1. Embrace the Excitement & Prepare Together for Back to School Transitions

• Back to school shopping: Most schools will require their students to come prepared with specific school supplies and materials. Involve your kids by doing a scavenger hunt for the new materials, whether it be in the house, or at 5 below! By involving them, and giving your student autonomy in their supplies for the year, will result in them feeling more enthusiastic about organization and doing work. Stick to a budget, but if you can, allowing your kid to choose a themed folder or pencil, instead of the standard supplies, could create a strong association with a positive memory!

• Visual Calendar: Use a monthly, weekly, or even daily calendar (if you can do all three, that is amazing). Having this organizational tool will not only help you know what’s coming, but your child will know what to plan for as well. Visual calendars are especially beneficial if your child thrives on structure, predictability, and organization. Making the calendar something fun with erasable markers, or velcro icons, will encourage your child to engage in the planning process too!

2. Establish a Schedule & Create Predictability for Back to School Transitions

• Ease into your new flow: A few days or weeks before school starts, test out your routine! Will your child be walking, taking the bus, or driving to school? Play pretend with them and do a trial run. This will help your family adjust to the wake up times, commute, and dare I say “rush” of a real school morning. Remember to stay in a calm state while doing test runs, your child might be more anxious than you in these anticipatory moments and seeing a caretaker calm will help them to regulate.

3. Stay Empathetic & Compassionate

• Checking in Authentically: This is a great time to check in with your child and stay curious as to how they are doing. Acknowledge their struggles, offer reassurance, and help them cope with the emotional challenges of back-to-school transitions. Ask them who they’re excited to see, what they want to learn, etc. Always end on a positive note and remind them of all their strengths and amazing qualities to fill them up with confidence going into a new year! Continue to regularly check in with your kids to see how they’re adjusting, both academically and emotionally. Open communication strengthens your bond and makes problem-solving easier. This also creates a nice foundation for communication as your child levels up into teen years. You don’t want to push your child to share what they are not ready to open up about, but letting them know you’re there for the happy and sad, is often enough.

4. Build a Supportive Community

• Parent Connections: Reach out to other parents, even if it’s just to share experiences or offer support. You don’t need to be best friends, but having a network can be invaluable during the school year. Reach out to them and arrange playdates either before the semester starts, or early on in the year. Even if your child doesn’t know someone directly in their classroom, or at their lunch table, having the reassurance that they do have a friend will support them in feeling socially secure. Look for local or online groups of like-minded parents who can offer advice, emotional support, or just a listening ear.

5. Release the Pressure to Be Perfect

• Manage your Expectations: Back-to-school transitions are rarely flawless. It’s okay if things don’t go exactly as planned—perfection is not the goal. Be gentle with yourself and especially your kiddo as you navigate this shift. You’re doing your best, and that’s enough. In the long run, your child won’t remember if you miss a day or two of those amazing Pinterest board-themed lunches!

6. Ground Yourself During Chaotic Moments

• Grounding: When things feel overwhelming, take a moment to pause and take a few deep breaths to recenter yourself. If deep breathing isn’t your thing, name everything you see in the room that is blue, or give your body a good shake and a stretch. When you’re grounded, you’re going to be able to use the part of your brain that can make rational decisions, rather than the part that is run by impulse or emotions.

• But Also, Embrace the Chaos: Accept that not everything will go smoothly, and that’s okay. Laugh at the mess, savor the moments of chaos, and know that each day offers a new beginning for the family. And always remember “Your child is not giving you a hard time, they are having a hard time.”

7. Tantrums, Meltdowns, and Shutdowns, Oh My!

• What’s the difference: Tantrums, meltdowns, and shutdowns each have their unique characteristics. Tantrums are when there is an end goal in mind. The person having a tantrum likely did not get their way or perhaps wants something. Their emotions are big, in overdrive, and yet still valid! Help your tantrum-er regulate through modeling and then have a conversation with them. Meltdowns are concerning sensory stimuli and can be common for those who are neurodivergent. For example, if your kiddo is somewhere noisy, bright, or fragranced, it might be too much for them to handle at that moment. Remove them from the stimuli and model deep breathing until they too, can regulate. Shutdowns are when the kiddo is unresponsive, this is not the right time to have a conversation. You may see them have trouble speaking or moving. This will pass and again, give your child time to regulate before having a conversation.

8. Get Back to The Basics by Prioritizing Mental and Physical Health

• Balanced Schedule: Incorporate time for relaxation and play. Your child, like you, needs moments to recharge amid school activities. Take a look at their schedule with a critical eye- what can you do to make this manageable and sustainable for both of you? Is homework taking a longer time than expected? Schedule a few days of the week where that is the only task that needs energy exerted.

• Sleep, Hydrate, Eat, Exercise: These are maybe the most obvious, but oftentimes the most difficult piece of the routine to establish. A car can’t run on no gas, and it runs even better when the gas is of quality! Set a consistent bedtime routine to ensure that everyone is well-rested, making mornings smoother and more manageable. Eat as many whole-natural foods as possible. Fast food and frozen meals are fine!! Try your best to make sure the meals are balanced and add whole ingredients to what you already have when you are on the go. Having your kiddo’s favorite fruits and veggies on hand as a side dish is always helpful. WATER! WATER! WATER! Hydration is so important and often the last priority when on the go. We need that coffee, right? When you’re brushing your teeth, try implementing a class of water before other liquid consumption. If your child thinks water is boring, there are some great water flavoring packets you can add to their water bottle. And lastly exercise, but not just exercise, joyful movement! Move your body in a way that is refreshing and feels good. Not just when you’re rushing from place to place.

• Family Care: Self-care is a hot buzzword these days, but that is not for no reason. Schedule some “me time”, “you time”, and “we time”. “Me time” is your self-care which unfortunately is many times the last of priorities. Self-care looks different for everyone so be sure to aim to do something enjoyable for you (ex. Singing songs from exclusively the 90’s, watching reality TV in a robe, YouTube movement videos, skin care routine, etc). “You time” is that one on one bonding. If you have multiple children or a partner, spend time with them individually. It’s important to remind them they have a friend in their caretaker. If you have a partner, block out time for yourselves as well. During periods of adjustment, it is normal to find yourself more irritable than your baseline. Having dedicated “you time” resets the meter to interact in a space with no external pressures. Examples of “you time” with the kids could be going to get ice cream, playing with toys, or hide and go seek. A good way to tell that you are doing something enjoyable versus doing something you think you should do, is tuning in to yourself before, during, and after the activity. Were you feeling dread or excitement beforehand? During the activity did it go by fast or drag on? Afterward, did you feel depleted of energy or satisfied with the activity? With multiple people being involved, do this check-in as a group and make changes where possible for next time!

By working together, supporting each other, and embracing the unpredictability of life, you and your kids can make the back to school transitions smooth and even enjoyable.

Tips for Recovery from Binge Eating Disorder
1) Make sure you are seeing a primary care doctor that you are comfortable with. Ask your PCP to arrange for blood work to check your thyroid, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
2) Make sure your Primary Doctor refers you to appropriate specialists (Such a as sleep disorder specialist or endocrinologist)
3) Begin a journal where you write about your feelings.
4) Talk to your doctor about starting a realistic exercise program.
5) Make sure to eat breakfast.
6) Learn to rate your level of hunger/fullness on a hunger scale.
7) Learn relaxation techniques.
8) Recognize the importance of self-care. Get a pedicure, buy yourself flowers, or go for a massage. This helps to send yourself the message that you are worth taking care of.
9) make sure to get the proper amount of sleep (around eight hours). Sleep deprivation increases the chances of overeating.
10) make sure to drink enough water….
11) Consider joining a gym such as Curves.
12) Eat at least every four hours. Try to eat a combination of protein, carbohydrates, and fat at every meal. Consider meeting with a dietician.
13) Talk to your gynecologist or PCP if your period is irregular or absent or if you are having issues with fertility to rule out pcos.

Tips For Recovering From Bulimia Nervosa: Twenty Two Tips on How to Recover from Bulimia Nervosa and Questions to Ask Yourself

* Write information about your binges. Write the time, place, and what thoughts and feelings may have contributed to the binge. This will help to identify triggers.
* Boredom is a common trigger for Binges so develop a plan for How to cope with feelings of Boredom. (Call a friend, listen to music, read, take a walk)
* See a Primary Care Doctor who is familiar with Eating Disorders and their medical complications. Make sure you see any appropriate specialists (such as a gastrointestinal specialist) make sure your dentist is informed of your Eating Disorder.
* Spend time with friends who are supportive of you.
* Consider meeting with a Nutritionist that specializes in Eating Disorders.
* Write in a journal so you always have a safe place to express your feelings.
* Do not underestimate the seriousness of Eating Disorders.
* Examine your attitudes about food, weight, and body Image.
* Make every attempt to Eat Breakfast (even when it’s hard)
* Try not to put foods in the category of good or bad.
* Watch all–or-nothing thinking (Black and White thinking)
* Try to establish a healthy Eating pattern. Consider eating small frequent meals throughout the day. Do not let more than four hours go by without eating.
* Remember that Fasting is often a set up for a Binge.
* If you abuse Laxatives or Diuretics, recognize that they have no actual affect on calorie absorption. The only weight changes are due to changes in Electrolytes and they do not indicate true weight loss. In addition, they are medically dangerous.
* Abusing laxatives can turn into laxative dependence.
* Remember that most of the calories of a binge are still absorbed regardless of vomiting or Laxative use.
* Think about joining a support group. This can be very helpful because it helps to combat the shame and secrecy of this disorder in a safe environment.
* Consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Interpersonal psychotherapy… These have both been shown to be effective for the treatment of Bulimia.
* If you are medically cleared to exercise than consider a regular routine of exercise such as walking, yoga, weightlifting, or Pilates)
* Work on your impulsivity. If you feel compelled to binge or purge and feel you cannot control it then begin by trying to at least delay it for 10 minutes by listening to music, calling a friend, or writing in your journal.
* Talk back to your Eating Disorder Voice
* Talk to your doctor or nutritionist (familiar with eating disorders) about how to cope with Acid reflux, indigestion, bloating, constipation, or stomach pain

Questions to ask yourself (tips to recovering from bulimia nervosa)

* Do you feel ashamed for having needs (love, nurturing? )
* Do you feel ashamed about the feeling of hunger? If you do feel ashamed about the feeling of hunger than why do you truly think people should feel guilty about being hungry?
* When you are eating outside of hunger, what do you think you are hungry for?
* Look at these common triggers for Binging and write down any you think may relate to you. (Boredom, tension, loneliness, Anger, Feeling deprived and that you need a reward for all your hard work).

Wanting to learn more? Call a counselor today and she can personalize the information so that they are just generic tips for recovering from bulimia nervosa, but something that actually applies to you! 267-324-9564. Center for Growth / Therapy in Philadelphia

Whether you’ve been seeing the same psychiatrist for your entire adult life or you’re considering psychiatry services for the first time, you could probably benefit from taking a more intentional approach to your relationship with your psychiatrist.

1. Be honest about what else you put in your body

Medication prescribed for depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders works by changing the chemistry of your brain. Ingesting alcohol or recreational drugs can change the impact of your prescription medications, making them less effective. Some reactions can even cause life-threatening side effects. Being honest with your psychiatry service provider about alcohol or drug use helps you get the most out of your time with them, and allows the psychiatrist to make sure your medication is doing what it’s supposed to do.

If you’re feeling shy about sharing, consider:

• Changing your alcohol or drug use – if you can’t be honest about it, the safest way to ensure your medication works as it’s supposed to is to stop consuming drugs or alcohol.
• Asking your psychiatry service provider (psychiatrist) to remind you about their confidentiality policy, and any limitations to it. Psychiatrists won’t break confidentiality unless they think you are at imminent risk of hurting yourself or hurting someone else.
• Finding a psychiatrist you do feel comfortable being honest with. You deserve a psychiatrist you trust and who understands you. If you don’t trust them or get along with them, they’re not going to get the full picture, and won’t be able to give you the care you deserve. If you choose to go this route, consider continuing to see your current psychiatrist until you’ve successfully scheduled an appointment with a new one, as wait lists can be up to several months.

2. Be clear in what your priorities are

The primary reason people go to a psychiatry service provider is to “feel better” and improve their mental and emotional health. But being healthy looks different for different people. Make a list of the components of your health, for yourself and to share with your psychiatrist. Consider:

• How do you want to feel? How don’t you want to feel?
• How often and when do you want to sleep?
• How often do you want sex? What does a healthy sex life look like to you?
• Where do you want to see improved function? At work? At school? In your relationship with your partner? In your parenting?
• Do you want to be able to drink alcohol? Take recreational drugs? How often?
• Do you want to become pregnant? Avoid pregnancy?
• The capacity for physical activity or dexterity.
• Any other things that are important to your quality of life, relationships, and emotional health.

Think about what on the list is most important to you. For instance, would you be willing to put up with a sub-par sex life if it meant improved mood and the ability to sleep through the night?

Sharing this list with your psychiatrist will help them directly understand your priorities, and help you to make sure your expectations are realistic.

3. Be honest about your mood

At first glance, this tip seems the most straightforward- you are after all going to see a psychiatrist because you want to improve your mood. However, it can also be the most difficult. Finding the right medication sometimes takes a few tries, and it can be understandably frustrating to feel like you’re starting all over again because your current medication got rid of your anxious thoughts but introduced feelings of depression. You might want to “tough it out” or ignore “minor” mood symptoms in the hope that they’ll go away naturally or the mistaken belief that “this is how it is now.” Being honest with your psychiatrist gives them the full picture, and ensures you get the best treatment for you.

4. See a therapist, within the same practice

If you can, seeing a therapist in addition to a psychiatrist is a great way to comprehensively protect your mental health. While psychiatrists and medications can help you manage your emotional baseline, a therapist and behavioral approaches can help you build a toolbox to handle stressful contexts. This is important because life isn’t a vacuum, you can’t control when stressful situations might pop up and trigger higher levels of symptom flare-ups. Seeing a therapist within the same practice as the psychiatrist allows them to work closely together, keeping each other in the loop about changes in your life, mood or medication, so that you don’t fall through the cracks.

Managing your mental health, and the resources available to you is important. Building an intentional relationship with your psychiatrist by being honest about your consumption, your priorities, and your mood all ensure you’ll get the best care possible from your psychiatrist.

You can self schedule an in-person or virtual therapy session at the Center for Growth by calling (215) 922- LOVE (5683) x 100.

Our Guarantee: If after your first session you are not sold that you are working with the right therapist, do not hesitate to call our intake line at 215 922 5683 x 100 or Alex at (267) 324-9564 and ask to be rescheduled with another therapist. The choice of how you want to proceed is yours. Our only goal is to support you in becoming the best you possible.

For your convenience, we have brick and mortar offices and work with clients virtually in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Physical Therapy Office Locations:

• Ocean City Therapy Office 360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226

• Mechanicsville Therapy Office 9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116

• Society Hill Therapy Office 233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106

• Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office 2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130

• Providence Therapy Office 173 Waterman St. Providence, RI 02906

• Fayetteville Therapy Office 101 Devant Street #606, Fayetteville GA 30214

• Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505

• Telemedicine Therapy Locations: We have therapists who are licensed to work in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia and Pennsylvania

Therapy Services Offered in Fayetteville, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Philadelphia, Providence, Santa Fe:

• Individual Counseling and therapy

• Couples Counseling and marriage counseling

• Teen Therapy and Adolescent Therapy and tweens and child counseling

• Family Therapy and multi-generational counseling

• Art Therapy and Counseling no art skills needed

• ADHD Therapy and ADD, Dyslexia, Autism, Tourettes counseling

• Anxiety, Panic, OCD Therapy and worry and fear support

• Breaking the cycle of Codependency and being your own person

• Overcoming Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain .

• Depression Therapy and sadness, gloom, and upset support

• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Therapy is a particular style of therapy designed for people with problems affecting their nervous system, how the brain and body send and receive signals.

• Grief Therapy and loss, End of A Relationship, rejections, pregnancy and loss and therapy

• Mindfulness Based Therapy and spirituality based therapy

• Narcissistic Abuse Recovery child of, parent of, spouse of, sibling of a narcissist.

• Sex Therapy and sexual function & dysfunction, sex addiction, sexual orientation and gender identity support

• Shame and Blame

• Trauma Therapy both emotional and sexual abuse, complex trauma, PTSD counseling

• Divorce support

• Affairs, Infidelity, Unfaithful, Cheating counseling

• Parenting therapy

• Personality disorder treatments Narcissist, Borderline, Histrionic

• Anger Management Therapy

• Setting Boundaries and identifying ones own Core Beliefs

• Just name some of the Mental Health issues that we work with. Our goal is to help you Change and Achieve Your Dreams

You want to start next semester off right so below you will find tips for achieving academic success. In order to do well, you must first set yourself up for success. One way you can do this is by setting up an effective academic learning environment, developing your time management and scheduling skills, better understanding your academic interests, and balancing your outside influences with your academic commitments. After you have spent some time preparing for academic succces, these tips will help you to start off your new semester successfully.

Planning a successful academic learning environment.

• Decide on a place to complete your work: Routines work! By deciding on an academic learning environment, your body and mind will be ready to complete your assignments when you are there. Just like your body is ready to eat at the kitchen table, decide on where your body is ready to write, read, and study.
• Set time aside for distractions: If you work well with music or background noise than that is not a distraction, but a tool to help you learn. Your cell phone, the television, and internet searches can all be sources of distraction. Decide on times when you can take breaks to distract yourself. Managing your distractions will help you to be more successful.
• Reach out for support and resources: You will only get as much out of school as you put in. Reach out for extra support. Create opportunities to enhance your academic environment. Create regular times to meet with professors. Set up tutoring support at the beginning of semester. Take the initiative!

Planning your time management and scheduling successfully.

• Track your time: Take a few days to record your time so that you know where it goes. You will be surprised how quickly time adds up.
• Look at your syllabus: Read through each of your syllabi fully. Decide when all your assignments are due. This will give you a better understanding of all your requirements throughout the term. Knowing this information will help you to better schedule and manage your time.
• Put all your classes and course requirements in your schedule: You cannot change you class schedule. Put your schedule in your calendar. You have to attend class. After you put all your course requirements in your schedule, put all other mandatory events on your schedule (work, outside activities). . Put this into a calendar so you can see all that is required of you. Then if you notice things all piling up on the same week figure out what work can be done ahead of time this way you can stagger your work load. Also, put in when you will have completed the rough drafts, and times to talk with your professor.
• Then put in the fun activities that are not mandatory but that you would like to do: Try to make sure that you are not overloaded. While busy people are productive, it is easy to go overboard and find yourself overwhelmed and unable to live in the moment.
• Decide on your priorities: During your time in school you have to decide on your priorities. If you have decided to pursue school, I hope it falls at the top of your priority list. Decide on what other activities and life events are important to you. Maybe it’s to party… maybe it’s to become the leader of the frat house… where do you want to put your energy… what do you want to learn from college.

Pursuing your academic interests

• Try on different majors: Many schools allow you to take some time before deciding on a major. Use the first few semesters to take your general education classes. This will allow you to get a better understanding of the different options you have, while taking classes you will need towards your degree!
• Choose a minor or two: Minors are a great way to boost your academic profile, knowledge, and resume. Many times you can pick up a minor easily. You may have to start planning this early in the process so you can use some of your general education or elective courses towards the minor. It would be great to speak with your academic advisor about how you could successfully minor and graduate on time.
• Seek out an internship: Internships are perfect tools to help students get real world experience. You do not always know how you will like something until you try it. Take opportunities to find internships that allow you to try on the career you want after graduation. You will need to do some work to get an internship, they are not just handed to you. Sometimes schools will even allow you to pursue an internship for college credit. This is also a great resume booster. If you feel like you do not have the time commitment to pursue an internship, try shadowing a professional in your career field or contact someone who is in the field to get a more accurate perspective. Better yet, attend a school sponsored career fair.
• Speak with graduates or professors about career opportunities: The best people to speak to are graduates/alumni of your program and your professors. These people have been where you are. Ask them questions. Schools usually have opportunities for students to interact with alumni. These people have been successful in their careers, which make them great mentors.
• Try auditing or sitting in on a class: Schools have varying policies about auditing or sitting in on a class. When you audit or sit in on a class you are not “technically taking the course for credit. This is a chance to get the feel for the class or major without any true commitment. You will want to ask your school about their policies.
• Get to know you professors: Your professors will be one of your most valuable resources. They will receive information about internship opportunities, have contacts within your field, and can help you navigate graduate school (You will need them for letters of recommendation). Talk with other students about the professors they have had and their teaching style. There could be a professor who works best for your personal learning style. This could make your learning experience and the academic material more enjoyable. Stop by and even get extra academic support during their office hours. Bring them your questions, rough drafts, etc. Seek out extra feedback. They are teachers. Their job is to teach you.

Successfully balancing outside Influences

• Set up personal boundaries: Feel okay saying no! You do not always have to be at every event, say yes to every social request, or sign up for all the clubs. You are in school to get a degree. Prioritize your time. If you have completed all your assignments, reward yourself.
• Reach out for support: College campuses offer a wealth of supports to aid in your academic success. These supports include counseling centers, student health centers, academic advisors, learning support services, financial aid officers, and office hours. There may also be different clubs that may help you gain extra support for your different life events and experiences.
• Set realistic expectations: Sometimes you cannot always get the wanted A. It is completely okay to receive a grade of B or even C. When life is requiring you to wear many hats, you will need to set realistic expectations for yourself. Remember to focus on learning the material, instead of needing a grade. You will always want to work towards doing your best, but if you are managing multiple priorities you may not be able to give them all 100%. That is okay.
• Be honest: It is important to be honest with the people around you. If you are experiencing difficulties, share that experience with someone you trust and feel safe confiding in. If you feel badly about not being able to balance your time, share that with the people you feel you are neglecting. Trust that people will be able to understand your current situation. These conversations will allow you to develop more successful management of your time.

There are many ways to problem solve and navigate the obstacles you face trying to achieve academic success. The tips above are a starting point. You may find yourself in need of extra support during this process. If you are looking to work with a mental health therapist at The Center for Growth/ Sex Therapy in Philadelphia to continue your journey towards academic success.

You can self schedule an in-person or virtual therapy session at the Center for Growth by calling (215) 922- LOVE (5683) x 100.

Our Guarantee: If after your first session you are not sold that you are working with the right therapist, do not hesitate to call our intake line at 215 922 5683 x 100 or Alex at (267) 324-9564 and ask to be rescheduled with another therapist. The choice of how you want to proceed is yours. Our only goal is to support you in becoming the best you possible.

For your convenience, we have brick and mortar offices and work with clients virtually in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Physical Therapy Office Locations:

• Ocean City Therapy Office 360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226

• Mechanicsville Therapy Office 9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116

• Society Hill Therapy Office 233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106

• Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office 2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130

• Providence Therapy Office 173 Waterman St. Providence, RI 02906

• Fayetteville Therapy Office 101 Devant Street #606, Fayetteville GA 30214

• Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505

• Telemedicine Therapy Locations: We have therapists who are licensed to work in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia and Pennsylvania

Therapy Services Offered in Fayetteville, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Philadelphia, Providence, Santa Fe:

• Individual Counseling and therapy

• Couples Counseling and marriage counseling

• Teen Therapy and Adolescent Therapy and tweens and child counseling

• Family Therapy and multi-generational counseling

• Art Therapy and Counseling no art skills needed

• ADHD Therapy and ADD, Dyslexia, Autism, Tourettes counseling

• Anxiety, Panic, OCD Therapy and worry and fear support

• Breaking the cycle of Codependency and being your own person

• Overcoming Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain .

• Depression Therapy and sadness, gloom, and upset support

• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Therapy is a particular style of therapy designed for people with problems affecting their nervous system, how the brain and body send and receive signals.

• Grief Therapy and loss, End of A Relationship, rejections, pregnancy and loss and therapy

• Mindfulness Based Therapy and spirituality based therapy

• Narcissistic Abuse Recovery child of, parent of, spouse of, sibling of a narcissist.

• Sex Therapy and sexual function & dysfunction, sex addiction, sexual orientation and gender identity support

• Shame and Blame

• Trauma Therapy both emotional and sexual abuse, complex trauma, PTSD counseling

• Divorce support

• Affairs, Infidelity, Unfaithful, Cheating counseling

• Parenting therapy

• Personality disorder treatments Narcissist, Borderline, Histrionic

• Anger Management Therapy

• Setting Boundaries and identifying ones own Core Beliefs

Just name some of the Mental Health issues that we work with. Our goal is to help you Change and Achieve Your Dreams

Tips for recovering from binge eating disorder?

• Make sure that you are seeing a primary care doctor that you are comfortable with and who is educated about binge eating disorder. Request that your PCP do blood work to check your thyroid, cholesterol and blood sugar level to make sure they are normal.
• Check that your PCP refers you to appropriate specialists, such as a sleep disorder specialist or endocrinologist, depending on your health concerns.
• Work on thinking in a less “black or white” dichotomous manner. Was the supposed negative event that occurred at work completely horrible? Could it possibly yield positive affects?
• Begin to write a journal where you record your feelings of anger, jealousy, and resentment, as well as positive feelings of happiness and pleasure.
• Avoid restrictive dieting, such as liquid diets, diets under 1400 calories, or diets where you find yourself constantly hungry.
• Stop criticizing yourself! It is okay to want to change, but it doesn’t help when you put yourself down.
• Consider seeing a nutritionist familiar with binge eating disorder,
• Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about starting a realistic exercise program. It’s okay to start off slowly.
• Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast.
• Learn to rate your level of hunger and feeling satiated on a hunger scale ( suggestions provided below.)
• Try not to view foods of either “good” or “bad.”
• Learn relaxation techniques, such as forms of meditation. Breathing in and out slowly is the most simple.
• Recognize the importance of self-care. Treat yourself to a pedicure, buy yourself flowers, or go for a massage. This helps to send yourself the positive message that you are worth taking care of.
• Get the right amount of sleep, which is usually around eight hours. Sleep deprivation increases the chances of overeating.
• Stay hydrated! People often misinterpret thirst signals as hunger signals. Try drinking around 6 to 8 glasses a day.
• Consider joining a gym such as Curves, or join the local YMCA so that you can swim, as long as you have had a recent physical and your doctor states this is okay.
• Don’t allow more than four hours to go by without eating.
• Try to eat a combination of protein, carbohydrates, and fat at every meal. This will help keep you feeling satisfied.
• If you have diabetes, then a nutritionist is covered in your insurance. Take advantage of this benefit.
• If you or your doctor suspects sleep apnea, then get a sleep study done.
• Talk to your gynecologist or PCP is irregular or absent, or if you are having issues with fertility to rule out PCOS.

Hope these tips for recovering from binge eating disorder have been useful. If you live in the Philadelphia area, and wish to schedule an appointment with a counselor call 267 324 9564

Once you have Identified Your Boundaries, you are ready to share them with others and express your feelings about the relationship and your boundaries for how you want others to interact with you. Remember people aren’t mind readers; so unless you communicate your boundaries to others, they won’t know you have them. Most of your friends, families, and partners don’t go around looking to try and break your boundaries; usually, it’s an accident. Once you make people aware of what they said or did that caused you to be upset, they will offer an apology and try to maintain your boundaries in the future. If you don’t convey to others how you want to be treated, you can’t expect their behavior to change. Your job is to set your boundaries and to maintain them. Some people choose to establish their boundaries in the midst’s of a conversation with a friend, family member, or partner.

However, there are times where this just isn’t necessary. If you already feel like you have a good relationship established with some healthy boundaries, you might just need to offer a refresher. In this case, simply stating your feeling in the moment will be more advisable than sitting down and having a drawn out conversation.
When you communicate your personal boundary requests to others, it is highly advised to do so in a firm but calm manner. In order to express your boundary, you can do or say a number of things. Try considering the following strategies for communicating boundaries. These tips are geared to be practical strategies/statements you can practice then use in the moment while expressing your boundaries.

• Make a request. “Please do not raise your voice to me.”

• Give instructions. “I need for you to give me a few minutes to think. I’d like to give a thoughtful response, what you are sharing with me is important and I want to have time to really think about what you are saying”

• Set simple and concrete boundaries. “Please leave now.” Or “I’m leaving. We can continue this later in the week.” Letting someone know when they will see you next, or the conversation will continue can help calm the other person down enough that they can let you walk away and still feel connected to you.
• Use I statements. “I feel like your tone is hurtful to me.” Or “I’m finding myself reacting to your tone, and I don’t want to be distracted from the actual message that you are trying to convey to me. Can you change your tone? This is a really difficult topic for me, and I can use all the help you are able to offer me. “
• Be as positive as possible “I need to cancel our plans for Friday, but I want to spend time with you next week. What is your schedule like?”
• Share your feelings “I am embarrassed that I have to cancel our plans for Friday. I hate it when people cancel on me last minute, and this was something I was really looking forward to doing with you? Is there any chance you are free next week? I don’t want to go too long without seeing you!”

• Remind the person that setting your boundary is not a personal attack on them. “I need some time and space to deal with personal/work/family problems, this is not a function of you.”

• Make the future of the relationship a priority. “I’m flattered you invited me to the party, but I have to study that night so I can’t make it. Let’s plan dinner after I’m done finals.”
• Take responsibility for yourself. “I need you to give me alone time because I want to prevent my anxiety or depression form increasing.”
• Give sugary sweet feedback and leave out the rationale. “I really enjoy the dinner parties you throw; I always have a great meal and a good time. But I’m sorry I just don’t have the time to help you plan this one.”
• Acknowledge if you’re being too strict. “Maybe I need a shift in perspective here but I felt attacked by your criticism.”
• Remember boundaries are a two way street. “I would like you not to discuss my relationship with my husband when we are socializing with others. I understand if there are any topics you feel are difficult to talk about too. Please let me know in advance so I can meet your expectations.”
• Stick to an already established boundary. “Remember, I asked you not to call about work related issues after 9pm. I’ll address this during business hours tomorrow.”
• Repeat to yourself the value of your boundary. “I need this time alone to get done work and have less stress. I will be a better friend/partner/family member if I do this for myself.”
• Give yourself permission to have boundaries. “I have the right to say no! I let others say no to me. I don’t have to be over giving to have good relationships.”

With the provided guidelines, and the work you have done to develop your identity and boundaries, you are now ready to share your boundaries with others. Remember, good boundaries won’t provide any help or protection if you friends, family members, and partners don’t know about them. Here are a last few pointers to keep in mind when sharing boundaries with others. Tell yourself that you have a right to establish these boundaries for your own wellbeing. Know that as you start setting stronger boundaries, others will probably do the same with you. Be open to their boundaries and try your best to abide by those of others. Be flexible and open to hearing feedback about your boundaries. Know that how someone chooses to react to your boundary is not your responsibility, although you must be willing to accept consequences related to setting stricter boundaries, such as a friend not asking for your help anymore. Learn to say no to people that continually infringe on your time with requests for help or favors. Share your boundaries in all your important relationships. Continue to evaluate any emotional needs that change, and update your boundaries accordingly; sometimes you will need stricter boundaries and at other times you may be more flexible. Keeping people informed is key. Lastly, trust yourself to know that you have the right to establish and maintain good boundaries to suit your needs as long as you do your best to set them appropriately.

Narcissism and Shame (therapy in philadelphia, ocean city, mechanicsville, santa fe)

Narcissism and shame go hand in hand in so many ways. Narcissists carry a LOT of shame. From mistakes made in the past, fear of not being enough, to fear of criticism in the present and future. For many narcissists their lives are rather shame-based but, they will never admit it. Facing shame is something incredible uncomfortable and difficult for most narcissistic individuals. To admit to shame means to become vulnerable, to let go of control, and to face the fear head on. These 3 tasks are not in a narcissist’s skill set. Shame is an essential emotion, we all have it, and it is often misunderstood. Facing one’s shame is necessary in creating meaningful and intimate relationships. Narcissist’s issues with shame is a major reason narcissists struggle to maintain friendships, experience true intimacy, and struggle with self-esteem.

Narcissists fear and despise facing their shame so much so, that their way to survive is to project their own shame on to those around them. As they continue to blame, shame, and criticize those around him/her, they are able to distance from their own shame as well as feel better about themselves now that they can view those around him/her as flawed.

Shame is a hidden emotion

Shame is often a misunderstood emotion. And just as often its’s mistaken with guilt. Guilt means you’re aware your actions were wrong and someone else may have been hurt in the process. Healthier functioning individuals who experience shame use the emotion and experience to correct their actions in the future, grow and move forward. In a narcissist’s world, even if they haven’t done anything wrong, they feel as though they did something wrong. Its about regret, not feeling like you made a mistake, but feeling like you ARE a mistake. Common thoughts associated with shame include: “I am worthless.” “I am a failure.” “Why would anyone want to love a failure?” The shame for narcissists is carried deep within, and often impacts one’s feeling of worth, that they cant bring themselves to share with anyone.

Avoid and Blame

How do narcissists typically cope with shame? By avoiding and blaming. As previously mentioned, trying to get a narcissist to face and talk about the shame he/she is carrying is an incredibly tall order. Narcissists are so uncomfortable with deeper emotions, especially shame that they would rather put off facing this hidden, negative emotion at all costs. They will criticize and blame others in order to avoid feeling like a failure. Whether they blame others for their own mistakes made, or they take something completely new and separate from their own mistakes criticizing the flaws they believe they see in others.

Consequences of avoiding shame

Avoiding shame negatively impacts relationships; most likely intimacy is difficult to attain in the relationship. Narcissists are worried about losing control and becoming too vulnerable, because if they becoming vulnerable, they are susceptible to feeling their shame. It is nearly impossible to achieve true closeness with a controlling and distance person. In addition it is difficult to want to be close with someone who is constantly blaming, criticizing, and questioning every action you take. It’s also difficult to feel close to someone who instead of trying to understand you, wants you to say and do things differently from how you naturally behave. This kind of criticizing can send the message that “you are not enough.” As one continues to avoid, and as the shame continues to build, it’s understandable if one’s self-esteem becomes damaged in the process. Someone who avoids shame is someone who is so fearful of criticism from others and eventually, rejection.

Whether you are dealing with narcissistic traits and shame yourself, or you are on the receiving end of someone avoiding shame, it is imperative to address the shame you experience. To face all possible factors and layers of shame means to be vulnerable and therefore ready for intimacy. As for the type of intimacy, that is up to you. Avoiding shame negatively impacts relationships, because narcissists are blaming others and probably avoiding certain aspects of intimacy in order to avoid shame.

You can self schedule an in-person or virtual therapy session at the Center for Growth by calling (215) 922- LOVE (5683) x 100.

Our Guarantee: If after your first session you are not sold that you are working with the right therapist, do not hesitate to call our intake line at 215 922 5683 x 100 or Alex at (267) 324-9564 and ask to be rescheduled with another therapist. The choice of how you want to proceed is yours. Our only goal is to support you in becoming the best you possible.

For your convenience, we have brick and mortar offices and work with clients virtually in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Physical Therapy Office Locations:

• Ocean City Therapy Office 360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226

• Mechanicsville Therapy Office 9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116

• Society Hill Therapy Office 233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106

• Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office 2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130

• Providence Therapy Office 173 Waterman St. Providence, RI 02906

• Fayetteville Therapy Office 101 Devant Street #606, Fayetteville GA 30214

• Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505

• Telemedicine Therapy Locations: We have therapists who are licensed to work in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia and Pennsylvania

Therapy Services Offered in Fayetteville, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Philadelphia, Providence, Santa Fe:

• Individual Counseling and therapy

• Couples Counseling and marriage counseling

• Teen Therapy and Adolescent Therapy and tweens and child counseling

• Family Therapy and multi-generational counseling

• Art Therapy and Counseling no art skills needed

• ADHD Therapy and ADD, Dyslexia, Autism, Tourettes counseling

• Anxiety, Panic, OCD Therapy and worry and fear support

• Breaking the cycle of Codependency and being your own person

• Overcoming Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain .

• Depression Therapy and sadness, gloom, and upset support

• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Therapy is a particular style of therapy designed for people with problems affecting their nervous system, how the brain and body send and receive signals.

• Grief Therapy and loss, End of A Relationship, rejections, pregnancy and loss and therapy

• Mindfulness Based Therapy and spirituality based therapy

• Narcissistic Abuse Recovery child of, parent of, spouse of, sibling of a narcissist.

• Sex Therapy and sexual function & dysfunction, sex addiction, sexual orientation and gender identity support

• Shame and Blame

• Trauma Therapy both emotional and sexual abuse, complex trauma, PTSD counseling

• Divorce support

• Affairs, Infidelity, Unfaithful, Cheating counseling

• Parenting therapy

• Personality disorder treatments Narcissist, Borderline, Histrionic

• Anger Management Therapy

• Setting Boundaries and identifying ones own Core Beliefs

Just name some of the Mental Health issues that we work with. Our goal is to help you Change and Achieve Your Dreams

Therapy in Philadelphia – 10 Tips for adults with ADHD: ADHD Therapy in Philadelphia, PA, Mechanicsville VA, Ocean City NJ, Providence RI, Santa Fe NM

1) Consider an organizational specialist who can come to your home.
2) Consider seeing a psychiatrist, psychopharmocologist, or neurologists who specialize in ADHD and can help evaluate you for medication.
3) Consider joining a support group for other people with ADHD
4) Consider individual counseling to help cope with the stress of this disorder.
5) Consider couples counseling so that your partner can understand how they can be helpful.
6) Be firm with yourself behaviorally, but don’t beat yourself up emotionally.
7) Read literature about ADHD.
8) Reduce clutter in your home. Throw things out that are not essential or sentimental. It may help to ask a friend to assist you with this.
9) If you have the financial means hire a housekeeper.
10) Exercise to reduce stress
11) Remember the strengths that are common in people with ADHD (creativity, sensitivity, good sense of humor, good intuitive skills, intelligence,)

Let us know which tips were useful – or if you have any ADHD tips of your own that you would like to share. We are always working on finding new information to share with clients.

What is ADHD? ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that commonly begins in childhood but can persist into adolescence and adulthood. ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning and can affect various aspects of an individual’s life, including academic, social, and occupational performance.

There are three main types of ADHD:

1. Predominantly Inattentive Presentation (ADHD-I): Individuals with this type primarily struggle with inattention. They may have difficulty sustaining attention, following through on tasks, organizing activities, and tend to be forgetful in daily activities.
2. Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation (ADHD-HI): This type involves primarily hyperactivity and impulsivity. People with this presentation may have difficulty sitting still, frequently interrupt others, and engage in impulsive actions without thinking about the consequences.
3. Combined Presentation (ADHD-C): The most common type, where individuals exhibit both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.

The exact cause of ADHD is not fully understood, but research suggests that a combination of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors may contribute to its development. Neuroimaging studies have shown that individuals with ADHD may have differences in brain structure and function, particularly in areas responsible for attention, impulse control, and executive functions.

Symptoms of ADHD must be present before the age of 12 and persist for at least six months to receive a formal diagnosis. Some common signs and symptoms of ADHD include:

• Difficulty paying attention to details or sustaining attention on tasks or activities
• Forgetfulness and losing things necessary for tasks
• Being easily distracted by external stimuli
• Difficulty organizing tasks and activities
• Fidgeting or squirming while seated
• Difficulty remaining seated when expected
• Excessive talking or blurting out answers before a question is completed
• Impatience and difficulty waiting for turns
• Difficulty following through on instructions or completing tasks

Treatment for ADHD often involves a multimodal approach that may include behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, parent and teacher training, and, in some cases, medication. Stimulant medications like methylphenidate and amphetamines are commonly prescribed to help manage ADHD symptoms.

If you suspect you or someone you know may have ADHD, it’s essential to seek an evaluation and diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional or mental health specialist. They can provide appropriate assessments and guidance for the most suitable treatment plan based on individual needs.