Resources and Thoughts from Marilyn Halls, M.A.
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.
Here are the topic categories that help keep this blog organized for search.
Relationships and Communication
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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
Relationships and Communication
Couples and Attachment – Is Your Attachment to Each Other Secure?
Couples and attachment are the subject of the research of Dr. John Bowlby, MD, and Sue Johnson, PhD. Dr. John Bowlby, an English psychiatrist, pioneered research into the importance of secure attachment between mother or primary caregiver and baby. Dr. Sue Johnson has...
Life Transitions: Learning, Growing, Healing Together
Life Transitions at Counseling Associates of Sarasota Life transitions come in all shapes and sizes. Some are consciously chosen, such as retirement, relocating, or changing careers. Other come as a surprise or can be unwelcome and traumatic. These include...
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...
How Can We Improve Our 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...
Life Transitions Support Groups
New: Transitions Support Groups for Dealing with Life Challenges You might be asking why I am offering new transitions support groups. Yesterday I rang a bell! The large brass bell stands on a cabinet in the treatment room at Florida Cancer Center. Following their...
Anxiety and Stress
Mental Health and Stigma
May is mental health awareness month. The stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness illness can result in people being critical, fearful, judgmental and generally dismissive of those suffering from a mental disorder. Such stigma causes many people to attempt...
April is Counseling Awareness Month: What Can a Counselor Do for You?
Depression, anxiety, a bad break-up or loss of a job…those are just a few of the multiple scenarios that might drive somebody to see a counselor. But what about people whose lives are “right on track?” Did you know that many of them seek counseling as well? In fact,...
Workplace Stress – 5 Tips to Keep Calm with a Difficult Co-worker
5 Tips to Calm Workplace Stress with a Difficult Co-worker You spend a significant portion of your life at work. In fact, you probably see your coworkers for more hours each week than you see your loved ones. This means that when you encounter workplace stress it can...
7 Tips to Protect Yourself from Holiday Stress
Happy Holidays or Holiday Stress? It’s the most wonderful time of the year. At least that’s what the popular carols and society at large will say. Sure, there are lots of great things about the season. Twinkling lights everywhere, seeing loved ones and friends and...
Beat Social Anxiety with 5 Simple Strategies
Social anxiety is a problem plaguing millions of Americans. If you have social anxiety, you might feel dread and fear about the idea of meeting new people or spending time in social situations. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help yourself to manage...
Depression Therapy
April is Counseling Awareness Month: What Can a Counselor Do for You?
Depression, anxiety, a bad break-up or loss of a job…those are just a few of the multiple scenarios that might drive somebody to see a counselor. But what about people whose lives are “right on track?” Did you know that many of them seek counseling as well? In fact,...
Coping with Bipolar Mania Symptoms
Up All Night and Day and Night…How to Cope with Bipolar Mania Symptoms Bipolar disorder can be perplexing to observe in someone else. But it can be downright bewildering when it happens to you. There are different varieties of bipolar disorder and each one has its own...
Retired and Depressed? 7 Uplifting Things To Do When the Alarm Goes Off
Retired AND depressed? How can that be? Retirement sounds so wonderful... when you're in the middle of a grinding, hectic workday. Those long-held expectations of taking it easy and relaxing on a beach can sometimes come to a grinding halt once you've actually...
Meds and Therapy? A One-Two Punch to Knock Out Depression
Millions of people struggle with depression every year. Untreated depression leads to lost productivity at work, relationship dysfunction and poor physical health. Many people think that depression is just something they have to live with or that it will go away on...
What Are the Signs of Depression in Men and Why Are They So Hard to See?
“Man up!” It’s the catch-all, cure-all for the testosterone set. Shrug it off and don’t show weakness. Step up…like a real man. Considering how widespread masculine conditioning is, it's no surprise that recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression in men can...
Grief and Loss
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Transitions
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