Archive For The “Counseling” Category
Many of my clients, both men and women, come to counseling seeking understanding and an abatement of symptoms in their marriages and/or families. Most have their own stories, own perceptions, and own histories. Human beings are complex individuals with relationship histories and pasts that make each one of us all our own. As I have worked [...]
I recently had a couple in my office for a variety of issues. We initially started to dialogue and generate some solutions concerning some significant problems they were facing. Their problem began long before their marriage, as I will explain, but had become an acute issue that was taxing their relationship and marriage as well [...]
The term identity is one commonly used by developmental psychologists and researchers when referencing an individuals sense of ‘differentness’ or ‘likeness’ with others. Ones identity is often tossed around with terms like ego strength, self-esteem, individuality, etc. Many individuals find that they need to ‘send’ or ‘broadcast’ a given set of values or beliefs in [...]
Often when relationships are conflicted or distant one member of the relationship recommends counseling as a part of conversation, usually when things are loaded and a feud is underway. It is not uncommon for one spouse to be ready and the other resists or balks at the request. The layman’s assumption is that counseling needs [...]
Depression is a condition that is fueled by several factors. More often than not, laypersons think that depression is a result of a chemical imbalance based on discussion and rumor in layperson circles. Actually, it is not technically known what causes depression but we have a few solid leads on that issue.Depression can be fueled [...]
It has been my experience that new clients are often unsure what to expect in the first counseling session. At times, they feel doubt about what to say or do. There can be nervousness or anxiety about opening up to someone you’re meeting for the first time, especially when you find that you are sharing [...]
Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist teaching with respect to pondering and meditation. One need not subscribe to Eastern religion to adhere to pondering and mindfulness. It can be lived in common every day life. Mindfulness is the state within which one has keen and clear awareness. It is conceptualized as a mental state that [...]
Often clients ask, “Are the things I talk about in counseling kept confidential? The answer is “yes.” As the patient you have the right to have absolute privacy and confidentiality in counseling with me. This means that without your explicit consent in writing, I am prevented by law from discussing information you share during your [...]
All blog posts, articles, are copyright Justin Stum, MS LMFT and Pathways Counseling, LLC.I have worked many hours to create the content here on my site. I currently run CopyScape.com regularly as I have found some take my online content and illegally post it on their sites. Please do not do this. CopyScape.com is running [...]