Resources and Thoughts from Marilyn Halls, MA,LMHC
While I cannot share experiences that happen in the privacy of my counseling sessions, there is so much information available to us to freely share in this resource blog. I write from my experience drawing on other professional resources to educate and guide you in ways that can help you both before and beyond the counseling conversation.
Please scroll down to see my posts collected under the following topic headings:
- Relationships and Communication
- Anxiety and Stress
- Depression Therapy
- Grief and Loss
- Transitions
Featured Posts
How Can We Improve Our Communication? Part 1
From an initial group of 130 newlyweds, 17 couples were divorced at the six-year point in their marriages. Gottman divided them into what he called “masters and disasters.” What set them apart? The most significant finding was that it was not arguments about key issues, such as money or sex but rather the presence or lack of emotional connection in their communication. READ MORE
Positivity in Communication Part 2
Many couples struggle with communication issues. In my practice, I hear comments such as “When we try to address a serious topic such as in-laws, disciplining our children or getting them to finish their homework our arguments escalate into a fight” or “my partner does not listen to what I am saying, he/she interrupts and tells me I am wrong”. Positivity and soft startups are missing. Harsh startups are common and there is a great deal of criticism and complaining. READ MORE
Master Stress Management With This Guide to a Balanced Life
Relationships and Communication
Positivity in Communication Part 2
Improving Your Communication Using a Positivity Approach Many couples struggle with communication issues. In my practice I hear comments such as "When we try to address a serious topic such as in laws, disciplining our children or getting them to finish their homework...
Positivity in Communication Part 1
Dr. John Gottman studied communication and interaction patterns of couples in the “love lab” he established at the University of Washington in Seattle. Here couples came to a bed and breakfast type setting where their interactions and communications were recorded and...
Improve Your Relationship: 8 Steps
The desire to improve your relationship is important for the mental health of couples. Hardly a human being alive couldn't benefit from these helpful tips for healthy and happy relationships based on the research of John Gottman Ph,D. Let's start, shall we? NUMBER...
Can your relationship heal after an affair?
It might seem impossible to heal after an affair, but believe it or not, your relationship can improve. What do I mean by the word affair? At one time the commonly held definition involved sexual activity. This of course can still be true but today many affairs fall...
Are You in a Long Distance Relationship?
Couples in a long distance relationship have always had their own unique stressors. However, during this Covid-19 pandemic many of us are feeling added anxiety and are fearful of the future. Many couples are dealing with the added stressors of working from home and...
Anxiety and Stress
Master Stress Management
In our fast-moving world, stress has become an omnipresent aspect of everyday life. It shapes our experiences, impacts our well-being, and challenges our mental health. Yet, understanding and effectively managing these stressors is not just a necessity but a skill...
Self-Isolation Woes
Self-Isolation Woes, Your Fitness, and You: Keep the Negative Energy Out with These Three Things Self-isolation during these stressful times can be a challenge. It is difficult to find your balance and get right with yourself. A lot of adults and children are...
3 Sources of Stress for Seniors
Are you stressed out about getting older? You’re not alone. The sources of senior stress center around questions. Many older adults have questions and concerns about the future. But you have to find ways to mitigate the stress and prevent them from interfering with...
Tips to Improve Mental and Emotional Health
Improve Self Care Self-care encompasses many aspects of life. Here are a few suggestions: Mindfulness and Meditation - learning more about these practices helps to relieve stress and improves relationships. There are many useful apps. I would suggest Calm, Headspace...
Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
Many Americans are not getting enough sleep. They are sleep deprived. It has become a badge of honor for some to let you know that they sleep 3 or 4 hours a night and do not care to waste hours asleep. DO YOU FEEL TIRED AND GRUMPY WHEN YOU GET UP? IN SPITE OF BEING...
Depression Therapy
Keep Mental Health Care Top of Mind
May Is Mental Health Awareness Month For more than two years the whole world has experienced a pandemic that has had a major impact on our lives creating a greater need for mental health care. Fortunately, this has brought...
Tips to Improve Mental and Emotional Health
Improve Self Care Self-care encompasses many aspects of life. Here are a few suggestions: Mindfulness and Meditation - learning more about these practices helps to relieve stress and improves relationships. There are many useful apps. I would suggest Calm, Headspace...
Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
Many Americans are not getting enough sleep. They are sleep deprived. It has become a badge of honor for some to let you know that they sleep 3 or 4 hours a night and do not care to waste hours asleep. DO YOU FEEL TIRED AND GRUMPY WHEN YOU GET UP? IN SPITE OF BEING...
Depression: Get Treatment Early
Early diagnosis of depression, before it can develop from moderate to severe with potential grave risks, can have positive effects in all areas of life. We often equate depression with sadness but sadness and depression are very different states. Feelings of sadness...
Negative Thoughts are Often Part of Depression
Are Self Defeating and Negative Thoughts Contributing to Your Feelings of Depression? When you meet a new situation you will have a variety of thoughts about it. We tend to believe our own thoughts, including negative thoughts or self-defeating thoughts, rarely...
Grief and Loss
Grief – how can I help a loved one?
When someone we love experiences the death of a loved one, a divorce or any other major life event we often do not know how to help them in this period of grief and loss. In our efforts to alleviate pain we often fall back on platitudes such as: You are lucky to have...
Transitions
Senior Living – Independent or Assisted
At a certain age, the idea of a senior living community becomes more appealing. How appealing it is different for each individual, Then there are those who are fiercely independent and will have nothing to do with this group living arrangement. ‘ Weighing your...
The COVID-19 Pandemic Impact Has Changed Everything
The COVID-19 pandemic impact has upended the lives of billions of people. The world's population shifted several aspects of daily life to the internet. For example, working from home and taking online classes have become the norm. However, people have adjusted and...
3 Sources of Stress for Seniors
Are you stressed out about getting older? You’re not alone. The sources of senior stress center around questions. Many older adults have questions and concerns about the future. But you have to find ways to mitigate the stress and prevent them from interfering with...
The Ultimate Guide to Downsizing Your Home and Living Simpler in Your Golden Years
Downsizing your home and seeking ways to live more simply and safely as we grow older is considered a smart thing to do. Yet most people need to warm up to the idea. Whether you’re thinking of moving into a smaller, single-story home or a senior living community,...
The Many Benefits of Assisted Living
Despite the many benefits of assisted living many seniors dread moving into these communities. They fear it means an end to independence, but all it means is that you are getting more support for the things you need. Assisted living can be one of the best ways to live...