RECENT ARTICLES
NEWS
Each week, we post the latest articles and new blog content across a variety of categories. Browse our latest.
How To Live with Bipolar Disorder (From a Guy with Bipolar II)
By Grant Stenzel, MS Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Bipolar disorder is classified by its high-to-low emotional swings. Emotional regulation is difficult and often impossible during manic and depressive episodes. But it’s not shameful to be bipolar, and it certainly doesn’t mean your life is over if you’re diagnosed. Personally, I have bipolar II. I live a good and happy life and know how to monitor myself when I need it. [...]
3 Surefire Ways To Overcome Intrusive Thoughts
By Grant Stenzel, MS Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor You’re driving on a two-lane road when you suddenly think about veering into oncoming traffic. You’re waiting for a train and you imagine jumping in front of it. You’re holding a child you love when you suddenly picture doing something terrible. What IS that? And what is wrong with you? Those are intrusive thoughts, and nothing is wrong with you. They’re completely normal, but they can also be [...]
Gracefully Giving and Receiving Constructive Criticism
By Grant Stenzel, MS Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Whether you’re providing it or receiving it, constructive criticism can be challenging. On one hand, giving criticism has its own difficulties that come with approaching a person about certain behaviors. On the other, receiving constructive criticism and using it to your advantage can also be tough. Exploring your behaviors when facing criticism can help you to understand and alter your emotions to [...]
Understanding and Managing Anger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cktbf2TVgyQ If you find yourself getting angry more often than you’d like, there are steps you can take to deal with this common emotion. Bottom line: it’s okay to feel anger! We just need to make sure we aren’t harming others or ourselves because of it.
Learning to Accept Your Kids for Who They’re Meant to Be
By Grant Stenzel, MS Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Watching your children grow and flourish is one of the most rewarding parts of being a parent. But what do you do when your child doesn’t turn out like you’d hoped? What if your child is the polar opposite of who you expected them to be? The answer is acceptance; and while this might be a hard nut to crack, it may [...]
Stubbornness: When It’s a Positive vs. When It’s a Negative
By Grant Stenzel, MS Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Being stubborn is a two-way street: we can either use it to defend ourselves and our opinions, or we can use it in other, more destructive ways. Either way, learning the two faces of stubbornness can help you assert yourself and achieve your goals while maintaining a calm and kind presence. Don’t Be a Bully We all know the negatives of [...]