED workshop this fall, and families have been learning the value of "Our Time." It's a GAME CHANGER, friends!

Our Time is daily, one-on-one connection with your teen. Take 15 minutes and it’s only ALL about your teen! Just sit and listen with them—no correction or guidance during this time. 😉 Your praise and attention is the most important focus for 15 solid minutes.

This focused time creates happy bonding feelings, nurtures emotional health, helps alleviate sibling rivalry, and protects kids from alcohol and drug use. Our Time works best with a prearranged time that's consistent. Let your teen choose the activity and you go along for the ride.

You'll find it more rewarding and fun than you imagined!

10/20/2022

If your life is anything like mine, you're already anticipating the increased stress as we get closer to the holidays! 🛑 So before we get there, check out these methods to keep in your back pocket for when things get a little... tense.

1️⃣ Breath focus. In this simple, powerful technique, you take long, slow, deep breaths (also known as abdominal or belly breathing). As you breathe, you gently disengage your mind from distracting thoughts and sensations.

2️⃣ Body scan. This technique blends breath focus with progressive muscle relaxation. After a few minutes of deep breathing, you focus on one part of the body at a time and mentally releasing any physical tension you feel there.

3️⃣ Guided imagery. For this technique, you conjure up soothing scenes, places, or experiences in your mind to help you relax and focus. You can find free apps and online recordings of calming scenes—just make sure to choose imagery you find soothing and that has personal significance.

4️⃣ Mindfulness meditation. This practice involves sitting comfortably, focusing on your breathing, and bringing your mind's attention to the present moment without drifting into concerns about the past or the future. May be especially helping for people who deal with anxiety, depression, and pain.

Adapted from Relaxation Techniques to Reduce Stress by Harvard Health

10/18/2022

A family paint mess — who else wants to try this?! 🙋🏻‍♀️ Seems like a great family tradition to me. And family traditions help kids have fun and feel a sense of identity, belonging, and connectedness.

Our happiness is directly related to adopting pro-social values, giving service to others, and bonding with fun family traditions and happy family rituals.

Family traditions are ways of celebrating events or experiences that help kids experience joy, feel strengthened in who they are, and how much they belong—just as they are.

Want a few ideas to consider for adding new traditions to your family dynamic this season?

🫂 Family game night
🫂 Father-son outing
🫂 Daddy-daughter date
🫂 Monthly lunch date with Mom
🫂 Saturday special breakfast
🫂 Hold a family “Values” night and serve treats

What are some traditions you have in your home? Or ideas you may want to implement soon?

09/29/2022

P A U S E . And breathe. Check on yourself. How are you feeling in your body? What kind of thoughts are you having? Just notice. Now relax your shoulders. Cross your fingers and stretch your arms above your head. Take a deep breath.

And back to the grind. 👋🏼

😘 Sometimes it's the simple things that help us reach from one moment to the next, and I love helping my clients find rhythms that work for them. Thanks for pausing with me today!

09/26/2022

At ThrivLife Counseling, we offer individual therapy AND group sessions, both available in-person or online. 👥 💻 Our empathetic counseling is focused on helping you navigate life's challenges—because sometimes, ya just need a little help!

Instead of "talking at you," we come alongside you on your path to therapeutic growth. We're here, offering strength and powerful tools of change, healing and connection.

Like what?? 🔧 Therapeutic coping skills to help you navigate everyday stressors.
⚙️ Specific tools to address anxiety, depression, relationship stress and trauma.
⚙️ Approaches to confront toxic belief systems that hold you back from finding fulfillment and joy in your journey.
⚙️ Effective and transformative, solution focused therapy, to improve and empower your life.
⚙️ A partnership team approach between client and therapist to accomplish your goals and help you thriv–!

If you're interested in how ThrivLife can help you, DM us or give us a call. We're ready for ya, friend. (757) 453-7800

09/23/2022

Whatever you're facing in your family's life is not "too far gone." That child of yours is still there.

I love working with families and individuals who are stuck, struggling, and even ready to give up. There is HOPE! There is a thriving life available for you, and I want to help you find it, maintain it and starting living it.

Give me a call if you want to chat. (757) 453-7800

09/20/2022

Families working . . . TOGETHER. Our second ever WIRED Workshop is happening now through mid-October, with families who are committed each week to growing stronger and closer. And it's SO FUN!

This really is the work of eternity, I believe. Investing in your own family is one of the single greatest things you can do with your time and resources.

Catching the "ah-ha" moments that these parents and teens are having each week is an absolute thrill.

Where are my WIRED families at? Let's cheer each other on! Past or present, comment with some love down below! ⬇️

09/17/2022

And we all tap "add to cart." 😆

09/14/2022

Now that school here to stay ➡️ And we MIGHT be encountering negative behavior from our young people (???) ⬅️ Get these pointers for parents and teachers!

🔸🔸🔸
We have to start with understanding what's BEHIND bad behavior in children and teens?
🔸🔸🔸

A class clown 🤡 may be:
➕ Motivated by avoiding class work as a diversion
➕ In need of attention and admiration
➕ Or maybe he's lacking confidence and therefore mocking his classmates

What about lying?? 🤥
➕ Exaggeration of truth is often used to mask insecurities, while other lies may be more deceptive in nature, like the lie of omission.
➕ Teens know parents may not give permission when all the facts are known, keeping the juicy details out of the convo.

🔹🔹🔹
As a parent or teacher, how do you DEAL WITH these and other bad behaviors?
🔹🔹🔹

➕ Help your child label their emotions to discover the feelings that are underneath.

➕ Take time to discover the “need” for the child’s “bad” behavior.

➕ Make time for regular “dates” with your child to improve communication and discuss the hot topics.

➕ And lastly, praise and notice the good behaviors. Use the 5/1 ratio for building positive connections (e.g. 5 positive interactions for every 1 negative exchange).

Is this helpful? Would you like to see more practical tips like these? I am cheering you on, and by your side!

09/12/2022

Our internal voice is SO important to our wellbeing! Try shifting these common negative thought patterns into positive and life-giving statements.

We're here to help you thriv. 🌿 Tag or share with a friend!

09/04/2022

Eeeek! I cannot wait for WIRED Workshop to start next week! 🙌🏼 Who has Qs? Drop 'em here in the comments, or DM us to find out anything you're wondering about!

09/03/2022

Research shows that when children have parents who regularly use EMOTION COACHING with them 🚩🚩🚩 they have better physical health, get better grades in school, have fewer behavior problems, get along better with friends, and are more emotionally resilient and mentally healthy than children whose parents don’t use the skill.

Use these tips to help your child understand and label their emotions in order to express them in prosocial ways. 👍🏾

1. This graphic can help your children identify and label their emotions. You can have them repeat the words to describe how they are feeling, and give examples.
2. Help your children decide on prosocial ways to express their emotions; and set behavior limits so they know what is, and is not, acceptable.
3. Be aware and pay mindful attention to your child’s feelings and emotions.
4. Take a deep breath and calm yourself when a child exhibits negative emotions, and recognize it as a teaching opportunity.
5. When children react in antisocial ways, privately review this graphic with them. Have them describe a prosocial way to express their emotions instead. Have them practice it and compliment them on their progress.
6. Listen kindly and intently; seek to understand by paraphrasing what he/she appears to be feeling, and validate your child’s right to feel that way (even if you disagree).

We are all on this path together, friends, and I am here to support you!

09/02/2022

Here’s how to confront negative behavior in a way that ⬇️ REDUCES ⬇️ conflict, instead of increases it! 👉🏼 7 clear steps for this common parenting challenge:

1. Find a good time to talk privately and calmly.
2. Describe the behavior you observed.
3. Ask what happened.
4. Ask what your teen or child could have done differently.
5. Ask what they can do to correct behavior and make amends. Give consequence if needed.
6. Ask them to practice the correct behavior.
7. Express love.

We help families learn these methods and (many more!) in our upcoming WIRED Workshop for parents and teens (age 11-18). Starting September 8!
🔥 Get info at WIREDFAMILIES.ORG or DM us with any questions.

ThrivLife Counseling LLC