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Keep Learning & Growing Outside of Sessions
We believe that our clients learn the skills they need to live more fulfilling lives working alongside their therapists, but continuing to learn and grow means taking that knowledge out into the real world and applying it to your day-to-day life. Whether you’re still in counseling with us and want to find some new ways to think about the work you’re doing in sessions or you just want to learn more about how therapy can help, our blog topics offer information that will benefit you through your journey to live a more joyful and satisfying life.
5 reasons conflict can be positive
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC One of the best cartoons of my era was “Garfield and Friends” (it still holds up well). On the show, Garfield sometimes ran into a group called “The Buddy Bears.” Three bears, dressed alike who had their own theme song. It went like this: “Oh...
4 Benefits of Addressing the “Elephant in the Room” in 2023
By Lauren Thomas, MA, LPC Happy New Year! As you look ahead at 2023, is prioritizing your mental health one of your goals? Is this the year you will finally address the “elephant in the room?” You know the one: the thing that makes you anxious, keeps you stuck, or...
3 ways you can protect yourself from the holiday chaos (and improve your enjoyment)
By Hannah Mosser, MA, LPC I don’t know about you, but somewhere around Thanksgiving week, I start playing Christmas music (in my car, in my kitchen, all over the place), which continues to play repeatedly in my mind until mid-January or so. So far this year, Andy...
Real Friendships: How to Connect More & Feel Less Lonely
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Loneliness catches all of us at some point in our lives. However, none of us can escape the reality that we were made to have relationships with other people. Life is a team sport, y’all. “Love and belonging” is in Maslow’s Hierarchy of...
6 ways to keep your recovery going strong through the holidays
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC If you are newly in recovery and looking ahead at your calendar, you might be concerned about getting through the next month of celebration(s) without alcohol. Aside from the traditions that might likely involve toasts or the meals/social...
Want successful change? Ask yourself these 7 questions.
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC From time to time we become aware that we need to make lifestyle or behavior changes. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to make changes. Why? There’s a number of reasons but one I think that isn’t talked about is that our motivation to...
3 Reasons Therapy is a Great Idea for Retirees
By Lauren Thomas, MA, LPC You made it to retirement – congratulations! You devoted many years to a profession and now it's time to think through what you want your next chapter to look like. While most of us envision being retired as a life of leisure and relaxation...
7 ways to do less and accomplish more (while feeling better)
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC One of the most common cultural depictions in shows, movies, commercials etc. is one of the individual bouncing from one thing to the next, doing 5 things at once (ever shaved in the car?), always on the go from the time the alarm goes off...
You can do these 5 things to build deeper relationships!
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC It’s possible at any point during your life to feel the absence of deeper friendships. This can happen for many reasons, some that are clear to us (i.e. having moved away) and others that aren’t (i.e. a stage of life that creates distance)....
Are you struggling to set a boundary in these 4 areas?
By Hannah Mosser, MA, LPC In grad school, a friend and I coined the phrase “stop should-ing yourself.” Sounds ridiculous, I know. But, at some point we realized that we had a tendency to tell ourselves that we should be… exercising six times a week (despite working...
7 ways to keep your marriage fresh (small actions with big rewards)
By Alana Gregg, MS When you’ve been married for a long time, it can be easy to get a little too comfortable. You see each other day in and day out. You sleep next to each other. You raise kids together. You may be physically together often but that is not the same...
Worried? Upset? 7 steps to help you manage an emotional crisis
By Marcia Murphy, MA Have you ever felt as if things were so out of control that you did not seem to be able to cope anymore? Have you ever felt out of control even of your own emotions? Have you thought that things were going so wrong that you couldn't think...
Make these 6 improvements to your room, get better quality sleep!
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC It’s not rocket science, when you sleep well, you feel better. We’ve talked before about ways to prepare yourself for good quality sleep (sometimes called sleep hygiene) but there are also things you can do to the environment around you....
If life feels too busy, ask yourself these 6 things
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC It’s not uncommon to read or hear someone lament “life used to be so much simpler” when they refer to times past. In a similar vein, maybe you or someone you know daydreams about living on an island with all the cares of the world are far...
7 Questions to ask yourself when you’re unhappy at work
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC, LCMHC Most of us spend a good chunk of our lives employed. Given it’s such a big part of our life, our experience (good or bad) will likely have a significant impact on us. You might find yourself anywhere from being bored with work...
The 3 types of anxious thoughts you may be experiencing
By Alana Gregg, MA When we are anxious, our minds tend to race with all kinds of thoughts. It can feel like a pinball machine up there and it can be really overwhelming to sort through them all. Our anxious minds can go from thinking of things we have to do to...
Why EMDR might be the best therapy to treat your trauma
By Hannah Mosser, MA, LPC Big T, little t, what begins with T? Trauma comes in many different forms, shapes and sizes. We tend to think of Big T traumas as events like 9/11 or being the victim of sexual abuse; something that when heard by others, is very clearly...
8 ways to build self esteem (and how this will help daily life)
By Marcia Murphy, MA We hear from many directions about the importance of having confidence in yourself. However, some of us may struggle with finding this within ourselves. But what does it really mean to have low self-esteem? And what can be done about it? Low...
5 ways trying to be perfect may be hurting you
By Alana Gregg, MA So when you have three kids you watch a lot of Disney movies. And if you have little ones then you probably have to watch their favorite ones 1,000 times. I’ve been there! I just recently saw Encanto about a Spanish family whose Grandmother...
7 things you should know if you’re thinking about starting therapy
By Nate Bailey, MA, LPC Deciding to start therapy and/or look for a therapist can be a big step. It comes with a lot of questions, a lot of "what if's.." which can make the whole process of starting that much harder. Here's a list of 7 things to keep in mind as you...
The 15 minute vacation: get self care when you need it most
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC Most of us take time each year to go on vacation. It’s never as long as we want or as often as we want. We go on vacation as a way to do something different, break out of our routine, find time to relax, and put down (at least some) of our...
7 reasons why it’s important to share how you feel with others
By Alana Gregg, MS The chaos of the world right now is causing so many emotions. In these moments, it’s important to think about who you talk to when you are hurting or upset. I can’t tell you how many clients I have had that look at me like I have five heads when I...
You CAN Do Mindfulness! – Five Easy Ways to Be Mindful Every Day
By Marcia Murphy, MA “I can’t do mindfulness! I don’t have time!” Hearing the word “mindfulness” can create images of sitting in quiet meditation for hours on a beach or mountaintop. We believe it takes great effort and dedication to have a mindfulness practice. And...
3 Benefits of Receiving Counseling from a Christian Perspective
By Maddie Lukens, MA If you are thinking of pursuing anxiety counseling, PTSD counseling or online counseling, anytime is a great time to begin. It is never too late to seek out the support you need. If you are a Christian and have been hesitant about counseling or...
5 ways to tell if your indecisiveness means you have anxiety
By Alana Gregg, MS Think about a time you were with a group of friends and you were trying to pick a restaurant to go to. Did you offer a suggestion or did you stay quiet? Maybe you used the common “I don’t care” line when your friends came to you for an idea. You may...
Three Definitions to Help You Better Understand What Trauma Is
By Maddie Lukens, MA “I’m triggered” “How do you cope?” “PTSD” “Trauma” These are phrases and words you may have heard spoken aloud or posted on social media. As mental and emotional health continue to work their way to the center stage of many of our conversations...
Create personal change in 2022 by using SMART goals
By Hannah Mosser, MA, LPC I don’t know about you, but absolutely every part of me loves setting goals. In my personal life, professional life… for me, for others, I love goals. Here we are, freshly in the year of 2022. If you’re like me, you’ve probably already set...
8 ways to worry less and live more (in 2022 and beyond)
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC More now than ever, you can find yourself consumed with worry and anxiety about what’s coming around the corner. I won’t go through the list of events and situations you might find being publicized (after all this is supposed to help your...
Five ways to manage a disappointing holiday experience
By Alana Gregg, MS The holidays can be a time filled with joy and laughter. But it can also be a time filled with heartache and pain. This looks different for everyone. Maybe you are grieving a broken relationship. You are going through a painful divorce or your...
Are you herding cats? The danger of trying to control the uncontrollable.
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC Is what you’re trying to control, uncontrollable? You may have heard the expression “...it’s like herding cats.” I’ve never owned one cat, let alone many cats that require herding but I can only imagine that it’s nearly impossible. What cats...
Anxiety and 3 ways to manage what you can’t control
By Alana Gregg, MA Do you remember when you were young and there were the “Got Milk” advertisements everywhere? I think at this point in our current climate, it would be more appropriate to start making signs that say “Got Anxiety?” So many of us can relate....
Why two halves don’t make a whole in relationships
By Alana Gregg, MS Let me take you back to elementary school where fractions and pie charts filled your math class. Your teacher would draw pizzas on the board that were supposed to help you understand but all they made you feel was hungry. Maybe math wasn’t your...
Why I want to work with people confronting their substance use disorder
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC I’ve had the privilege of working to provide addictions counseling for over 15 years. Sometimes when people find out what I do, they want to know why. As a part of Lime Tree Counseling, I provide drug and alcohol counseling in Ambler, PA as...
How Boundaries with Consequences Help You Become the Best Version of Yourself
By Maddie Lukens, MA In counseling we talk A LOT about boundaries. Boundaries with work, school, relationships, personal boundaries, and how to implement boundaries with people in our lives - like coworkers and friends. Boundaries Let's first define what a boundary is...
10 Reasons why people stop their counseling for drugs & alcohol
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC 1. They believe the lie that “this time it can be different” "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." This is a well known saying but we all make this mistake to some extent. “This time it can be...
Two causes of anxiety and five things you can do about it
By Hannah Mosser, MA, LPC If you are anything like me, anxiety is not an unfamiliar experience. I surveyed my friends on Instagram and these were some of the responses I received, when asked what causes them to become anxious: “work, travel plans, relational...
Five ways to successfully move from Summer to Fall
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC The end of summer has a way of sneaking up on us. You might think the world around you goes from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye. Fall might find you struggling to get traction and pick back up with a more regimented schedule. Here’s 5 things...
Language is Powerful. Learning How to Tell Your Story Leads to Freedom.
By Maddie Lukens, MA Your perspective on mental health and the ways you’ve learned how to talk about it are influenced by a number of things. The house you grew up in, how/if your caregivers discussed mental health experiences (or not), and to some degree your present...
3 Benefits of Letting Go of People-Pleasing and Taking Responsibility for Others
By Lauren Thomas, MA Do you have difficulty setting boundaries around your time and energy? You are not alone. Many of us are exhausted because we carry too many physical, mental, and emotional burdens that we are not meant to carry. If you find yourself taking better...
7 ways to reduce your kid’s vacation anxiety
By Alana Gregg, MS, LPC We all look forward to summer. Being able to enjoy the sunshine, the fresh air, and the quality time with family and friends. Taking vacations at the shore were some of my favorite childhood memories. I have vivid memories of staying in the...
Making new friends as an adult: yes, it can be done. Promise.
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC Maybe this seems like a silly topic but, yes it’s possible as an adult to find yourself searching out new friends. How did I get here? There may be several reasons why this is where you find yourself. It’s possible as you choose recovery,...
Stop the comparison game: there’s no such thing as normal!
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC We often feel that the “default” life situation is to be free and clear of all worry, disease, hardship, relationship conflict etc. When we experience these things we add to our pain, frustration and grief by comparing ourselves to others who...
Learn how to get unstuck from learned helplessness and blind optimism
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC One of the most basic parts of being human is the need to have an impact on the world around us, specifically to be able to change the things we don’t like or are hurtful/dangerous. When we can’t do that, we can suffer many negative effects....
4 Reasons to Pursue Online Counseling in Colorado and 3 Ways You’ll Benefit
By Maddie Lukens, MA As life in the United States returns to some semblance of “normal,” there are a few things I learned from the pandemic that I want to share with you. First, I realized what an incredible privilege it was/is to utilize various forms of technology...
Avoid an argument: How to use “I” statements and stay calm doing it
By Hannah Mosser, MA, LPC I was at the beach this past weekend and as I was walking on the sand, I heard a man respond to (whom I presume was) his wife, asking “How’d you f!&#*ing forget that?” Watching her facial expression change at this curt response, I...
8 Date night ideas that boost connection (and how to make sure they happen)
By Alana Gregg, MS School’s almost out! Can you believe it? The summer can be a really fun time to reconnect with your spouse when during the year you pass like ships in the night. Maybe you’re in the movie night funk like my husband and I have been because by the...
Eight of the Best Places for Self-Care in Colorado Springs
By Maddie Lukens, MA I googled the definition of self-care & the top hit was: “actions and attitudes which contribute to the maintenance of well-being and personal health.” I really like this definition because it is inclusive - we aren’t just considering our ...
The relationship trick that can help you avoid arguments (and 3 ways to use it)
By Alana Gregg, MA Relationships can be tricky. There are two flawed human beings trying to navigate a stressful and difficult world while doing their best to love each other well. This is probably one of the hardest tasks in life. No one does it perfectly because, oh...
4 Stages of Grief Therapy, How to Move From Loss to Life
By Hannah Mosser, MA, LPC When you think “grief therapy,” you might think of the five well-known stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This is an older model that suggests there is a “right way” to grieve. That there is a specific order by...
Why “Negative” Emotions are Helpful – 4 Tips to Help Manage Your Anxiety
By Maddie Lukens, MA In the culture we live in there is a quiet message sent to us that we must AVOID all things negative, uncomfortable, or anything that leaves us feeling other than happy or satisfied. Can you recall a time that you’ve wanted to avoid hurt,...
6 Things You Can Do For Self Care (and 5 ways to find the time)
By Hannah Mosser, MA, LPC Winter is turning to spring and I am so ready! The changing of seasons gives us a great opportunity to examine the "what" and "when" of self care. I’m not sure about you, but I know that the long, dark hours of winter get to me. I feel...
4 Things Waiting For Spring Can Teach Us About Self Improvement
By Alana Gregg, MA It has been a LONG winter and many of us are ready for change and self improvement. More than any other year, I think we’re ready for spring. I feel like I’ve been hibernating...staying inside all day with minimal sunshine or fresh air. There’s been...
5 Unhealthy Family Roles You May Be Playing In Your Family
By Alana Gregg, MA There are many different reasons why we sometimes drift into playing unhealthy family roles in our family (past and/or present). No family is perfect and we all have room to grow in our communication, how we relate and how to best meet each other’s...
Why can’t it be both? The problem with black & white thinking.
By Alana Gregg, MA We are so divided on many issues right now and our anxiety is on the rise. There are two opposite ends of the spectrum and you’re constantly having to choose a side. One choice is good and the other is bad. There is no in between. All or nothing. We...
8 Things You Should Do When Someone You Love Is Trapped By Addiction
By Nathan Bailey, MA, LPC Loving someone caught in addiction or substance abuse can be devastating. Too often those in this situation focus all their attention on trying to help or get care for the person who’s using and very little (if any) support for themselves....
How to choose a Therapist: The 5 Characteristics You Need For Success
By Maddie Lukens, MA If you’ve ever thought about going to therapy, but never have, this post is for you! If you’re the person who has considered talking to someone to help you discover the best version of yourself, but felt hesitant, I hope you’ll read through to...
You Matter: What is The Importance of Telling your Story?
By Maddie Lukens, MA Have you had the chance to sit and think about who you are today? Take a moment to reflect and think about the things that have happened in your life. Your career, family, lifestyle, significant other, etc., are all results of your experiences...
Group Counseling: 3 Things You Can Get Out of It
By Hannah Mosser, MA, LPC In my work as a Therapist, when I discuss group counseling with a client, their eyes widen. Like, a big “no thanks” is the immediate thought that passes through their mind. And honestly, I get it. I think people hear “group counseling” and...
4 Ways a Grief Therapy Group Can Help You
By Alana Gregg, MA When you lose someone you love, life changes in an instant. It’s like the rug has been pulled out from under you and you can’t quite get your footing again. Suddenly, you have to figure out how to live in a world without them. Where do you begin?...
Adulting 101: Adulting Doesn’t Have to be Hard or Lonely
By Maddie Lukens, MA “Adulting is hard.” These three words have escaped my lips and the lips of countless others. I imagine you know a few Millennials and Gen Zers - they are probably some of the younger individuals in your life (or maybe you are one yourself). ...
3 Ways For Self-Care In The Midst Of Political Stress
By Genevieve Kim, MA, LMFT Last November, I wrote about 3 ways to deal with the heightened stress during Election season. I suggested: 1, Setting limits in watching the news2. Unplugging from social media3. Establishing healthy boundaries around discussing...
What Do You Do When Reflecting Back On Last Year Is Too Hard?
By Alana Gregg, MS We have all emphatically declared good riddance to 2020. We want to put it behind us and never think about it again. It can be so tempting to push this past year out of our minds because it brings up too much pain and disappointment. I understand...
New Year, Same You: The Problem with New Year’s Resolutions
Although 2020 forced us to make changes to our lives we couldn’t have imagined a year ago, many of us still might be holding out hope that 2021 will be different. New Year’s Resolutions have a long history of tricking us into thinking a new…
Let’s Explore How to Better Support Your Child With ADHD
by Maddie Lukens, MA Receiving a diagnosis of ADHD at any age can be difficult to digest. As a parent, you might initially feel relieved because you have an answer to why things might have been so difficult for your child. On the other hand, you’ve entered into a new...
Are Your Relationships Healthy? 7 Ways to Tell.
by Alana Gregg, MS There are many different kinds of relationships: spouse, parent, sibling, friend. Although they each serve a different function in our life, they all have the same characteristics that make them healthy and beneficial. How can you tell if your...
Stress Versus Anxiety: When You Should Seek Support
by Maddie Lukens, MA The words "stress" and "anxiety" have woven their way into our narratives because we have 1) gotten better at naming what we’re experiencing, and 2) with how busy and demanding our lives are, we are more likely to have experiences of anxiety or...
How to Survive the Holidays When You’re Grieving
by Alana Gregg, MS The holidays can be extremely difficult when you are grieving the loss of a loved one. They bring reminders of the person you lost and the memories and traditions you had with them. You don’t have the energy to go to all the parties and buy all the...
Holiday Anxiety and How to Maximize Your Joy
by Maddie Lukens, MA Much of 2020 has been filled with surprises, un-planned experiences and unmet expectations. We all have been impacted in various ways by a significant change or loss of some type. No matter where you or your family find yourselves as 2020 comes to...
Healthy Relationships Increase Gratitude in a Hard Year
by Lauren Thomas, MA It’s Thanksgiving Week of 2020! The words “thanksgiving” and “2020” may seem oddly juxtaposed this year. Between a worldwide pandemic, natural disasters, a contentious election season, and stressful changes to our everyday lives (hello,...
How to Deal With the Politically Stressful Climate
by Genevieve Kim, MA, LMFT Since the months leading up to the election, it seems like everything has been made a political issue. Not only did we watch the presidential debates, but if you’ve been active on social media, you’ve probably witnessed highly contentious...
Got ADHD on the Mind? 4 Tips to Help.
by Maddie Lukens, MA There are certainly times when we all feel off task. Sometimes there are days where it feels like nothing gets done because we are stressed, we can’t stay focused, we are tired, or we’re in pain. But for some people, they might have a daily...
How to Keep Your Mood From Ruling Your Life
by Alana Gregg, MS We all have highs and lows. We have good days and bad days. Some days start out great and then end up going badly. Some days start out bad and get worse from there. Sometimes our mood is due to real life events and sometimes we inexplicably just...
Stop Putting Up With It, Make a Change Now!
by Nate Bailey, MA, LPC Hey guys, this one’s for you! Did you know? -Over 6 million men suffer from depression. -Over 19 million men have an anxiety disorder. -More than 4 times as many men as women die by suicide in the US. -Approximately 1 in 5 men will develop...
How to Navigate Your Child’s Sudden Emotions in a Changing World
by Maddie Lukens, MA Last week we talked about some tips that are helpful for adults to learn how to better manage sudden emotions that come up, in response to our ever-changing world. You can read part 1 on our website in the "Blog" section. This week we are...
How to Navigate Sudden Emotions in a Changing World, Part 1
by Maddie Lukens, MA Does fall feel different this year? Usually we find ourselves ready for the cooler weather, easing back into the “normalcy” much of our families expect with the changing of seasons. But if you’re anything like me, this fall feels different - since...
Balance Doesn’t Have to Be a Curse Word
by Alana Gregg, MS Balance is such an annoying word, isn’t it? I have a physical reaction when I hear it. It’s this illusive concept that seems impossible to achieve. Whether it’s the work/home life balance, or the emotional/physical health balance, or taking care of...
How to Challenge Negative, Automatic Thoughts
by Maddie Lukens, MA Automatic thoughts are thoughts that occur immediately in response to something we experience. Sometimes automatic thoughts happen out of our conscious awareness, other times an automatic thought is that small voice in your head saying: “you’re...
Are You on the Road to Relapse?
by Alana Gregg, MS Picture yourself swimming in the ocean on a hot summer's day. You’ve started out in front of the lifeguard stand, in between the two green flags that tell you where it is safe to swim. But you’re facing out to the ocean where there are no flags or...
How to Feel More Secure Through the Comfort of a Routine
by Maddie Lukens, MA Our world has changed drastically over the past 6 months and I don’t think any of us expected to experience many of the things we have in 2020. Like many of you, I have also been challenged to develop a new routine. Week after week, things...
Empathy: What Hurting People Need, and What They Don’t
by Alana Gregg, MS If you look hard enough, there is pain all around us. Whenever we are confronted with pain in someone else, we have to choose how to respond. One choice we have is whether to choose sympathy or empathy. In my facebook live video, I discussed the...
How to Get “Unstuck” From Difficult Emotions
by Maddie Lukens, MA Have you ever found yourself just feeling down? Or maybe you’ve been feeling sad or discouraged all day and you can’t seem to shake the feeling. Perhaps you wake up one morning and just feel “off?” Many people experience this, some more frequently...
What Are Defense Mechanisms and How Do They Impact You?
by Alana Gregg, MS I’m just gonna throw this out there...I’m a New York Giants fan. I know, I know. You can take the girl out of Jersey but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl. Don't worry, my husband has already brainwashed my kids to be Philadelphia Eagles...
How to Deal With the Invisible, Backseat Driver in Your Life
by Maddie Lukens, MA Have you ever been a backseat driver? Or perhaps you’ve been on the receiving end of someone else’s backseat-driving? You’re cruising down the street you take every day and hear someone in the passenger or back seat pipe up and say: “you’re going...
How to Love Someone With Anxiety
by Alana Gregg, MS While anxiety is a normal part of life and something we all deal with, some of us struggle more than others. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly why this is, but there are many factors. Our genetics play a big role in our anxiety. If we have family...
4 Ways to Improve Your Anxiety
by Alana Gregg, MS Anxiety is something we all struggle with. As human beings, it is normal to feel fear and anxiety. Our anxiety tells us we need to be assured that everything will be fine or that we or our loved ones will never get sick. We need a cure or a vaccine...
Self-Care: What You Need to Know & How to do More of It
by Maddie Lukens, MA I know many of us haven’t been on an airplane in a while, but do you remember the last time you flew? One thing flight attendants talk about before every take-off is the safety features of the aircraft. One of those features mentioned are the...
How to Survive the Summer in Recovery
by Alana Gregg, MS Have you ever walked down a dark street alone? What was that like? Did you walk a little faster? Were you a little more alert? Did your ears perk up to the noises around you? I had a very over-protective dad. When I first learned how to drive he...
4 Reasons Teens Can Benefit From Counseling
by Maddie Lukens, MA Think back to when you were a teenager: maybe middle school, high school, or college. Remember what your home looked like, the hallways of your school, where you ate lunch. Perhaps you participated in your school’s orchestra or you ran cross...
How to Control Your Anger Before it Controls You
by Alana Gregg, MS When was the last time you felt angry? For me it was about an hour ago. As I sat with my three kids doing school work, bouncing from kid to kid as needed, I suddenly realized my son was playing a game on his computer when he knew he was supposed to...
How to Set & Maintain Boundaries for a Healthier Life
by Maddie Lukens, MA Boundaries are things that you or I can set in place in our own lives - they set limits and help us to clearly define something. They help us recognize what is safe, healthy, and life-giving. Everyone has different boundaries depending on their...
Parenting: How to be a Calm in Their Storm
by Alana Gregg, MS The past few months have been a test of parenting, haven’t they? There has been no shortage of stress in these unprecedented times. And the stressors continue to pile up. How in the world do we help our kids deal with their emotions when we are...
7 Ways to Combat Negative Thoughts
by Maddie Lukens, MA Negative thoughts are the phrases we hear in our head like: “I’m not good enough;” “I will only fail if I try again;” “I hate ____ about myself.” These thoughts do nothing but tear down our self-esteem and leave us feeling discouraged, hurt, and...
How to Help Someone Who is Grieving
by Maddie Lukens, MA We are living in a time of immense grief and death. There are so many of you who know someone who has lost a loved one. It can be hard to know what to say or do. Most of the time we are terrified we are going to say or do the wrong thing and make...
How to Walk Through Grief in a Healthy Way
by Maddie Lukens, MA Grief has come in all shapes and sizes during this pandemic. We have lost many things in the last few months, including people that we love. For those of you who have lost a loved one, I am truly sorry for your loss. There are no words to express...
Stressed Out During Coronavirus?! 5 Things That Help.
by Maddie Lukens, MA Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness month? Here at Lime Tree Counseling, we love mental health! The CDC released a Public Service Announcement highlighting the importance of caring for your mental health - not only this month, but every...
4 Myths Preventing You From Going to Counseling
by Maddie Lukens, MA Some of our ideas about what a counselor does come from comics, cartoons, sitcoms, or even reality TV shows. Picture this: a client walks into a small office - there is a couch and a desk, probably one thousand books line the shelves of the dimly...
Are You Avoiding or Dealing With Your Anxiety?
by Alana Gregg, MS Anxiety seems to be the norm in a world that is ever changing. Most of the time we are in survival mode just trying to keep our heads above water. We all have our go to ways of dealing with anxiety. In the counseling world, we call them coping...
Do You Have Anxiety And Not Know It? 9 Signs To Look For
by Alana Gregg, MS To say that we have all struggled with anxiety during a pandemic is an understatement. There is so much that is uncertain about the world. And just when we seem to get our footing the rug gets pulled out from under us again. Sometimes we are all too...
8 Signs You Need to Stop Drinking
by Nate Bailey, MA, LPC Drinking alcohol can be a straightforward, unremarkable part of many people’s life. For others, drinking alcohol creates problems and causes conflict. Because we are often surrounded by so-called “normal” drinkers, it may be hard to admit to...
Culturally Sensitive Therapy: The Value of Being Seen
by Genevieve Kim, MA, LMFT In Part 1 of this series, I talked about how to identify whether Culturally Sensitive Therapy is right for you. Check out Part 1 if you haven’t already. If you resonate with any of the ways to recognize whether Culturally Sensitive Therapy...
Culturally Sensitive Therapy: 8 Ways It’s A Fit for You
by Genevieve Kim, MA, LMFT We are living in times where it does not feel safe to be seen as different, whether it be as a person of color or immigrant. Especially now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you might feel scared to be Asian due to the rise in aggressive racism...
Has Social Distancing Left You Feeling Lonely?
by Maddie Lukens, MA It’s wild how much changed in the world seemingly overnight. I’m sure you are sitting on the other side of the screen thinking: “Yeah, I know, it’s unbelievable.” Every decision being made by our local and national leadership continues to impact...
How to Reframe and Rethink Anxiety
by Aaron K. Potratz, LPC Most people who have anxiety are focused on the future. “What if this happens?” “What if that happens?” These are common fears or worries about things that may take place, causing anxiety because of the lack of certainty or control. They also...
5 Ways to Stay Safe When Quarantined with A Toxic Person
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC We are living in intense, stressful times. “Social distancing” and staying cooped up in our homes takes its toll on all of us; however, we know it’s an important responsibility to ensure the health of our communities. Feeling annoyed with the...
4 Tips to Make Online Counseling Successful for You
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Even before we all knew the word “coronavirus” online counseling services were growing. Our world is becoming increasingly mobile. These days you can do almost anything online: see your doctor, attend a work meeting, shop for nearly anything,...
4 Ways to Improve Communication With Your Spouse
by Alana Gregg, MS Marriage is essentially two imperfect people trying to understand each other and love each other well. Sometimes we expect our spouse to be a mind reader, to just know what we need, and we feel hurt when they don't just know what we want. But in...
Why You Need to Be Vulnerable
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Did clicking on this post raise some angst for you because of the word “vulnerable”? Good job on taking the risk to click through and read it! The idea of vulnerability scares most people. Dictionary.com says vulnerability actually means...
3 Reasons to Let People Make Their Own Boundaries
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC You might not realize it, but you are familiar with boundaries whether you know it or not: the boundaries of a football field, the property line around your house, those velvet ropes that show you where to stand when you wait in line, and the...
No Pressure Valentine’s Day
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Valentine’s Day is upon us. For some of us, that’s great, we enjoy a fun night out with our special someone. For others of us, it’s just plain awful. Valentine’s Day and social media together is a bad combo – we are inundated with photos of...
Anxiety Truth Series Part 3: Will Counseling Really Help?
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC In Part 1 of our series we talked about how to recognize when anxiety is a problem and Part 2 focused on what you can do on your own to minimize your anxiety. If you missed those, and want to catch up go ahead and read those first. Now that we...
Anxiety Truth Series Part 2: What Can I Do About It?
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC In part one of our Anxiety Truth Series we talked about how to recognize when anxiety is a problem above and beyond normal everyday stress. Check out part one here if you missed it the first time around. Some people really have a hard time...
Anxiety Truth Series Part 1: How to Recognize It
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC The other day my young son left the door open by accident and our 7-month-old puppy, Joey, darted out the door. My heart raced; I felt the tension grow in my shoulders as I started yelling, “Joey! Come Joey!” My mind started racing ahead, to...
Relationship Check Up for The New Year
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC It’s that time – New Year’s Resolution time! If we are honest, most of us don’t make them, and if we do, we rarely last past the middle of January. We all know of people (or maybe ourselves!) who resolve to lose weight, exercise more, eat...
5 Ways to Boost Your Empathy
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Empathy is the ability to understand and share in another person’s emotions. We all need healthy connections to other people – and empathy is an essential element of a healthy relationship. Empathy helps us respond well in various situations...
How to Say No & Know Yourself Better
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC You say “yes” all the time. No matter how busy you are, you can’t turn down anyone who asks for your help, even if it hurts you or your family. Why can’t you say no? Many people believe saying no to other’s requests is selfish or uncaring....
5 Tips to Thrive at the Holidays
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Do you remember the classic holiday song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”? Check out this verse from the song: It's the most wonderful time of the year There'll be much mistltoeing And hearts will be glowing When loved ones are near...
Hope for The Child of a Narcissist
by Katie Bailey, MA, LPC A narcissist is not merely a selfish, arrogant individual. If we are honest, we all struggle with selfishness sometimes. No, a narcissist is much more than selfish. Not all narcissists look exactly the same, and the traits are on a continuum –...
Why Do I Want to Have Control?
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Here is one of life’s most important lessons: You are not in control. Did that make you break out in a sweat? As humans, we all want to be in control to a certain extent. I spend a lot of time teaching clients about boundaries, and part of...
5 Things Not Helping Your Anxiety
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Our world is stressful. No one gets to escape heartaches and challenges. We all have to learn to deal with stress. However, some of us tend to get more anxious. Check out my other blog post on the difference between everyday worry and anxiety...
5 Common Myths That Cause People to Avoid Counseling
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC I hear it often. People have a friend or loved one who is hurting, but refuses to go to therapy. I really do understand how challenging it can be to set up that first appointment; however, I also know how effective counseling can be. I’ve sat...
Do I Really Have to Forgive?
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC None of us can avoid it. In our broken world, things aren’t as they are supposed to be, and without a doubt, we will hurt each other. You will hurt others, and they will hurt you. Most of the time, these wounds are fairly shallow, and we can...
What Are Traits of a Strong Relationship?
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC As counselors, we spend a lot of time teaching people the “red flags” of unhealthy relationships. This is a very important skill to help you make smart choices about with whom you spend your time. However, what if you haven’t had good examples...
10 Truths Narcissists Want to Hide from You
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Working with clients in any kind of narcissistic relationship (marriage, parent, friend, co-worker) is one of my most favorite things. And it seems there are a lot of you out there, because I’ve been getting a lot more questions about this...
8 Keys to Breaking Free from A Toxic Relationship
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Admitting a relationship in your life isn’t working can be difficult. Often, we like to pretend things are fine or tell ourselves “it’s really not that bad”, or even blame ourselves for the problems. We often talk about this in marriage, which...
Is My Experience Really A Trauma?
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Usually when we think of trauma, we think of big events, like a sexual assault, mass shooting or plane crash. These events are of course very traumatic; however, seemingly smaller events can also cause a trauma response. Many people minimize...
Help! My Spouse Is Always on The Phone!
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Technology is great, and our phones make life easier in many ways. Remember having to ask an actual human for directions? Or pull your credit card out of your wallet to pay? What about having a wallet of CDs in your car for music? Yes,...
3 Lies About Emotional Abuse That Make You Feel Crazy
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Emotional abuse is difficult for people to understand, because you can’t see it. It’s not one specific action; it’s a repeated pattern of behavior that makes the target of the abuse feel worthless, insane, and guilty. All relationships have...
How to Know If You Are Just Worried or Really Anxious
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC You guys, life is hard. Everyone knows that. We all worry sometimes; we all have times where we feel scared or afraid. This is just part of being human. How do you know when normal worry or stress has crossed the line into an anxiety problem?...
You Are Not A Victim: Reclaim Your Power After Abuse
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC As a trauma counseling specialist, I see again and again how easy it is for people who have experienced abuse to get stuck in their pain. Often people aren’t even consciously aware how the abuse effects their lives today; they just know they...
3 Lies Most Sexually Abused People Believe
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC One of the greatest honors of my job is to say the words “It’s not your fault” to a person hurting from sexual abuse. One of the many tragic consequences of experiencing sexual abuse are the lies that get entrenched in your mind. Over and over...
How To Recognize The Narcissist In Your Life
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Is there a person in your life that hurts you repeatedly and just doesn’t seem to care? Does that person make life all about them and seem to ignore your needs? Are they constantly putting you down? Quite possibly, you are dealing with a...
3 Ways Premarital Counseling Sets You Up for Success
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Congratulations, you’re engaged! It’s a very exciting time, for sure. You likely have a long to do list: save the date cards, dress fittings, flowers, music, locations...it goes on and on. You might be missing the most important thing on your...
10 Best Places to Practice Self-Care Near Ambler, PA
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC What Is Self-Care, What Is Not Self-Care? In all honesty, I don’t like trendy words; however, sometimes you just can’t get around it. “Self-care” seems to be everywhere these days. So, what is self-care really? What is it not? Self-care is any...
Will PTSD Treatment Really Make A Difference in My Life?
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Most often when people think of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, they think of public shootings, hurricanes, war veterans and rape victims. Absolutely, anyone who has experienced any of these situations could struggle with PTSD. However, more...
5 Ways to Get More Sleep When You Have PTSD
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Sleep & PTSD One of the most common symptoms of PTSD is insomnia. Insomnia can mean difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up earlier than you want to. Trouble sleeping is one of the symptoms of “alterations in arousal and...
10 Signs Anxiety Counseling Is For You
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Some stress and anxiety are a part of life. In my last blog post, I talked about ways you can work to lower your anxiety on your own. For many people, working with a therapist who specializes in anxiety is necessary to bring lasting...
5 Methods to Help Reduce Your Anxiety Today
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC About 40 million American adults, 18% of the population, struggle with anxiety disorders. We all struggle with anxiety and stress; however, when fear and worry start to impact your daily life, it might be time to get some help. What Are Signs...
Help! I suspect my spouse of having an emotional affair!
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Emotional affairs are tricky. There’s not clear line between right and wrong, so relationships that could be emotional affairs are easily rationalized as nothing more than friendship. If you are wondering if you might be in an emotional affair...
Will Couples Counseling Stop Emotional Abuse
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Emotional abuse is hard to identify. Some people even think since it doesn’t leave bruises, it’s not really that bad. Let me assure you: it is that bad, and even worse many times. Here are some signs you might be in an emotionally abusive...
Childhood Abuse: How To Change Your Story
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC We live in a broken world where, sadly, many people suffer all different kinds of abuse as children. Sexual, physical, emotional abuse – or maybe a combination – happen to more people than you realize. Most often, people choose to ignore their...
3 Ways EMDR Helps You Triumph Over Trauma
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC We all know how hard life is sometimes. No one escapes struggles and heartaches. Sometimes those experiences are big “T” traumas, like sexual assaults, plane crashes, or public shootings. More often, people have to deal with little “t”...
When You Reach For Your Husband and He’s Not There
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Why Won’t My Spouse Talk To Me? Does it feel like every time you try to engage your partner about something that is on your mind, he disappears, withdraws, or pulls away? You might keep learning things about your spouse from other people or...
A Valentine’s Day Check Up for Your Marriage
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Maybe you are like me, and think that Valentine’s Day is an overrated holiday. Or perhaps you love all things hearts, candy and flowers. No matter your thoughts on Valentine’s Day, it’s a great time to do an annual check up for your marriage....
Is It an Emotional Affair? 5 Signs You Have A Problem
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC All marriages go through challenges sometimes. Finances, kids, work pressures, sex, extended family, really just life puts pressure on the best relationships. Marriages need constant attention and tune ups to make sure they function well....
Your Attachment Style: 3 Reasons Why It Matters
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC The quality of our relationships impacts how we all enjoy life. I think most everyone can agree on that. We were made to be social people – we need connections with one another. Yet, so often our relationships, romantic or otherwise, get...
5 New Year’s Resolutions Guaranteed to Improve Your Life
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC New Year’s Day – the time of year people declare intentions to make big changes in their lives. We all know the common ones: lose weight, get in shape, spend less money, eat better. While these are good goals, these are not the things I think...
How To Make Progress When Your Spouse Refuses Marriage Therapy
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC All marriages have ups and downs, and sometimes couples need help in the down times. Chances are if you are considering marriage counseling, your marriage is not only in a slump, but you also feel stuck as to how to make it better. Very often...
When You Lost Christmas Joy (Or Never Had It at All)
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC December is nearly here, Thanksgiving complete – decorations are out, shopping has started. It’s holiday season. There are plenty of things that make this a special season. Holiday parties, choosing gifts for people you love, baking Christmas...
7 Signs of a Narcissist and How To Save Yourself
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC What is a narcissist? I hear a lot of people using the word narcissistic these days. “Steve is so narcissistic! He only thinks of himself!” “Joanna always makes everything about her, she’s such a narcissist.” The reality is maybe Steve and...
7 Books That Will Rescue Your Relationships
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC As a counselor, I’m often asked to recommend books on different topics. I also suggest clients read certain books to help them learn and gain insight in different areas. I thought it would be good to share my most frequently suggested book...
How to Take Your Marriage from Agonizing to Amazing
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Marriage is not easy. I’ve been seeing couples for a long time, and I’ve witnessed the pain, heartache, and loneliness people can feel in a marriage. If you are lonely in your marriage, maybe feeling like you and your spouse are more like...
Truth About Sex (And Why You Need to Talk About It)
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC As a trauma and a couple’s therapist, I end up talking about sex quite a bit. Good thing this doesn’t bother me at all! I don’t want it bother you, either. Sex is a wonderful thing, but sadly it often gets twisted, confusing and hurtful. Let’s...
The Flip Side of Boundaries: 3 Reasons to Respect Other’s Limits
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC I often talk and teach my clients about boundaries. Setting limits on what you will and won’t do, what you can and can’t give. Healthy emotional boundaries are essential to mental well being. When we start to set emotional boundaries, people...
Why Should I Tell My Sexual Abuse Story?
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Finding the words to say you were sexually abused can be extremely difficult. Describing the events that happened to you can be painful and heartbreaking. However, I truly believe you should tell your story and that sharing your story will...
3 Mind Altering Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse on the Brain
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Often people who’ve experienced sexual abuse as a child often believe the abuse was there own fault. This self-blaming inevitably creates a sense of shame and so survivors of childhood sexual abuse see themselves as broken, worthless. When we...
How One Woman Found Freedom From Emotional Abuse in Her Marriage
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Emotional abuse is real. Sometimes a spouse is destructive, belittling you, making you feel crazy, or even limiting your financial access or social contacts. Unfortunately, when we live our lives thinking that the emotional abuse is our own...
7 Ways To Sleep Better Tonight!
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Our bodies need sleep. However, when we are dealing with anxiety or trauma (think abuse, grief, something very overwhelming) our bodies have a hard time falling and staying asleep. Unfortunately, when we don’t sleep well it affects us in many...
Don’t Fear Conflict
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Over the years I’ve seen first hand that the most popular response to conflict is to simply avoid it. Most people avoid conflict because they fear damaging their relationships or hurting others. Some people say they simply don’t know how to...
10 Signs of Depression
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC If you are experiencing any of these signs, please seek help. You are not alone, everyone needs a little help sometimes. Consider getting counseling for your sadness or grief counseling if you've experienced considerable loss. You can find...
Why people say “I’m sorry” too much
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Do you say “I’m sorry” constantly? Are you apologizing things for things that aren’t your responsibility? At the root of over apologizing is a false belief that your thoughts, opinions, feelings, really your existence, do not matter. People...
The Lies In Your Head (Yes, You Can Make Them Go Away!)
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC How do you talk to yourself? What thoughts go through your head most often? For a lot of people, that inner dialogue is not good. The thoughts I hear the most often from clients include: I’m so stupid. If people really knew me, they wouldn’t...
A Mom’s Guide to Summer Sanity
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC The most important point to remember about being a mom with your kids home all summer – it’s okay to need a break. It’s okay to not get everything done all the time. You do not need a Pinterest worthy activity scheduled for your kids at all...
Common obstacles to starting therapy
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Everyone needs help sometimes. I know that picking up the phone, or even sending an email, to a therapist can be intimidating. The truth is, taking that step and seeking help could be one of the best decisions you ever make. Here are some of...
The Lie of “Having it all together”
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Meet Sarah. She has three perfectly behaved children. Her husband adores her and they have a stellar marriage. She runs her own business and takes care of the children full time. She also runs every morning, never ever eats a bite of sugar,...
What is a panic attack really? And yes, they can stop happening!
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Some people use the phrase “panic attack” to indicate an overwhelming moment in their day. For example, I once heard someone who lost her phone say “I had a panic attack!” In this case, she didn’t experience a true panic attack, she is simply...
Living lonely: We are not made to be islands
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Remember the old Simon and Garfunkel song, “I Am a Rock”? Even if the song is older than you, you’ve likely heard it. Check out just some of the lyrics: I've built walls A fortress deep and mighty That none may penetrate I have no need of...
Am I in an emotionally abusive relationship?
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC This is a topic about which I am very passionate. I have helped many women through the painful work of healing from an abusive relationship. Men can be the focus of emotional abuse as well, but we find it is most often women. Physical and...
How to Fight with Your Spouse
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC All couples argue sometimes. In fact, if a couple in my office tells me they never fight, that’s a red flag to me. Learning to fight fair and work together through the conflict is essential to marriage. It not only helps you solve problems,...
Big T and Little t trauma
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC For the most part we can all recognize big T traumas: sexual assaults, plane crashes, public shootings, etc. The little t traumas in life are sometimes harder to recognize. These could include: Losing a job Ongoing conflict with significant...
What are Boundaries?
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC What is a boundary? We all understand physical boundaries. Some of us have fences around our yards. We have locks on our doors. We know we can’t just walk into someone else’s house unannounced because it does not belong to us. We need...
How to Deal with Anxiety
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC How do you feel before a big presentation at work? Probably a little nervous, most people do. Some anxiety in life is normal, even good at times. However, about 18% of American adults struggle with more severe anxiety. They feel anxious more...
How do I pay for counseling? (And find out about Reimbursify!)
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC I understand paying for counseling can be a concern, in a time when you are already feeling stress. There are two options to pay for counseling: using your insurance or paying out of pocket. Insurance Using your insurance to pay for counseling...
Why Should I Go to Therapy?
By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC Some think going to therapy is for "crazy" people, or "weak" people. The truth is, people that go to therapy are brave, mature people looking to improve their lives. Therapy is hard work, and all truly good things come from hard work. Do you...
Get Started with Therapy Today!
We want to hear from you!
Please contact Lime Tree Counseling to schedule an appointment or a free consultation. We will get back to you as soon as possible and get you scheduled. In our Ambler, PA office, we serve all of Montgomery County, and our therapists are happy to offer online counseling sessions for residents of Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Colorado
Get Started With Therapy Today!
Please contact Lime Tree Counseling to schedule an appointment or a free consultation. We will get back to you as soon as possible and get you scheduled. In our Ambler, PA office, we serve all of Montgomery County, and our therapists are happy to offer online counseling sessions for residents of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Colorado.