Hello! You have reached Forward Counseling’s Blog where we tackle mental health topics in an open, honest way in hopes that our stories will inspire you. Please feel free to read and comment…
Forward Counseling is doing our Magical Listening Booth at Memphis Pride Fest again this year! We need as many volunteers as we can get to listen and support, do glitter and make-up, and hand out stickers and flyers! Memphis Pride takes place at Robert Church Park on Saturday, September 28th this year. Click the “Learn More” button below to view the event page on Facebook and learn how to volunteer!
One innovative form of therapy provided by Forward Counseling is known as sand tray therapy. By presenting a client with a small tray of sand and a wide variety of figurines, a therapist can sit back and observe what the client chooses to create. Though perhaps initially presumed as juvenile, there are actually many benefits to this type of therapy.
Firstly, it provides a way to communicate when verbalizing becomes too difficult. Often clients find themselves not yet ready to discuss what might be going on, and in that case, sand trays provide a medium through which to communicate to the therapist what words aren’t ready to say yet.
Read MoreForward Counseling is asking for YOU to come join us in supporting young people this year at the 2018 Memphis Pride Parade and Festival.
Be a part of the movement to support LGBTQ Teens by ordering your shirt here and SHOWING UP the day of the event. We are all going to wear our shirts to the Pride Parade and Festival and will be a part of a Support Booth where LGBTQ teens can practice coming out and hearing some supportive words from Forward Counseling Staff and YOU GUYS TOO!
Here is the T-Shirt Link : http://www.forwardcounseling.com/pride-2018-tshirt-page/
Aromatherapy has been shown effective in altering your mood, especially increasing calm and relaxation and pleasant affects. Join Jessica Shea, LCSW on Saturday February 24, 2018 from Noon-1PM at Location 1, 560 Colonial, Suite 201, 38117 for her Aromatherapy Lab to find the scent that compliments your current growth process. Sample all ranges of smells, chart your reactions, and leave with a custom roller or nasal inhaler. Lean ways to use aromatherapy for relaxation and grounding. Insurance accepted, private pay is $40 for this group. Register by completing form at www.forwardcounseling.com/contact/
Read MoreWorking at Forward Counseling is not about doing a job, its about joining a team of people that help you and others do and be better. We are dedicated to creating an environment of support, creativity, curiosity, problem solving, mental and physical health all while doing very important and meaningful work.
Interns help us as much as we help them learn and grow. We accept both macro and micro level practice interns in the following fields and will work with you to create a custom learning plan to meet your goals.
Forward Counseling is happy to announce Mindful Fridays at our Colonial office hosted by Dean Graves. Dean offers group and one on one meditation and mindfulness instruction to help you look inside and discover the barriers to your peace and happiness. Excellent for clients working to resolve trauma or to bring insight to strong emotions.
Read MoreJoin us for creating your own 2018 vision board. From this process, you can identify your core values and goals for the new year! This group is covered by most insurance, the self pay rate is 45 per group. this group lasts 6 weeks with one extra group for clients to make up any missed groups.
To register complete appointment form online at http://forwardcounseling.com/contact/
Cynics. Pessimists. Negative Nancy’s. We all know one, love one, hey—maybe we even are one. Your whole life people have encouraged having a positive attitude for reasons that understandably revolve around forming better relationships and being kinder to one another. But what if you found out that cynicism could actually be contributing to some pretty serious medical conditions?
Now, as stated in the Upworthy video linked above, this connection is a tricky one to solidify. Research is still being done to better nail down the relationship between bad attitudes and health conditions such as dementia or heart disease. Until that research is done, this leaves room for a little estimation.
It makes sense that skeptics experience less pleasure than optimists, but is that entirely based on circumstance? The philosophy of a self fulfilling prophecy can be pretty powerful. If you tell yourself you’re going to have a bad day, then you make the means by which you actually have a good day incredibly high and most likely unattainable. The connection between the body and mind is a powerful one, and some people find that even saying the words “I’m having fun” out loud or forcing yourself to smile immediately begin to brighten one’s mood.
It makes sense, then, that those who practice a more optimistic view on life may tend to enjoy life more, and therefore may even care more about how long they get to live it. This is of course just a theory, and perhaps a weak one, but still food for thought.
Persistent problems such as depression and anxiety are sure to contribute to pessimistic attitudes, and there is no shortage of research linking physical side affects to mental health issues. This leads back to what is said towards the end of the video: that a negative attitude is completely reversible!
If you find yourself with an attitude on life that is causing stress or harm to yourself or others around you, consider the anxiety that may exist in your mind. If you feel so inclined, look into our website for more information on how you can schedule an appointment with us. Together we can foster a more positive attitude and improve your quality of life!
All of our blogs are written by Forward Counseling staff or interns.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ-1cq8ibwg
This is a clip of a dance performed in Season 5 of the TV show, So You Think You Can Dance. The piece was titled “Addiction” and was choreographed to the music of Sara Bareilles’ song, “Gravity.” Not only is this a beautiful dance, but it so artistically paints the struggles of addiction, whether it be to alcohol, drugs, a lover, etc. Notice how the female dancer runs to her oppressor in the beginning. She chooses to go to him, though she remains emotionless as the dance begins. Her run to him is aggressive and magnetic. She does not appear to be happy about the contact, yet she knows she needs it. His movement begins slowly, and then quickens progressively, much like addiction.
Shortly after, the male makes motions as if to give her life. By the pull of his hand, she springs forward. He makes her feel alive, and she proceeds to fall back into him. Most of the dance consists of the male artfully maneuvering the female. It is a constant rhythm of rising and falling. She runs from him and he catches up. They literally leap and bow in unison, representing the intricacy behind the pull that addiction can have on a person’s life. The addiction is with that person when they’re at their lowest, and yet highest points too. And this is one reason that addiction can be so hard to dispel.
Notice at the line of the song, “All I still know is that you’re keeping me down,” the male is literally prohibiting her outstretched hand. He also covers her mouth multiple times in the dance, representing how difficult it can be to reach out and get help. Also notice that right after holding her down, the male helps to lift her back up. He gently catches her falling head and lifts her up to control her again. This reflects the way in which an addiction not only hurts, but supports a person. Addiction is a tangled web of emotions, desires, and will. It is not black and white, and this dance illustrates that beautifully.
Finally, note the most important part: she breaks free from him in the end. It was a battle, and not an easy one in the slightest, but by the time the lights come up on these dancers, the female is standing alone, not facing him, not looking back. She is moving forward.
Regularly listening to and talking with others helps put your own problems in perspective. Group members support one another. In group you learn to accept yourself and others.
Read MoreThey say boys are made of snips, snails, and puppy dog tails, but they're also made of much more!
Read MoreBut there is good news! You can learn skills and alternative ways to cope with feelings of emotional distress to keep from reaching for those unhealthy foods whenever you’re faced with a negative feeling.
Read MoreGirls just want to have fun! And they will have fun in our Girls Group as they learn more about themselves and others!
Read MoreCome join our Personal Trainer, Deborah McLaughlin, to train to run a 5K. Have fun, get in shape, manage stress, you can do it! We will motivate and guide you!
Read MoreWhen you are going through a tough time, lean on your partner. Allow your partner to lean on you. Support is the cornerstone of a healthy relationship.
Read MoreOf course you want to share things with your partner, but some independence in a relationship is healthy. Hobbies are good for us, they indulge our creativity and studies show that they offer numerous health benefits. You and your partner likely have some similar interests, but there are things you enjoy that he doesn’t. So do them for yourself!
Read MoreLocation 1: 560 Colonial Road, Suite 201, Memphis, TN 38117
Location 2: 4646 Poplar Ave, Suite 302, Memphis, TN 38117
Location 3: Princeton House Location, Summer at Mendenhall, 38117, Email, call or text the office for the exact address
