By Tammy Blackard Cook, LCSW, CDWF A few years ago, my long-time Aspire business partner (and friend) and I decided we wanted to do more than work as trauma therapists, helping one person at a time. While our work as therapists is valuable, there is so much pain in the world that we would never [...]
Negative body image, referring to an unrealistic view of how someone sees their body, is becoming more common in both women and men. Those suffering from negative body image are at risk of developing depression, low self-esteem, isolation, or even an eating disorder. There is an abundance of resources available for those who may be [...]
Do you view gender variance as pathological? It is not uncommon to view gender variance as pathological. As a society, we tend to view the masses as binary, composed of two genders: male and female. In Margaret Nichols latest article titled The Great Escape, "there's no such thing as the opposite sex." Gender is no [...]
Online therapy during COVID-19 You may feel unsure about talking to a therapist via virtual telehealth. Yet the pandemic has created an environment where it is more important than ever to receive the emotional support you need. With a growing need for psychotherapy nationwide, many offices are expanding their services to include online therapy sessions [...]
As the owners and founders of Aspire Counseling Group, we believe that Black Lives Matter and that we have an imperative to help “[create] a world free of anti-Blackness, where every Black person has the social, economic, and political power to thrive.”1 We were called to social work because of a deep and abiding commitment [...]
By Hailey Shafir, LCMHCS, LCAS, CCS What do you think about New Year’s resolutions? People tend to be divided on this issue. Some of you may have a list of goals for 2020 already bullet-journaled and divided into color-coded categories. Others may be rolling their eyes, having long ago decided that resolutions are just promises [...]
By Hailey Shafir, LPCS, LCAS, CCS-I If someone asked you to list five words that describe you, what words come to mind? Most people, when asked this question, arrive at a cherry-picked bunch of qualities such as “creative” or “funny” or “kind.” You would probably base the list off a series of parameters like wanting [...]
By Hailey Shafir, LPCS, LCAS, CCS-I As a counselor, I often find myself helping clients reframe, or think differently, about their emotions. Many people come to counseling because they are struggling with difficult emotions like sadness, anxiety, or anger and often describe these emotions as “problems” they are hoping to get rid of. The thing [...]
By Dave Hughes, LPCA Dave strongly believes that his clients see themselves as integrated beings. Our bodies and minds work together to maintain our overall wellbeing. Although therapy has traditionally been focused on a person’s brain, thoughts and emotions, recent studies have shown the deep connection between the mind and the physical body. The practice [...]
The time between the ages of 8 and 14 can be a difficult period for any child. Puberty is a chaotic experience for both boys and girls. Tween and teen girls are forced to cope with the added challenge of their confidence taking a plunge during these years. Girls this age experience an extremely significant [...]
