From the time we could talk, people have been asking us what we want to be when we grow up. Many of us dreamed big, wanting to be astronauts, Olympians, firefighters, or the president. This question engrained in us the importance of our one-day career. Not only do they provide a source of income, but they also help us fulfill our personal goals, build networks, and serve the community. One thing the adults forgot to warn us about though, is that all jobs are a major source of emotional stress. Is there a correlation between job stress and mental illness?

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It seems as though more and more people are getting involved in gratitude practices. But what is gratitude exactly? The dictionary definition is “the quality of being thankful”. And “readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Yet how many of us practice gratitude on a daily basis? Expressing gratitude is more than courtesy, manners, or being polite. It’s about showing your heartfelt appreciation. And did you know, people who regularly practice gratitude by taking the time to notice and reflect upon the things they’re thankful for experience a number of benefits? Benefits that include more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems.

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Maybe you have always known you wanted to be a parent. Perhaps the maternal/paternal feelings didn’t come until later in your life. There are those who have actively sought out parenthood. Or maybe the transition came without warning. However the journey unfolds, parenthood is an exciting time. Many claim that the day of their child’s birth is the best day of their lives. But unfortunately, things don’t always go according to plan. There are chances of miscarriages, infertility, and loss of child. With those tragic experiences come feelings of sadness, anger, grief, guilt, and shame. How do people get through these horrible tragedies? In today’s post, we want to talk about coping with reproductive issues. And share our own stories of our therapists helping patients through this distressing time.

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Hello, my name is Amber Chapman, MA, LPC, CAADC, and I have been a practicing therapist for over 17 years.  Couples therapy in the form of Couples and marriage counseling is a high priority for me as I believe we all deserve to have healthy, trustworthy, loving relationships that increase our individual strengths.  All relationships have challenges that arise, however we sometimes are without the coping skills necessary to meet those challenges in a healthy manner.  It can be an even more daunting task to develop these coping skills within the community with diverse needs such as the LBGT community.  Though it is typical for LBGT couples to seek therapy for the exact same reasons as a heterosexual couple, it is important to find a therapist who is LBGT specialized to create an appropriately trustworthy therapeutic relationship.

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