Helping Families Transition Back to School
By Lydia Sparling, MA, LPC, NCC The transition back to school can impact all family members, not just students. Schedules change, anxiety may rise, and excitement looms in the air. This transition can be very impactful during the elementary years, especially for young children beginning Kindergarten. Here are some tips to make the transition go […]
Stop Recording Your Life and Start Living It
By Hadley McIntyre, MSW, LCSW As a therapist, I spend my days helping people rebuild relationships, process grief, heal from trauma, and reconnect with the people they love. One thing I hear over and over is, “I wish I had been more present.” Rarely does anyone say, “I wish I had taken more videos.” We […]
The Hidden Risks for Children When Parents Are in a High-Conflict Divorce
Many parents worry that divorce itself will harm their children. While divorce can certainly be painful, research consistently shows that it is not the separation alone that creates the greatest risk. Rather, it is the ongoing conflict between parents that often causes the most significant and lasting emotional damage. Children are remarkably resilient when they […]
Clinical Hypnosis: What It Is & What It Isn’t
By Camille McCormack, LPC People are often fascinated when they learn that clinical hypnotherapy is a core part of my practice. There is always curiosity, as well as a little hesitation. Because of how it is portrayed in movies and entertainment, hypnotherapy carries a lot of misunderstanding. Let’s clear the air on what a session […]
Why You Feel Crazy After Every Interaction (And You’re Not)
You hang up the phone or put it down after reading the latest text and think: “What just happened?” You replay the conversation. You second-guess what you said. You wonder if maybe… You are overreacting. And then it happens again. If you’re in a high-conflict divorce, this feeling is incredibly common. And let’s be very […]
The Importance of Therapy for Kids During Summer Break
By Meagan Gerchen, MSW, LCSW As the school year winds down, many families are eagerly anticipating summer vacations, relaxed schedules, and a much-needed break from daily commitments. With school out of session, it can be tempting to put other routines, including therapy, on pause until fall. However, continuing mental health treatment through the summer months […]
Unlocking the Power of Hypnotherapy with West County Behavioral Health
By Camille McCormack, LPC Hypnotherapy is a powerful therapeutic tool that has gained recognition in recent years for its efficacy in treating a variety of psychological and physical issues. At West County Behavioral Health, we firmly believe in the transformative potential of hypnotherapy and want to share why you should consider incorporating it into your mental […]
Not Everything Can Be Fixed With A Prompt
Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now, and in some ways, it can be genuinely helpful. It can organize your thoughts, offer journaling prompts, suggest coping skills, and even make you feel a little less alone when you’re having a hard moment. But we need to be honest about something: AI is not therapy. And for […]
Divorcing a High-Conflict Personality: What Mothers and Fathers Need to Understand
Divorcing a high-conflict person is not like a typical divorce. It is often emotionally draining, legally exhausting, and deeply confusing. Especially when children are involved. For mothers and fathers going through this, one of the hardest realities is this: the divorce often does not end the conflict. In many cases, it escalates it. A high-conflict […]
Navigating the Noise: How to Anchor Your Nervous System in a Complex World
It is not a secret that the world feels incredibly heavy right now. Between global conflicts, shifting economic realities, and a relentless 24-hour news cycle, many of us are waking up each day with a baseline level of tension that we can’t quite shake. If you have been feeling more exhausted, irritable, or unfocused lately, […]