Posts

Weight Loss, Body Acceptance, and Healthy Habits

Image
 "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I change." ~Carl Rogers I cannot think of many areas in healthcare that are as emotionally charged as the concept of weight loss. Physicians are quick to recommend weight loss to just about every patient that walks though their doors and many people ignore it or take it personally--and how can we blame them for doing so when it's likely that they've been insulted, teased, and harassed throughout their lives for being overweight? However we may feel when receiving such feedback, it doesn't make the recommendation any less valid. Indeed, the social, emotional, and health consequences of obesity are well documented across the various healthcare fields.  Now add the relatively new-age concepts of body acceptance and body positivity and many people leap to the assumption that those two subjects run counter to traditional concepts of health and wellness and promote unhealthy habits or enable dangerous
Post a Comment
Read more

Choosing a Counselor or Therapist

Author: Brandon Kutmas, LCPC, LMHC      After scouring lists from insurance companies and dozens of online profiles full of buzzwords, abbreviations, and jargon fit to drive someone into an intense teeth-grinding session, choosing a therapist can be nerve wracking and confusing. Nobody really teaches us how to find a therapist and some assume that one can just call whichever clinic they want and take the first available appointment. Sure, that may work, but there are several reasons why that isn't a good idea:  They may not be a good fit for you  They may not be in-network with your insurance plan They may not have expertise to treat your particular condition They may not have the time to give you the support your condition requires They may not be a good therapist The Importance of Fitting      I've had many clients share with me that they have had a hard time finding a good therapist. They report that they either didn't feel a connection with the therapist, didn't per
Post a Comment
Location: 4709 44th St # 5, Rock Island, IL 61201, USA
Read more

Children with School-Related Stress and Anxiety

Author: Brandon Kutmas, LCPC, LMHC Have you noticed how your child suddenly doesn't complain about tummy aches every night or morning? Kids don't yet know how to say "I'm anxious" or "school is really stressing me out". Instead, they'll often say things like "I have a tummy ache", "my head hurts", or say that they feel like they are going to puke at night or before school in the morning. Some adults will fall for the trap of thinking that nobody has an upset stomach or headache every night or every morning unless they're really sick with something serious and write the whole thing off as them trying to get out of going to school--which is EXACTLY what their body is telling them to do! Instead of ignoring their pleas for mercy or shaming kids for coming forward saying that they don't feel well, it would be a lot more helpful (once illness has been ruled out by a medical professional) to label these physical symptoms as a si
Post a Comment
Read more