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Individual Counseling Jim Duncan, MA, LPC Individual Counseling Jim Duncan, MA, LPC

Dating Mistakes: 10 Missteps People Often Make

By Jim Duncan, MA

When you meet someone who you would like to know more about, whether that is through an online dating site or app, at an event, or through friends or family, the first date is more than just a time for you and the other person to learn a bit more about each other; it’s a time to make a wonderful first impression.

If you’ve been in the dating scene long, you’re painfully aware of the different types of first dates.

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Individual Counseling, Life Transitions Elizabeth McMahan Individual Counseling, Life Transitions Elizabeth McMahan

8 Ways to Motivate Yourself and Move Forward When Your Ambition Stalls

Looking for ways to motivate yourself?

You thought you knew what you wanted. The drive and ambition were there. You could feel them in your bones and your heart. Whether it was completing a degree, working on a project, or implementing a new fitness regime, you were dedicated to your goal.

Yet, somewhere along the line, your ambition began to waver. You lost focus and things just stalled out.

Now you feel stuck, struggling to bring up the drive to get started again.

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Individual Counseling Elizabeth McMahan Individual Counseling Elizabeth McMahan

How to Communicate Your Boundaries While Talking Politics

You know how it goes.

Something major happens in government, media, or on the global stage. Then, the next day (after a night of cable news and scrolling through Facebook headlines), you may find yourself with coworkers, or out for a drink with friends, or having dinner with your partner or another family member, when the political topic comes up and the conversation starts to get heated.

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Individual Counseling Elizabeth McMahan Individual Counseling Elizabeth McMahan

Mantras for Meditation: 8 Statements to Boost Your Self-Esteem

Everyone has their own mantras for meditation. Words and phrases you tell yourself routinely. Some serve you well…others, not so much.

What about you? How well do speak of and to yourself?

Are you a friend to the rumpled person in the bathroom mirror? Do you soothe your inner employee after a misstep at work? Are you kind and supportive to your inner self when a friend or loved one lets you down or walks away?

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Individual Counseling Sylvia Beligotti, MA, LMFT Individual Counseling Sylvia Beligotti, MA, LMFT

Understanding the Importance of your Family of Origin

By Sylvia Beligotti, MA

Your beginnings matter.

The who and how of your initial life experiences made lasting impressions that ripple through your life today. For better or worse, your family of origin is the place to start for key information about who you are and how you relate to others.

For all of us, the family dynamics in our original family system impact our values, core beliefs, and our self-perceptions.

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Individual Counseling Elizabeth McMahan Individual Counseling Elizabeth McMahan

Burned Out? Stressed Out? On the Edge of a Blowout? How to Stay Calm at Work

Whether you love your job or wish you clocked in elsewhere, burnout happens. “Content” and “calm” are not words that most of us would readily identify with when we are on the clock.

Between busy schedules and demanding projects, it’s easy to feel weighed down by the stresses of the workplace. Unfortunately, many of us don’t handle the pressure well.

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Individual Counseling Elizabeth McMahan Individual Counseling Elizabeth McMahan

Enjoy Every Moment of Life! 3 Keys to Finding Your Path to Personal Growth

There are so many articles around about personal growth and living for the moment. Life would be so much easier if we could just follow their advice and—presto!—suddenly be on the right path. Unfortunately, reality just doesn’t work that way.

So how do you find clarity?

Consider all of the things you do in your life. Are they geared towards your enjoyment, fulfillment, or personal growth?

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Individual Counseling Elizabeth McMahan Individual Counseling Elizabeth McMahan

The Daily Struggle with Traumatic Memories - EMDR Therapy Can Give You Relief

When you scrape your knee, you clean the wound and maybe add ointments and bandages to help it heal.

But, what if that wound appeared to be healed on the surface, but underneath it was still painful and caused discomfort?

Could the problem be what you can’t see? Perhaps some leftover debris, irritating the wound further despite your efforts on the surface?

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Individual Counseling Jim Duncan, MA, LPC Individual Counseling Jim Duncan, MA, LPC

Don't Agree? Can't Relate? How You Can Gain More Empathy For Others

By Jim Duncan, MA

Are you having trouble relating to others? Understanding your partner and other loved ones? Communicating with your coworkers? Have you started to wonder whether you might be the common denominator in your relationship misunderstandings?

Every relationship comes with its unique set of challenges but relating to others shouldn’t feel foreign. Cultivating more empathy will enhance your relationships and encourage you to forge strong connections with other people. Use the following tools to increase your empathy levels and build successful relationships.

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Marriage/Couples, Individual Counseling Jim Duncan, MA, LPC Marriage/Couples, Individual Counseling Jim Duncan, MA, LPC

Always Ranting and Reacting? How to Ensure More Effective Communication in Your Relationships

By Jim Duncan, MA

While effective communication may come easily for some, it is far more difficult for others.

What about you?

Does it seem that communicating with others is increasingly difficult and disrespectful? Do your disagreements feel less like interacting and more like overreacting? Are your rants making their way into your everyday conversations more and more?

You’re not alone. Communication can be tough for many of us, especially when our emotions take over.

What gets in the way?

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