Courage Compass Therapy LLC

01/05/2022

A beautiful, heartwarming story about a friendship between a dog and an elephant. A little light for these gloomy days :)

In this latest installment of CBS News Assignment America, Steve Hartman visits an animal sanctuary where a dog and an elephant have formed a very lasting, a...

01/03/2022

https://couragecompass.squarespace.com/blog/newyearsamefeelings

New Year but same feelings— this is what I’ve been hearing from people as the year begins. It’s hard when it feels like the same thing day in and day out, the weather is gloomy, COVID is surging, and we still can’t do the things we want when we want. I’m not going to tell you to be gratefu...

03/11/2021

This past year has been an unpredictable journey for all of us. This blog post is about my experience doing a Kintsugi workshop and how this art is all about imperfection, worthiness, and acceptance.
www.couragecompasstherapy.com/blog/kintsugi

03/10/2021

Wondering why you're not "happy" when it's nice outside?

Many people feel paradoxical mood shifts around the start of Daylight Savings Time due to changes in circadian rhythms. I have found that people who feel this way are less likely to say anything because they will be met with comments like- "Be happy, it's spring! It's nice out!" Or, "Why do you feel that way now as opposed to the fall?"

I will not speak to the harm that dismissive and minimizing comments have right now, but you can see how hearing these statements would dissuade people who are struggling to ask for help or support. Here is an article from 2019 explaining more about the reasons for mood disruption at Spring Forward, and some tips to get through it more easily.

If you don't feel "happy," you are not alone. If you do feel happy and optimistic with more daylight and warmer temperatures, that's also great. As always, we want to be mindful and aware of everyone's individual emotional experiences.

This weekend, we'll move our clocks ahead for daylight saving time. Academics who study sleep and depression say the time switch is unhealthful. But there are a few things you can do to make it feel less harsh.

01/27/2021

https://couragecompass.squarespace.com/whenadhdistrauma

12/28/2020

THIS. So much this. My pet peeve is when people I'm seeing (now virtually) are experiencing unnecessary suffering. There is suffering that is inevitable as 2020 has very clearly shown us, but symptoms of ADD/ADHD doesn't have to be in the mix.

Specializing in anxiety, I have found that many people coming in with symptoms of anxiety do not, in fact, just have anxiety. This is why I screen and assess different symptoms and disorders. If we don't know what's causing what, how do we know what will work to help?

I know ADD can easily be dismissed with many objections, explanations, and dismissals. I've heard them. They break my heart, as many are misunderstood and misguided. "People have gotten through this long, wouldn't someone have noticed it?" No. "I'm just a forgetful person." Maybe you're not. "I know someone who has ADD and I am not like them in any way." ADD/ADHD presents differently in children, adults, and different genders. I'd rather rule out ADD/ADHD than dismiss it without thorough investigation.

Some people experience symptoms of ADD/ADHD because of trauma, which is certainly something evaluate and discern. However, when symptoms do point to undiagnosed ADD, and medication is started as a complement to therapy, the clouds part and there is a rainbow. I'm not kidding. Please read this article because the title says it all: "I could've been myself so much longer."

“Shame caused me to write off my symptoms for many years. The realities of being a Black woman also held back my diagnosis, as did grappling with strongly ingrained attitudes about medication and mental health. While I can still be tough on myself, my diagnosis has ultimately led me down a path of...

11/05/2020

Feeling low? Numb? Apathetic? Blah? Anxious? Exhausted? Confused?

We often sideline our own needs to help others, but we need to pay attention to ourselves too.

This video explains how mental health and physical health are connected and affect each other.

Address the feelings or lack thereof now. You don't have to wait until the house is on fire.

Read and watch the video.

Mental Health America understands that racism undermines mental health. Therefore, we are committed to anti-racism in all that we do. This means that we pledge to work against individual racism, interpersonal racism, and institutional racism in all their forms.

10/04/2020

It's been rough. And that's an understatement. Everyone I'm seeing is drained, exhausted, weary, burnt out, irritable and so tired. Yes, I have several words to describe literally not having any fuel in the tank because it's that pronounced.

Sometimes there are no words that can help (but knowing eye rolls kind of make it a tad better). There isn't a magic wand or a perfect solution to all that is happening right now.

Sometimes narrowing the focus on what is directly in front of you--what you have to do right now-- is helpful. Focus on what you can control.

And we can keep going-- slowly, and with hope.

09/02/2020

Here is a wonderful free training on how to help frontline workers decrease stress and increase resilience during these times. This is not limited to healthcare workers; but rather all of the people who are helping in various ways and settings.

Sharon Gold-Steinberg Ph.D., Therapist Refresh: www.therapistrefresh.com Sara F Stein, LMSW, MS, MI Frontline Support: www.mifrontlinesupport.com This record...

09/02/2020

This video is so fantastic. It helps demystify what therapy like, addresses common fears, and demonstrates that vulnerability.is.not.weakness. Cultural and familial rules and myths about what therapy is or is not make it that much harder to take that first step.

Therapy can help anyone and everyone. Like the therapist says in the piece, it helps one connect with themselves on a deeper level. This then enriches their relationships with others.

That's why we're here, right? Connection, love, joy, fulfillment, contentment... We get to all of those by walking through vulnerability.

08/12/2020

https://www.couragecompasstherapy.com/blog/stoptheinsanity

When you approach the point of insanity (doing the same things expecting different results) and try to figure out what needs to change in order to get what you want, what if THAT'S the whole problem? The thing you're doing wrong is trying to figure out what you're doing wrong?

08/05/2020

https://www.couragecompasstherapy.com/blog/loneliness

People feel symptoms of anxiety from myriad causes. Feeling “not good enough” due to being rejected is a common source. Digging deeper into this, many people who experienced being bullied and/or excluded as a child/teen ended up spending a lot of time alone for protection or by default. The feel...