Blog
How To Motivate An Unmotivated Teen
Trying to figure out teenagers may often feel like an unsolvable mystery. There’s no doubt that people that age can be unpredictable. Even so, you may notice a more pronounced trend of your teen appearing to lack motivation. This can be difficult to understand and...
5 Attainable Ways to Improve Your Mental Health in The New Year
The internet is teeming with “life hacks.” And sure, it can be helpful to learn how to store food longer but some life hacks are more important than others. It is in that spirit that I offer this post. We live in a strange time. Not to mention, for nearly two years,...
How To Know The Difference Between Anxiety & Stress
Both stress and anxiety are normal and inevitable. Neither has to be automatically categorized as “negative.” For example, you experience good stress when something exciting happens to you. This might include taking free throws with the game tied or asking someone...
How ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms Overlap
Do you google your symptoms sometimes? Have you found it to be helpful? Or has it only confused you further? It’s not unusual to be a little lost when you google your own symptoms, especially when so many different conditions share similar symptoms. You end up...
Understanding the Levels of Depression (and Why Therapy is Crucial)
Depression affects around 40 million US adults every year. It is estimated that around 10% of American adults suffer from some sort of depressive disorder, whether that is clinical depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety-related disorders. As it impacts so many of...
What to Say to Someone Struggling with Depression
It can be incredible to recognize how many people love to help others. This reality is reaffirming and comforting. However, it does not mean we always get it right when it comes to help and support. In many cases, it is far more complex than a donation or an...
Panic Attack or Anxiety Attack? How to Know the Difference
At the moment of stress, you may strongly feel that the difference doesn’t matter. That’s understandable. However, understanding where anxiety ends and panic begins can be very helpful when it comes to getting the help you need. The mind and body seem to work in...
I’m Feeling Anxious And I Don’t Know Why
You can think of anxiety as an alarm bell of sorts. It is warning us that a threat is present or looming. In humanity’s earliest days, more often than not, this alert system enabled our species to survive. However, for most people today, you can feel anxious for “no...
Manage Daily Stress with These 10 Strategies
If you feel stressed, you are most definitely not alone. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. That doesn’t include the population of uncounted individuals struggling to deal with daily stress and tension. If left unattended, high-stress...
5 Statistics That Will Change the Way You See LGBTQIA+ Mental Health
Right up front, let’s be clear about what is meant by LGBTQIA+. It stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, (questioning), intersex, asexual, and (agender). This is not meant to exclude anyone but rather to be as welcoming as possible. Over the past...
What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder and How Do You Treat It?
Most people experience some version of the “winter blues.” For some people, however, it is a debilitating mental condition. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression. The official name is Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern. It can emerge...
Overwhelmed By The Fear Of Getting Sick? – Overcoming Health Anxiety
Have you ever felt fearful or anxious about becoming unwell? Do you find yourself in public worrying about germs, bacteria, or viruses that could possibly get you sick? Perhaps you worry about your health or often seek reassurance from friends, family, or doctors that...
How to Manage Your Anxiety in the New Year
Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in the U.S. Over 40 million Americans report struggling with anxiety. Who knows what the unreported numbers are? Long story short: You are not alone and anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of. Life is stressful — especially...
FAMILY COUNSELING SERIES: Does Your Family Feel Disconnected? – Family Counseling Can Help
Feeling disconnected in 2022 can sometimes seem like the new normal. Political divisions, civil unrest, and all the fallout from pandemic lockdowns are enough to divide any group of people. These factors can even play a role in family disconnection, although personal...
FAMILY COUNSELING SERIES: When Should You Consider Family Therapy?
Even a happy family needs help sometimes, and working with a family therapist is a great way for you and your loved ones to learn new tools and perspectives. In addition, you’ll learn about communication and sharpen your skills when it comes to resolving conflict....
FAMILY COUNSELING SERIES: What Is Family Counseling and How Does It Work?
There are a lot of misconceptions about family therapy. For many people, it stirs up an image of an entire family in group therapy. But that is only one option. Family therapy really earns its name in another way. It’s a form of counseling that focuses on family...
5 Ways Stress and Anxiety Wreak Havoc on Your Immune System
If there ever was a “golden age” of stress and anxiety, it probably began in March 2020. No matter where you stand on all that’s happened, you’ve likely been and are still very stressed from the effects of COVID-19 and the other issues we’ve experienced. A global...
How to Manage Daily Stress for Long Term Benefits
Everyone gets stressed. And dealing with it is a normal and inevitable part of life. In most cases, daily stress is helpful. It guides you away from unnecessary risks and helps you remain self-aware. These days, however, we are more inundated with stress than ever...
Is Your Teen Anxious? – 5 Most Misinterpreted Symptoms of Anxiety
Although you’re not 100% sure, you might suspect that your teen is anxious. Lately, your child has been a little “off.” They seem moodier and hole up in their room most of the time. On the one hand, you understand this is normal teenage behavior. On the other hand,...
How Creating an Exercise Routine Will Benefit Your Mental Health
It’s not breaking news that physical exercise has many benefits. However, it’s not all about getting six-pack abs or buns of steel. Your workout routine does much more than shape, lift, and tone. It can enhance your mental health in multiple ways. Sure, plenty of you...
DEPRESSION SERIES: Why Do Some People Appear Happy But Actually Feel Depressed?
Happiness and depression should be opposite ends of the spectrum. After all, if you’re happy, then you shouldn’t be depressed, right? Not so fast. It’s not uncommon for people to appear happy on the outside but still be depressed on the inside. There’s a term that...
DEPRESSION SERIES: Understanding the Relationship Between Sleep and Clinical Depression
Americans seem to have a tug-of-war relationship with sleep. It seems that a new sleep-related benefit is discovered each month — followed by a slew of clickbait articles. The next phase of the cycle is the multiple pledges from people wishing to settle into regular...
Identifying Signs of Depression: 7 Things Not to Ignore
Identifying mental health issues is not like identifying a physical problem. Both efforts can be challenging, but there are typically more obstacles when dealing with a psychological disorder. And there are many statistics documenting how little we often know about...
Stop Believing These 5 Common Myths About Depression
More than 16 million adults struggle with major depressive disorder in the United States. It’s been studied in-depth and more people are aware of depression than ever before. Yet, many myths still persist when it comes to depression. These include how it develops and...
What’s the Difference Between Anxiety and Depression?
The terms anxiety and depression have become very commonplace in our modern discussion, especially when people use them in professional articles, online blog posts, and even social media feeds. This exposure can give us a sense of confidence that we truly understand...
What Are the Long Term Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic?
To say that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging experience from a mental health standpoint would be an understatement. According to an article published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in August 2020, over 5,000 people responded...
Emotional Spring Cleaning – Works Wonders for Your Physical & Mental Health
Now that the dark and dreary days of winter are mostly behind us for 2021, you might be feeling motivated to recharge and declutter. Spring cleaning is a common practice for many people—but it doesn’t just have to mean clearing out your closet! Emotional spring...
10 Signs of Parental Burnout and What You Can do About It
You want to be a good parent. In fact, you are a good parent. But lately, you haven’t felt that way at all. There can be so much stress and anxiety with taking care of the kids. You try to put on a brave face for them, but some days even that’s not possible. It just...
ANXIETY SERIES: 5 Strategies to Keep Anxiety and Worries Under Control
There’s a reason why we experience anxiety. Believe it or not, it’s honestly quite logical. When you become anxious, your brain’s limbic system switches to a model known as fight, flight, or freeze. These become your three options when you are severely stressed and...
Anxiety Series: How to Develop Coping Skills for Anxiety – 4 Strategies
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions across the globe. In most cases, it won’t merely “go away” on its own. Most people who struggle with anxiety symptoms need the help of mental health professionals to treat anxiety. Unfortunately, people who...
ANXIETY SERIES: It’s Not All in Your Head – Ten Physical Signs of Anxiety
When someone experiences anxiety symptoms for the first time, it can be a confusing and scary experience. And even if you’ve struggled with anxiety for a long time, it often remains just as torturous. Being familiar with the physical symptoms of anxiety is essential...
COVID CONFLICT: What You Can Do to Stay Calm, Safe & Sane
If anyone had been wondering what divisions lurked beneath the cultural surface, recent times have provided a close-up view. The planet is still reeling from the impact of a deadly COVID-19 pandemic, political unrest, and environmental upheaval. So many people are...
3 Practical Mental Health Techniques for Daily Stress Management in the New Year
Plenty has been written about how specific therapeutic techniques can help you cope with stress. But what about daily stress management? We’re talking about the other 99% of your week when you’re not seeing your therapist? And we all need to manage more stress right...
COVID-19 & KIDS MENTAL HEALTH SERIES: 6 Healthy Strategies to Help Your Kid Navigate the Rise in Screen Time
It may take a decade or more to calculate all the lifestyle changes we’ve had to adjust since the pandemic and there will definitely be long term mental health effects to manage. Here’s one that may slip through the cracks: Your kids are now spending even more time in...
COVID 19 & KIDS MENTAL HEALTH SERIES: 5 Tips for Juggling Remote Schooling while Working from Home
When COVID-19 entered all of our lives, it disrupted many aspects of society, leaving us all looking for ways to stay calm and sane. One of these disruptions was school. School has always been essential for the development of children, not just for academic learning....
COVID-19 & Kids Mental Health Series: How to Help Your Kids Cope with School Changes
Some institutions in our society help keep us grounded. Perhaps the most central of these is school. It provides a place for children to learn and grow academically and socially. In between math and English class are moments to catch up with friends, for example, or...
Building Resilience to Difficult Emotions – 6 Practical Tips
Throughout our lives, we will all face obstacles and setbacks. There is simply no avoiding challenges and roadblocks along the way. Growing as a person and achieving our goals is not about trying to dodge these obstacles. It’s about learning how to face them with...
Physical Pain, Mental Health, and Exercise – What Do They All Have in Common?
I know, I know…exercise, lose weight, and take some antidepressants…there! Now you should feel better. If you’re someone who struggles with physical pain, you may be thinking, “oh no, not another, ‘try yoga’ advice from someone who has no idea what it’s like to live...
Social Distancing May Lead to Loneliness – How Can You Prevent It?
Though most of the country is slowly starting to “reopen,” there’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people in more ways than one. While the media and doctors have focused on the physical implications of this virus, the reality is that the consequences...
5 Ways Going Outside Benefits Your Mental Health
We know getting outside is good for your physical health, and it’s especially important right now during the coronavirus pandemic when social distancing can lead to loneliness. For starters, being out in nature often means participating in some activity. Whether it’s...
Helping Young Children Manage Big Feelings – 5 Tips
It’s never easy to see your child get angry. Often, it can make you feel upset or frustrated, too. As adults, we sometimes believe the way children express their anger, sadness, or even happiness is unwarranted. However, it’s essential to understand that children act...
How to Handle Anxiety-Provoking Situations – In the Moment and Beyond
We all feel anxious every once in a while, especially these days in the midst of the coronavirus global pandemic. Sometimes, though, you may end up in a situation that provokes severe symptoms of anxiety. You may wish that you could make a quick exit, but that isn’t...
3 Tips to Navigate Online Couples Counseling at Home
It could be that you and your partner have been struggling for some time now. Perhaps, you always disagree and can’t see eye-to-eye. Or maybe the coronavirus pandemic, forcing you both to be home more, is bringing to light or emphasizing issues you didn’t realize were...
Living with Presence: Conquering Stress and Anxiety with the Little Joys of Life
We’re conditioned to think that only when we’re able to check off countless impressive personal and professional successes could we possibly find happiness. Sadly, though, quite the opposite is true. Chasing after these illusive monumental accomplishments only...
Teens Thrive with Online Therapy – Here’s Why
Many parents have experienced dragging their teen to counseling. Several reasons might cause a teen to struggle with going to therapy, such as: It feels weird being in a counselor’s office. The conversation is awkward and not genuine. And of course, teens are often...
Daily Tips to Cope with Catastrophic Thinking, Overwhelm and Stress
There are so many ways to view this world of ours. You have your optimists and pragmatists and pessimists and more. Of course, there are times of almost universal celebration and other times when virtually everyone feels sad. Such is the inevitable twists and turns of...
Summer Changes Due to COVID-19? 6 Healthy Ways to Grieve Your Plans & Stay Positive
You know the feeling. You’re chugging along in a good groove. After a while, you settle into a rhythm and may even begin taking the upbeat vibe for granted. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, you are greeted with sudden, perhaps drastic change. It feels jolting,...
3 Benefits of Online Therapy for Mental Health
“The new normal” is already starting to feel like a cliché as we navigate this COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s true, we’re all experiencing huge disruption, stress and overwhelm in our lives due to this public health crisis, and it really is creating a new way of life for...
5 Ways You Can Help Someone in Mental Health Crisis During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A pandemic is bad enough. But what if you or a loved one is dealing with a mental health crisis during this time? Individual crisis definitions vary, but in general a crisis arises when an uncontrollable and unpredictable stressful or a traumatic event occurs. A...
BLUE BOAT COUNSELING’S COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS
WE ARE open for online and in-person therapy. As the news around COVID-19 continues to evolve, the priorities of Blue Boat Counseling will remain the health and safety of our clients, therapists and their families. There are specific measures you can take to help...
Are You in a Toxic Relationship? – Here’s how to spot the red flags.
Why do you keep getting these odd text messages from your partner? They always seem to be messaging you about where you are, what you’re doing, and who you’re with. It’s like they can’t help themselves and just don’t trust you…to do anything right. Do you hear warning...
Struggling with Both Anxiety & Depression? – Here’s how to cope
Anxiety is about more than merely being nervous or worried, especially when dealing with anxiety-provoking situations. Along those same lines, depression is about more than being sad or feeling blue. What’s more; is that both of them are increasingly common,...
How to Establish Positive Coping Strategies for Mental Health
If you’re struggling with a mental health issue, then you know positive coping strategies are crucial for long-term success. Although this truth likely comes as no surprise, establishing successful coping strategies can seem challenging. Sometimes you might try to...
Making Sense of Depression – Can It Get Better?
Hopelessness, sadness, emptiness are all words frequently associated with depression. When you struggle with depression, it only makes sense that you want to know whether or not it can get better. Even if you’ve been depressed for years, and are “used to" feeling this...
5 Tips to Support Your Mental Health in the New Year
counseAll too often when you ask what you can do to gauge and maintain your mental health, the answer is to see a therapist. Of course participating in counseling is incredibly useful. But a session may only be for 45 minutes once a week. What about the rest of that...
Understanding the Link Between Genetics and Mental Health
Research is revealing how mental illness and genetics can be linked together. This discovery is crucial if you’re concerned about your mental health and how your genes play a role. But it’s also essential to understand that you shouldn’t let this information scare you...
How Anxiety Treatment Empowers You to Manage Anxiety at Home
When you’re in a therapist’s office, it’s more natural to consider anxiety treatment in everyday life. Usually, it’s a relaxing or at least neutral space where you and the therapist can focus on specific topics related to anxiety. In real life, however, it’s not the...
Teen Counseling Series #5: When Is It Time for Family Counseling?
Okay, now things are getting really out of control. Your teen’s behavior has reached new lows and is creating a crisis in the family. Just yesterday, you learned that they stole money from his younger sibling’s piggyback to buy marijuana. Then, there was the argument...
Teen Counseling Series #4: Social Media Meltdown? – 4 Ways for Teens to Manage Stress Online
Social media and teens seem to be inseparable in our digital age. Of course, that doesn’t mean teens are the only ones making use of online networks. Many adults are also very active on social media. And the online influence is ever-increasing. In general, though,...
Teen Counseling Series #3: When Is Teen Therapy Helpful? – how to know it’s time
When you’re raising a teenager, it’s hard to know for sure about a lot of things. One day they’re playing guitar and want to be a musician. The next day they’ve discovered kung-fu. And it can seem as if their emotions are splashed all over a wall like an abstract...
Teen Counseling Series #2: 5 Tips to Help Your Anxious Teen
It breaks your heart to see your teen so anxious. They seem easily stressed out and struggle when something triggers them. If you’re like most parents, you want to help them to better cope with their anxiety so they can reach their full potential, which you know...
Teen Counseling Series #1: How to Spot Overlooked Signs of Teen Depression
Plenty of researchers and professionals in the mental health field have written about what they consider the typical signs of depression. Sadness and hopelessness apply to both adults and teens who struggle with this problem. But there are overlooked depression...
When Is It Time for Anxiety Treatment?
Maybe you’ve tried putting off anxiety treatment for a while now. Whenever you experienced an anxiety flare-up, you always felt you could deal with it on your own. But the worry and avoidance are getting worse and maintaining your mental health is becoming more of a...
Couples Counseling Series #5: 4 Strategies to Strengthen Your Relationship
Relationships need constant maintenance to stay strong and viable. Just like a garden, it needs attention to grow into its full potential. That means practicing strategies that strengthen your relationship for the long haul. These don’t have to be big, dramatic...
Couples Counseling Series #4: Dealing with the Aftermath of Divorce? – 5 tips to help you cope
It’s all been settled. The ink’s dry and a painful chapter in your life has closed. But now what? How do you cope with the aftermath of divorce? Sadly, divorce is common for many of us. The best estimate, based on projections, is 45% of marriages will end in divorce....
Couples Counseling Series #3: 3 Keys to Avoid Money Fights in Your Relationship
It’s happening again. You and your partner are slipping into an argument about money. This has happened before, so you can see it coming. This time it’s because he made a really big purchase without consulting with you first. What’s wrong with him?! You’d think he...
Couples Counseling Series #2: Curves Ahead? How to Navigate Change as a Couple
There’s a reason we have so many clichés about change...the only constant is change, out with the old and in with the new, all good things must come to an end...yada yada. We all go through the peaks and pits of life, and for most of us, you experience them with a...
Couples Counseling Series #1: 4 Early Signs of a Toxic Relationship Most People Overlook
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably heard about the dangers of toxic relationships. There are plenty of stories from people who have experienced horrible physical, emotional and psychological abuse from partners. The truth is most relationships don’t start out...
Feeling Anxious? – How to remain mindful in the middle of life’s busyness.
oIf you’re left anxious from the busyness of life, take heart, you’re not alone. Many of us get caught up in our busy day-to-day lives. It’s understandable. There’s work, making sure the kids get to practice, getting dinner on the table, and squeezing in a workout...
Is Your Teen Using? – how to talk about alcohol and drugs
It may be that you suspect your teen is using alcohol or drugs. You want to open up the conversation because you’re concerned. But you don’t want to put your teen on the defensive. Some parents avoid the issue because it’s uncomfortable. That’s a mistake. According to...
Having Depressing Thoughts? – 6 Practical Tips to Manage Them
Your mind can be your own worst enemy when you are dealing with depression symptoms. The emotional overwhelm is bad enough. Then, depressing thoughts exacerbate the situation. In fact, you can get stuck in an emotional whirlpool by going over and over those thoughts...
Dealing with Stress? 5 Tips for Overwhelmed Women Trying to Do It All
“I feel so overwhelmed! I have no idea how I’m going to get everything done that’s on my plate right now!” Sound familiar? These days, you’re expected to be everything—working professional, caring parent, family organizer and planner, budget manager, cook, etc. The...
Struggling with Parenting a Teenager? 6 Ways to Build a Meaningful Relationship with Your Teen
If you’re like most parents, you’ve likely heard something like this from your teen once or twice—“You’re the worst parent ever!” Sound painfully familiar? Developing a meaningful relationship with your teenager isn’t easy. Hormonal changes and a brain...
Is Someone You Love Showing Signs of Depression? 5 Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
You’ve noticed there’s something “off” about your partner or someone you love lately, but you can’t put your finger on it. They seem withdrawn and more reserved than normal. Like when it’s time to get up in the morning, they stay in bed much later than...
How to Say Goodbye to Anxiety and Hello to Your Best Year Yet
It’s a new year, which means the opportunity for new beginnings. Like many, you may be planning to go on a big trip or get back into shape. Think about this—when you’re making your list of goals for the coming year, why not include ways to lower your stress and reduce...
How to Recognize PTSD – Signs, Symptoms & Treatments
It can be hard just getting through the day. In the morning, you may see a news story about Afghanistan, which brings back a memory from when you served. During the afternoon drive home, you feel your stress levels rise as you drive past some trash in road. Over...
Need Relationship Advice? – What Couples Counseling Is and What It Isn’t
Name three specific things you resent about your partner. Now name three specific things you appreciate about them. This shouldn’t be too hard. But now imagine doing this in the presence of your spouse. Couples counseling is a nuanced and diverse process. However, a...
5 Ways to Calm Your Anxiety During the Holidays
Anxiety and the holidays are almost synonymous with one another. There’s so much to do and so many obligations on your plate that it gets overwhelming very quickly. Even the thought of the holidays may bring on anxiety symptoms for you. But you don’t want anxiety to...
Are You Self-Aware? How to Gauge Your Own Mental Health
ownGauging and understanding your own mental health is very important. The knowledge you get from your own self-understanding helps you make better decisions in your life. This holds true for your career, your personal life, or how you interact with other people. But...
Hiding in the Shadows: Recognizing Subtle Signs of Depression
You’ve heard of depression and how common symptoms include feeling sad or down in the dumps. These symptoms often go unnoticed or are misinterpreted as being caused by other problems, not depression. Here are some subtle signs of depression that often go overlooked....
5 Tips To Be a Better Parent To Your Teen This School Year
New clothes - check. School supplies - check. Getting a handle on that new schedule - check. It took some planning and effort, but you survived those initial weeks of back-to-school with your teen. But how’s your kid doing? He probably has a lot on his mind when it...
Victims of Abuse: 6 Reasons Why They Don’t Just Leave
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. Domestic violence is a highly publicized topic in our local news right now. When there's a...
3 Suggestions for Sitting with Anxiety – That Actually Help
Anxiety symptoms take many forms: It's the knot in your stomach as you navigate through the demands of your day, the racing pulse that rings in your ears as you interact with your friends, your family, or your partner; it's even the feeling of unease for no reason at...
