Lauren J. Hellkamp, LICSW

12/01/2023

Several people needed this reminder this week… Happy Friday 😊

01/03/2022

Sometimes, this s**t feels HARD. “This s**t” can mean many things - the pandemic, parenting, teaching, life, or just plain being a human. As I considered what I wanted my first post of the year to be, this is what I kept coming back to… In a new year when we are all working toward moving forward and making progress in our own lives, we can first acknowledge that this has been so difficult in so many ways.

Allow yourself to feel all the feelings, to give yourself a break when you need it, to be gentle with yourself, to reach out for support and just be there for one another. And as always, if you feel you could benefit from seeing a professional, seek one out! We are here, and we’re in the thick of the s**t right with you 😊

12/14/2021

I read something the other day that said to avoid making decisions when tired. While I can appreciate this, I have to say, since this pandemic started, I am just…TIRED. Yet here I am, an adult person, having to make decisions anyway. The pandemic has taken decision-making to a whole new level. We are having to make big decisions about things on a daily basis that we never even had to think about or question....

I read something the other day that said to avoid making decisions when tired. While I can appreciate this, I have to say, since this pandemic started, I am just…TIRED. Yet here I am, an adult pers…

08/20/2021

You know that feeling you get when you open up your internet browser and there are just SO MANY TABS open? Does it ever feel like that's your brain sometimes? We live in a world where we want to do all the things, know all the things, and think about all the things...and we want to do it all RIGHT NOW....

You know that feeling you get when you open up your internet browser and there are just SO MANY TABS open? Does it ever feel like that’s your brain sometimes? We live in a world where we want…

07/13/2021

The word “should” is by far my least favorite word. Time and time again, I hear people say they “should” feel this way or they “should” do this or that thing. Most of the time, these “should’s” lead us to one place - we should be better, and we are not measuring up in some way. “Should-ing” on yourself means to put excess pressure on yourself to do something or be something....

The word “should” is by far my least favorite word. Time and time again, I hear people say they “should” feel this way or they “should” do this or that thing. Most of the time, these “should’s” lea…

07/01/2021

Happy 2 years in my private practice!

06/07/2021

Now booking for outdoor sessions in the gazebo!

05/26/2021

People-pleasing is not about just being nice or helpful to others. People-pleasing is putting other people’s needs before your own, neglecting your own needs in order to satisfy others. Over time, people-pleasing is likely to lead you to feeling resentful of others, feel taken advantage of, and lead to increased stress because you are taking on more than you can handle in order to please others....

People-pleasing is not about just being nice or helpful to others. People-pleasing is putting other people’s needs before your own, neglecting your own needs in order to satisfy others. Over time, …

05/19/2021

You are not your thoughts. Thoughts are not facts. Thoughts are mental events that pop up in our minds, whether we like it or not, or whether we want them there or not. However, we have a tendency to treat our every thought as though it is the absolute truth. When a thought bothers us, we hold on tightly to it, attach it to ourselves and allow it to take all our power....

You are not your thoughts. Thoughts are not facts. Thoughts are mental events that pop up in our minds, whether we like it or not, or whether we want them there or not. However, we have a tendency …

05/12/2021

After over a year of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is beginning to open up and people are experiencing all kinds of different emotions. Some are feeling a sense of relief that we are starting to move forward, some are reluctant to make forward moves because they feel it is not quite time, and some are experiencing increasing anxiety and other mental health symptoms....

After over a year of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is beginning to open up and people are experiencing all kinds of different emotions. Some are feeling a sense of …

05/07/2021

For some reason in our society, we have a “good vibes only” mentality. Let me be clear, I do love good vibes, but sometimes, my vibes are not good. Sometimes, my vibes are a bit s**t. And that is okay. It is important to normalize ALL the feelings, not just the ones we label as “good.” If the expectation in your life is that you are supposed to be happy all the time, you will never be able to live up to that standard and will likely feel a sense of disappointment with yourself anytime you feel anything other than happy....

For some reason in our society, we have a “good vibes only” mentality. Let me be clear, I do love good vibes, but sometimes, my vibes are not good. Sometimes, my vibes are a bit s**t. And that is o…