This Mindful Breathing Inventory Exercise helps you control the urge to binge by teaching you to fully check in with your levels of hunger, satiety and fullness.
Mindfulness and Hunger Awareness
Mindfulness Meditation for Anxiety
This tip is helpful for people dealing with chronic anxiety. This tip is also useful for people wishing to incorporate mindfulness practices into their daily lives.
Mindfulness Based Therapy
Originally a key feature of ancient Buddhist practice, mindfulness and mindfulness-based therapy have revolutionized mental healthcare over the last half century since being introduced to the West. By teaching people to pay attention to the
Mindfulness Based Skills Group
This group teaches mindfulness meditation practice: a powerful way to calm down, get to know your thoughts and feelings, and find joy in your life
Why You Should Try Mindfulness
This tip is for someone interested in trying mindfulness and experiencing its benefits when dealing with life stressors.
Binge Eating and Mindfulness - Sensory Eating Exercise
This Sensory Eating Exercise provides tools to combat the urge to binge.
Spirituality for Teens: Mindfulness Therapy for Teens in Philadelphia
A personal sense of spirituality protects teens from substance abuse, mental health issues, and risky behavior. Teens can strengthen their innate spirituality through practices like mindfulness.
How to Calm Your Racing Thoughts: Mindfulness Therapy
Do you struggle with racing thoughts and controlling them? Here are some tips to help.
Mindful Eating with Gratitude
This article includes two guided mediations to help expand your mindfulness practice. The first walks you through an to build appreciation for the food you eat, how it got to your plate, and your body …
How to become more present
The following are simple steps you can take to enhance your skills and ability in being more present in the day to day.
Field of Protection
This mindfulness and spirituality based exercise will help you create a field of protection that keeps your boundaries, energy and personal preferences strong and intact.
Getting in the Habit of Meditating
Tired of people telling you that you should meditate? This tip uses the psychology of habit formation to help you understand how to work with frustration and build a sustainable, rewarding meditation practice.
Slowing Down Eating Binges
Use this mindfulness exercise to manage binge eating
The Power of Choice
In this article, the reader will explore the power of using mindfulness in the realm of decision-making.
STOP Your Anxiety Now
If you struggle with anxious, sad, or angry thoughts, it can be difficult to get out from under them. The repetitive nature of thoughts can lead to the feeling that they will never go away …
Anxiety and the RAIN Method
Although anxiety can feel like an annoying, unwelcome presence in your life, with some investigating, it can also tell you a little something about this fear; the root of the anxiety. Using the RAIN method …
5 Steps to Mindful Eating
Learn how to have a healthy relationship to food with these 5 easy steps to mindful eating.
Embracing the Not-Self of Buddhism: A Path to Inner Freedom
The Buddhist concept of not-self fosters self-compassion, acceptance, and resilience, challenging fixed self-identities for inner freedom and peace.
Mindful Sex: A Guide To Becoming Fully Present Sexually
Becoming sexually present. Mindfulness sexual exercises.
My Feelings Matter Meditation
In this article, readers will learn how to construct an individualized meditation for themselves that will help support self-esteem and self-discovery.
Stressed Out Teens? Try Forest Bathing.
This is an anxious time for teens. Take them forest bathing to combine mindfulness with the benefits of being outside in nature.
Accessing Your Wise Mind
Your Wise Mind is based in intuition, calmness and centeredness. Everyone has a Wise Mind. Some people have developed a strong relationship with their Wise Mind and are able to access it easily, whereas others …
Being Mindful During Sex: Find-the-Smell Activity
Become more mindful during sex with Find-the Smell activity.
Releasing Anxiety Through The Body
Use this mindfulness technique to recognize and reverse physical symptoms of anxiety to facilitate ease in letting go of anxious thoughts.
End Binge Eating with the Hunger Scale
Mindfully manage binge eating with this hunger scale
Color Breathing Guided Meditation
Use this guided meditation that combines deep breathing and visualization of emotion as colors to actively shift out of a negative mood or feeling.
The Chakras Explained
A basic description of the seven chakras and how energy can impact mental and physical wellbeing.
Spotting Grounding Technique
This article is a great way to help anxious people get introduced to a grounding technique called Spotting, in which you can calm your body down, and be present with yourself.
DBT Distress Tolerance
In this article, you will learn how to us the DBT Distress Tolerance skill called IMPROVE.
Ayurveda and Your Mental Health: An Introduction
Ayurveda is a set of physical, mental, and emotional practices. These practices can support you in bringing awareness and balance in all that you feel, say, and do so you can live your authentic life.
Non-Meditation is the Best Meditation
Meditating has a lot of benefits, but it also causes much frustration. In non-meditation, we let go of striving to do anything. We just rest and let everything be as it is.
How Can Buddhism Make Me Happy?
Hey gang! Welcome to “How Can Buddhism Make Me Happy?” We’ll outline some lessons from Buddhism that can make you happier! This won’t be a systematic exploration of the religion or its philosophy, just a
Why Attend a Meditation Retreat
Learn about what to expect at a meditation retreat.
ACT Therapy: Accepting and Being Mindful
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is about acknowledging our emotions from a non-judgmental standpoint, which equips the person to better handle uncomfortable emotional states. Here is an exercise that helps facilitate that.
Keeping a Spiritual Journal
Keeping a spiritual journal is a wonderful way to document your progress and see how far you’ve come. Here's how.
Keeping Your Boundaries Over the Holidays
The holiday season is about being mindful, present, and grateful, however this season creates a sense of pressure to achieve perfection, and it is easy to lose sight of your priorities, as well as your …
Benefits of Your Wise Mind
This article will explore the different mind sets (Reasonable Mind, Emotional Mind and Wise Mind) and explain the benefits and challenges with each mind set. Specific focus will be on the therapeutic benefits of accessing …
Essential Oils for Mental Health
Learn how to use essential oils to support mental health treatment and relieve symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.
Healing from Trauma
Trauma often robs us of the feeling that we are in charge of our lives. It can make us question the world and feel out of control in relation to our mind, body and emotions …
Who Am I?
Everyone has thoughts about who they are. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy suggests we can relate to these thoughts in a new way, called self-as-context. Practicing this skill, along with other ACT skills, can help us …
Your Inner Critic
Your inner critic might not always feel like your friend, but it considers itself to be your friend. It actually considers itself to be your BEST friend who loves you unconditionally. So your inner critic …
How To Feel Your Feelings
These two guided mindfulness exercises will help you identity and feel your feelings.
Pillars of Well-Being
The pillars of well-being are eight areas of life where you can make changes along specific guidelines to become happier. While there are more than eight areas in your life that you could invest your …
Defining the Vision for Your Life
What is the vision of your life? Why does your vision for life matter? What is the point of defining what your vision for life is? Those are just a few of the many questions …
RelaxedProgressive Muscle Relaxation
A full body relaxation exercise to try when feeling anxious, tense, angry, or unable to sleep.
What Your Body Language Is Saying
Learn how to carry yourself in an important interview, or a first date, in order to get the outcome you want.
Stress-Free Mornings
Mornings can be incredibly anxiety-provoking, and this sort of routine can create anxiety that lasts well into your day. Here are some tips for creating a routine that will set you up for successful stress-free …
Tidying Up Your Mind
This tip uses concepts from the popular Netflix show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo to help you understand and let go of negative or unhelpful core beliefs.
Creating a Mantra Card
This tip will help you pick a mantra that works for you, and guide you in creating a mantra card so that you have an accessible visual reminder of your mantra at all times.
4-7-8 Breathing Technique: The Biology of Calming Down
4-7-8 Breathing Technique: The Biology of Calming Down is an important tool that can easily be self taught.
Managing Anxiety: Color Breathing Technique
The color breathing technique is a simple and quick activity that combines breathing and grounding exercises to help reduce the impact of anxiety and stress on an individual in a variety of ways.
Chakra Clearing
A guided meditation to balance energy and facilitate health through clearing the chakras.
Mindful Touch
A mindful touch ritual can bring fresh energy into your relationship by creating an intentional space for slowing down, tuning into the breath and experiencing radical intimacy through the sensation of loving touch. Through …
Unblocking The Throat Chakra
If you're feeling as though it's hard to express yourself clearly, you might have a block in your throat chakra. Unblocking the throat chakra is a process that will allow you to trust your words …
Showers, SAD, and Sexual Desire
Has Seasonal Affective Disorder created a disconnect between you and your own body? Here's a tip on how to take a daily task, something as simple as a shower, to create a mindful experience and …
See and Be: A Mindful Communication Exercise for Couples
Many couples feel emotional disconnection in their relationship. Use this mindful communication exercise to develop emotional presence.
Sensory Processing Concerns Post COVID-19
This article is for individuals with Sensory Processing Disorders (or sensory processing concerns) to help learn self advocacy for the transition back into the "in-person" lifestyle after COVID-19.
A Meditation for Medical Uncertainty and Chronic Pain
This tip is for those grappling with chronic symptoms, like pain or gastrointestinal distress, and medical uncertainty, when doctors are unable to easily explain or treat your symptoms.
What are Meta-Emotions?
Mindfully noticing and addressing our meta-emotions can be a powerful tool to reduce suffering as we move through our daily lives.
Practicing Gratitude
Practicing gratitude is always important, especially in a world in which it can feel like we are constantly getting a flood of bad news. It can also help to counteract depression and anxiety symptoms.
Finding Meaning in Healing
As we change, our strategies and coping mechanisms we once used also need to change…but we have become so comfortable with them. It took you a lot of conscious (and unconscious) work to develop all …
Text Anxiety
Text anxiety occurs when you experience excess worry related to sending or receiving a text message. This can include feeling anxious after sending a text, when waiting for a response, or over analyzing a response …
Ayurveda and Your Mental Health: The Seasons
Emotions, colors, times of day, times of our lives, and seasons have their own elemental makeup that balance, agitate, enhance, or diminish the expression and reflection of our elemental makeup. Therefore it is important to …
Grace Siqi Chen (Intern Therapist)
Grace Chen (she/her/hers) is an Intern Therapist at The Center for Growth from June 2023 to June 2024. Grace is working towards a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School …
Challes Foley (Intern Therapist)
Challes L. Foley (she/her) is an intern therapist at The Center for Growth who uses an eclectic therapeutic approach to provide support to a wide range of clients. Her internship runs from July 10th …
Tonglen for Difficult Moments
Tonglen practice is a great way to overcome and work through difficult moments in life. Practice taking in the suffering of beings, transforming it into happiness and then sending it back out to beings!
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for FND
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a promising approach for individuals with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
Stuck in a Cycle of Pain
Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of pain? Maybe you continue to experience unwanted thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and are worried that they will never change. Read this tip to learn more about …
Amanda Martinez (Intern Therapist)
Amanda Martinez (she/her/hers) is an intern at The Center for Growth from January 16th, 2024 to May 2025. She is currently enrolled in Temple University’s Master of Social Work program. Amanda is dedicated to …
Caring for the Caretaker
Caring for the Caretaker: While On the Job: Nanny Edition Who cares for the caretaker? In this tip targeted towards nannies and others in childcare professions, we explore ways to incorporate mindfulness, boundaries, and …
"Alex" Caroline Robboy, CAS, MSW, ACSW, LCSW (Founder)
"Alex" Caroline Robboy, CAS, MSW, ACSW, AAMFT, CSTS, LCSW (she/her/hers) Curriculum Vitae is the founder and executive director of the Center for Growth Inc / Sex Therapy in Philadelphia, a counseling organization in Center …
Jennifer Foust, Ph.D., M.S., LPC, ACS (Clinical Director)
Dr. Foust (she/her/hers) has been practicing psychological counseling, couples therapy, and sex therapy for over twenty years (resume). Dr. Foust works virtually in Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut & Florida. Dr. Foust practices …
Shannon Oliver-O'Neil, LCSW (Therapist & Director of Intern Program)
Shannon Oliver-O’Neil, MSW, LCSW, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist in Providence RI, and works virtually in PA and NJ
Specializes in: Sex therapy, trauma therapy, individual therapy, pre-marital counseling, and couples counseling as well …
Tonya McDaniel, MEd, MSW, LCSW (Therapist & Director of Professional Development)
Tonya McDaniel (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker who has been working in the field of psychology and sexuality for almost 20 years. Her philosophic outlook is that most people have good intentions and …
Chronic Back Pain Therapy
Chronic Back Pain Support In our chronic back pain support group, individuals who suffer from long-term or recurring back pain come together to share their experiences, challenges, and coping strategies. The chronic back pain support …
Support Group Registration: (215)922-5683 x 100 x 111
Support groups currently running at the Center for Growth.
Schedule Your Therapy Appointment Today (215) 922- 5683 x 100
Therapy Services Offered in CT, DE, FL, GA, PA, NJ, NM, RI, VA,: Individual CounselingPremarital CounselingCouples CounselingFamily TherapyChild, Tweens, Teen TherapyPlay TherapyArt Therapy Therapy for specific issues ADHD Therapy, Affairs, Infidelity Therapy, Anger Management Therapy …
Therapy for Students
The Transition to College & Graduate School: Therapy for Students
The transition from high school to college is an intense time for emerging adults. Increased levels of independence that come from leaving home behind …
10 Tips for Adults with ADHD
Below you'll find 10 tips for adults with ADHD.
5 Ways to Fix Communication With Your Partner Today
Communication with your partner can be a struggle at any stage in your relationship. The following 5 steps provide you with an overview of effective strategies to improve your communication with you partner now.
7 Essential Steps to Making Change Real
In this tip, you'll find 7 essential tips to making real change in your life.
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
A Description of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) : Scientific research, Usage, and Effects
A Gratitude Tree
A gratitude tree is a self help anxiety reduction exercise designed to teach people the art of positive thinking.
About Loss
A tip about loss.
Accepting Your Partners Limitations
Techniques for accepting your partner's limitations
Advocating to Your Doctor About Possible Vaginismus
Things just haven’t seemed right with sex. You find yourself avoiding or dreading penetration because you find it difficult, maybe even painful and uncomfortable. You’ve done the research and reading, and you’re suspecting that you …
All or Nothing Thinking
What is "all or nothing thinking" and how does it skew your cognitive perception?
Negative Emotions
Learn how to allow yourself to feel negative emotions and why it's important. Having trouble regulating your emotions? Feeling hopeless, confused or angry?
Analingus
Analingus, also known as rimming, anal-oral sex, is the act of kissing, licking and/or sliding one’s tongue in and out of another individual’s anus.
Anger
Anger Problems - an overview of how we at the Center for Growth understand Anger Problems.
Anger Management Therapy in Philadelphia
A summary of our anger management program. We now offer services in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, New Mexico, Georgia, and Florida.
Anorexia and the Doctor
When you have anorexia, learn what to expect at a doctors visit.
Anorexia in Adolescents
Anorexia in adolescents is a serious condition. With the proper support, adolescents are able to overcome their anorexia. However, left untreated, Anorexia Nervosa can lead to a myriad of complications including death. Get the support …
Anorexia Nervosa
The formal definition of anorexia nervosa.
Anxiety
A brief description of anxiety.
Anxiety and Drug Use
Exploring the connection between drug use and onset of anxiety.
Anxiety Attacks in the Workplace
Anxiety Attacks in the Workplace: You are in an important meeting at work when out of nowhere you begin to tremble. Your heart starts racing. You feel nauseated. A sense of confusion comes over you …
Attachment Theory
This tip looks at different attachment styles adults may have developed through childhood with their parents. Attachment theory works to explain different behaviors portrayed in our adult relationships.
Automatic Negative Thoughts and Core Beliefs
Understanding automatic negative thoughts and core beliefs.
Binge Eating Disorder Criteria
This tip provides the criteria for binge eating disorder.
Building a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Network
If you are beginning to question your sexuality, being part of a gay, lesbian and bisexual network can be one of your biggest supports
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa is a Psychological disorder characterized by preoccupation with body image and binge eating followed by some type of purging (e.g. laxative abuse, vomiting) in an attempt to compensate for the binge. The nature
Causes of Prenatal and Postpartum Depression
This tip provides some information on prenatal depression and postpartum depression.
Changing All or Nothing Thinking
This tip helps to answer the question "how do I change all or nothing thing?".
Changing Careers
Job Satisfaction: Things To Think About Before Changing Careers Scenario 1 - changing careers So you start at a new job, maybe your first job in a real career. You fill in all the paperwork
Choosing Spirituality
What spirituality looks like is different for each of us. This tip helps the reader find their spirituality.
Coming Out To Parents
So you've come out to most people in your life, but the last people to tell are you parents. This could be for a variety of reasons, but this article will focus on coming out …
Communication for Couples: Focusing on Solvable Problems
Couples Therapy / Marriage Counseling in Problems in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Santa Fe, Mechanicsville: ways for couples to communicate about solvable problems. This is for the couple that communicates fairly well most of the time
Coping with a passive aggressive partner
Recognize and cope with a passive aggressive partner: learning to read between the lines. A tip geared for women.
Coping with Grief
Coping with grief. At some point we all have to deal with loss.
Couple's Sculpting Exercise
Understand your relationship better with this playful exercise
Couples and Money
This tip is geared for couples with a shared bank account.
Couples Therapy: I Am Check Ins
Create change in your relationship using I Am Check-Ins
Creating a Grief Collage
Creating a collage to cope with grief.
Critical Weight
This tip provides a definition of critical weight.
DARE: A four step approach to anxiety management
The DARE approach is an easy, four-step approach to help reduce anxiety and panic symptoms.
Denial
Denial - one of the stages within the grief process
Discovering Motivation to Change
This tip is designed to help you evaluate whether or not you are ready to change a bad habit right now.
Dissecting Panic
Getting at the root of your anxiety.
Eating Disorder Feeling List
This tip helps those with eating disorders recognize their feelings.
Effective Communication: Learning to Listen and Validate
A proven communication technique that everyone should know!
Effects of Drinking Water on a Diet
This tip provides some information on the effects of drinking water on a diet.
Emotional Eating Quiz
This Emotional Eating Quiz helps determine if you are an emotional eater.
Emotional Labor and Relationships
When we think of labor, we often associate it with the physical components; work, chores, and projects quickly come to mind. However, labor also involves the emotional realm, which often connects to our romantic relationships …
Expectations For Marriage Counseling
This tip will help guide your expectations for marriage counseling regardless of the presenting issue you two are having.
Exploring the Pleasures of Anal Sex and Stimulation
Exploring the pleasures of anal sex and anal stimulation
Feeling Like a Team in your Relationship
Use this simple exercise to foster a sense of teamwork within your relationship.
Fibromyalgia and Mental Health
Understand the links between fibromyalgia and anxiety, depression, and grief, and learn how therapy can help. To find a therapist in Philadelphia, call the Center for Growth at 267-324-9564.
Finding Motivation To Change
This tip is designed to help you evaluate your motivation to change or stop a negative behavior.
Gambling Compulsion Recovery Near Me
This tip provides some techniques to recovery from gambling compulsion.
Gamblers frequently also suffer from
Gamblers frequently also struggle with Anxiety Disorders, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Mood Disorders - such as Bi-Polar & Depression.
Grieving the Loss of a Relationship
Any loss no matter how big or small triggers a grief process. A person does not have to die for you to feel grief.
Healthy Narcissism
Healthy narcissism means having a healthy balance between self-love, self-acceptance, and reality. There are benefits to having a healthy dose of self-confidence and the ability to be outgoing. However, there is a limit before the …
Healthy Snacks
Healthy snack suggestions.
Healthy Weight
What is a healthy weight?
Herpes Support Group in Philadelphia
Help with Herpes: A Support Group Now Forming * Do you or your partner have genital herpes? * Are you worried about the emotional, physical and sexual impact of herpes?* Do you feel tainted? Afraid
How common is Bulimia Nervosa
How common is Bulimia Nervosa? Bulimia affects 1% to 4% of the population. It is more common than Anorexia but usually more difficult for friends and family to detect. Approximately 1% to 3% of middle
How common is obesity?
How common is obesity and what exactly does that term mean?
How Do I find My Spirituality
Steps for discovering ones own sense of spirituality.
How to Come Out to Family
The mere thought of sharing with your family that you are questioning your sexual orientation can be anxiety producing. You have no way of knowing how they will respond. Will they be in shock? Will …
How To Disarm A Narcissist
The first step to disarm a narcissist is to identify your own “hot buttons.” These are areas that are particularly sensitive for you that automatically send you into “defense mode.” If we slip into this …
How to Keep Romance Alive After Kids
A key predictor of being able to successfully navigate the transition-to-parenthood period and have your relationship come out intact (and hopefully stronger) is to find ways to deepen intimacy with your partner. This article will …
How To Nurture Your Relationship
The following exercise is a way for you and your spouse to demonstrate your ability to care for each other by meeting the other’s identified wants and needs on a daily basis. This is a …
How To Share Your Shame In Therapy
Basic tools to help you share your shame within the therapeutic relationship.
How to Survive a Wedding with your Narcissistic Family Member
Personality Disorder TreatmentUse this guide developed by Philadelphia-area therapists to survive a wedding with your narcissistic family member.
Identifying and Managing Critical Incident Stress In Police Officers
Identifying and Managing Critical Incident Stress In Police Officers. Tools used in stress therapy.
Identifying Your Boundaries
Identifying Your Boundaries: Boundaries are “guidelines, rules or limits that a person creates to identify for him- or herself that are reasonable, safe and permissible ways for other people to behave around him or her
Improving Relationships
Improving Relationships - requires taking action. How to take the initiative.
In the Mind of Someone With Anorexia
What is going on in the mind of someone with Anorexia.
Internet Compulsions
This tip provides the definition and some signs of internet compulsive behavior.
Job Hunt Slump
Job Search Got You Down? Here’s How to Keep Your Head Up.
WorryKnowing When Its More Than Worry
Recognize and respond to anxiety and panic disorders - Knowing When It’s More Than Worry
Loving a Narcissist
Narcissistic individuals are great at drawing people in. They are so great in fact, that it’s pretty easy for anyone to fall in love with a narcissist. But it’s very difficult to remain in love …
Major Depression and Dysthymic disorder
What are the symptoms of major depression and dysthymic disorder?
Making the Transition from College to Career
The end of college is only one short month away….now what? This tip helps you transition from college to career.
Males with Anorexia Nervosa
Are there males with anorexia? Yes. Find out more here.
Managing Anxiety: I See/I Hear/ I Feel Exercise
Use this exercise to help you manage and prevent anxiety.
Medication for Adult ADHD
The goal of medication for Adult ADHD is to reduce hyperactivity, increase attention and the ability to focus, and to reduce impulsive behaviors. Stimulant medication is generally the most effective medication for the treatment of
Mental Health Care and Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder is mental health problem, and is not the same as depression. While “SAD” feels like a depression, the onset and triggers are different, and the treatment can require different techniques. Continue reading …
Multicultural Competence with Clients
As the world becomes more and more diverse it's important to bring an understanding of diversity into therapy. If you are a psychologist, marriage counselor, social worker, psychiatrist or clinical therapist, it’s important to have …
Narcissism and Shame Treatment and Tips
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.
Narcissism: Common Thought Patterns
This guide will help you identify and understand narcissistic thought patterns.
Narcissism: The concerns and pitfalls
There is a difference between healthy narcissism and unhealthy narcissism. Narcissism begins to take the dark to unhealthy when reality and empathy are no longer there for the individual. What separates unhealthy from healthy is …
Noticing Your Emotional Labor in Relationships
Emotional labor is something that we do every day, yet rarely pay attention to. To help ensure that you have a healthy balance between your feelings felt and feelings expressed, noticing your emotional labor is …
Obesity
What does obesity mean?
Parenting Your ADHD Child
Your child was diagnosed with ADHD. How do you parent a child with ADHD?
Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening Exercise
Building pelvic floor muscle strength can help create stronger and more satisfying erections.
Personality Profiles Associated With Anorexia
What are some of the Personality Profiles often associated with Anorexia Nervosa?
Pet therapy: Casey’s Depression
Pet therapy and the treatment of depression
Plan for Reducing Anxiety
Plan of action to reduce anxiety.
Practical Spirituality
Practical Spirituality: Identifying the spiritual element in everyday life
Preventing Panic Attacks: The Anxiety Scale
Use this exercise to help you track anxiety and prevent panic attacks.
PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder defined. Need a PTSD Counselor in Center City Philadelphia? 267-324-9564
Redirecting your Post-Wedding Day Blues
For many newlyweds, as happy as they are to finally be married, it is normal to experience a sense of loss for your wedding day. Develop effective tools to put your focus and energy on …
Replacing Triggers
Focusing on Anti-Anxiety Alerts.
Resolving an Argument
Fair fighting techniques - resolving an argument.
Resting Metabolic Rate
Definition of a resting metabolic rate (RMR).
Risk factors for Prenatal Depression
Risk factors for prenatal depression & postpartum depression during pregnancy (prenatal)
Ritual Spirituality
What are rituals exactly? Tools for positive change.
Self Care After the Election
For those who are still struggling to recover from the traumatic election season.
Sex Compulsions and Shame
Shame has a powerful role in one's sex compulsion. Shame can push the compulsion further, and can prevent individuals from asking and accepting the help they need.
Sexual Trauma and Shame
Survivors of sexual trauma tend to take on many levels of shame , believing they are what was done to them. Sexual abuse and trauma is something that happened to you, it's not who you are.
Shacking Up: We decided to move in together, now what?
This tip provides some tools on what do to after you decide to move in with your partner.
Signs and Symptoms of Giving Too Much
Do you give too much to others? Find out with this tip from the Center for Growth.
Signs and Symptoms of Stress
What are the signs and symptoms of stress?
Skin Picking Treatment
Skin picking is considered a Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior Disorder which effects up to 5% of the population.
Sleep and Binge Eating
In the U.S., the prevalence of obesity across the board—men, women, all age groups, income levels and ethnicities—is quickly increasing. Sixty-five percent of adults are overweight, and 30% are obese.
Space for Emotional Availability
Navigating how much emotional availability you give to yourself and the others around you can be difficult. This tip will help you to recognize your own capacity for yourself and others.
Speaking Up
This tip is for men struggling with societal influences of the male gender role.
Spiritual Connection
How a spiritual connection can facilitate your healing process.
Spirituality As My Moral Compass
How does one go about the business of defining their own moral compass according to their spiritual beliefs and experience?
Staging Anxiety to Uncover Your Triggers
Anxiety often occurs as a result of certain circumstances or triggers. This tip helps you stage your anxiety to find those triggers.
Strategies for New Moms
How to survive the first few weeks after delivery.
Stress
What is stress and how do you define it?
Stress Management Techniques
StressWhat are some stress management techniques?
Talking to Your Kid About Going to Play Therapy
Key concepts to share with your child when telling him / her about the meeting you have schedule with the play therapist.
Temperamental Traits Associated With Anorexia
Is there a certain personality profile associated with people who are Anorexic? Yes there is.
The 5 Stages of Grief
Learn about the stages of grief. Which stage are you currently in?
The Deceptive Behaviors of Anorexia
What are some of the deceptive behaviors of anorexia?
The Gifts of Shame
There are positive aspects to experiencing shame. Facing one's shame can be an opportunity to experiencing true vulnerability, courage, and more.
The Power of Compliments
Learn how to give your woman more detailed and specific compliments, her self confidence will improve and your appreciation for her will be enhanced.
The Power of Rituals When Grieving
Rituals can be an essential practice when grieving the loss of a loved one. Rituals and traditions can come in many forms, big or small. Sometimes finding the right ones that fit you, and represent …
The Self Esteem Workout
A step-by-step guide for increasing confidence and self esteem
Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa
Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa- What to expect.
Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa in Philadelphia
An overview of how we help people overcome anorexia nervosa.
Types of Cohabitating Couples
Learn more about common dynamics of couples who live together and what to do about them
Understanding Hypermobility Syndromes
A general overview of hypermobility syndromes, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, joint hypermobility syndrome, and Marfan syndrome, and how therapy helps.
Unwanted Advice
How to handle unwanted advice during pregnancy and the first year afterwards.
Valentines Day for Couples with Kids
Why couples with kids should celebrate Valentine's Day.
Visualization Technique Part One
Visualization and imagery are powerful weapons in the arsenal against anxiety. This three part tip will help you learn the techniques of visualization.
Visualization Technique Part Two
This is part two of learning about visualizations.
Ways to Improve Self Esteem
What are some ways to improve your self esteem?
What Does It Mean To Be Diagnosed With Borderline Personality Disorder?
This tip enlightens readers on the DSM-IV-TR criteria for BPD, and explains the basic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with the disorder. Also included is some references for treatment.
What is a Doula?
What is a Doula, and how they can help you during childbirth and how they can support your family during the first week of your child’s life.
What is a narcissist?
Encountering difficult people is an inevitable part of life. How can you determine whether the difficult person in your life is truly a narcissist? This article offers an explanation of what narcissism is, as well …
What is a Panic Attack?
This tip helps identify and define what is a panic attack.
What is Anxiety?
This tip helps answer the question "what is anxiety?".
What is Codependency?
Have you wondered if your loyalties to loved ones and friends have been borderline codependent? Have you been called codependent, but you’re still not sure what it is? Read this tip to gain understanding on …
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
This tip will explain the basics of CBT and help you understand how it can be beneficial for people with anxiety or depression.
What is Trauma?
Trauma can be defined as anything less than nurturing. Trauma comes in all shapes and sizes in terms of severity, event, impact, etc. The three basic types of trauma include physical, sexual, and emotional.
What it means to be your authentic self?
Authenticity is essential when trying to become your best self. To be your authentic self means your words match your actions and your reveal the real you to others. There are many gifts that come …
What Stage Of The Problem Are You In?
This tip provides information on the different stages of addressing a problem.
When You Think About Touching Yourself
For men who want to learn more ways to touch themselves and experience pleasure without ever engaging sex therapy.
Will I Gain or Lose Weight in Recovery
This tip is geared for people recovering from bulimia.
Will This Relationship Last
How determined are you to make this relationship last? What are the steps that you need to take to make this relationship work?
Working Towards Healing After a Loss
Working towards healing after a loss: Developing A Plan of Action.
“Big T” versus “little t” Trauma
Do I struggle with Big T (Trauma) or little t (trauma)? Recognize the differences. Need counseling in Center City Philadelphia? 267-324-9564.
Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder
This book is a step-by-step guide to teaching clients four sets of skills: interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. A vital component in Dr. Linehan’s comprehensive treatment program, the manual details precisely how …
The High-Conflict Couple: A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Guide
The High-Conflict Couple: A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Guide to Finding Peace, Intimacy, and Validation
The High-Conflict Couple adapts the powerful techniques of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) into skills you can use to tame out-of-control emotions that …
Sensate Focus Touching for Body Image
Sensate Focus variation for partners with body image issues
How to Support A Partner With Anxiety
Supporting a partner with anxiety can be difficult and exhausting. Here are some tips that can help you both.
Babyloss and Mother's Day
How to cope on mother's day when it feels like everybody else is celebrating.
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
Living with anxiety, panic disorders, or phobias can make you feel like you aren’t in control of your life. If you’re ready to tackle the fears that hold you back, this book is your go-to …
Grieving and Coping
We all grieve in unique ways. What's your coping style?
Overcoming Negativity Bias
Overcoming negativity bias is far more complicated than most people imagine. This article will explore why we have an inherent neurological negativity bias and ways you can overcome your negativity bias.
Samantha Eisenberg, LCSW, MSW, MEd, LMT, (Therapist)
Samantha Eisenberg, LCSW, MSW, MEd, LMT, (she/her/hers) does individual, couples, family and group therapy virtually in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia. She works with children and adults. Samantha uses an integrative, strengths-based, collaborative approach in …
Babyloss and Naming
Deciding whether to name the Baby you lost
Virtual Reality Therapy Services
The Center for Growth explains the use of Virtual Reality (VR) in their offices to assist in anxiety disorders.
Stopping Anxious Thoughts
Most individuals have experienced unwanted or unhelpful anxious thinking. This tip illustrates an effective, simple technique to stop anxious thoughts associated with rumination, OCD, or general anxiety.
Resolving Shame
Shame is how we negatively judge ourselves about an action that we did. Shame is a powerful emotion but there are ways to work on resolving shame.
Differentiation Strategies
What to do when you are the emotionally healthier person in your relationship?
Babyloss and Holidays
Check out these tips to help cope with babyloss during the holiday season.
Winter Relaxation Exercise
This winter relaxation exercise can help you to slow down, de-stress, and recharge before returning to the hustling and bustling of the season.
Codependent Couples
Relationship problems among couples could be related to codependency. Learn about what codependency is and the different patterns of how it may be exhibited in your partnership. Included in this tip is an exercise designed …
Couples’ Formula for Successful Requests
Learn how to ask your partner for what you need.
Mourning Your Affair Partner
This tip provides ideas for mourning the loss of your affair partner.
Marina France
Marina France Resume Center for Growth May 2019-PresentTherapist and Manager of Quality Assurance Provide weekly individual and couples therapy, drawing upon relational, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness techniques to tailor treatment to specific client and
Creativity and Babyloss
After the loss of a much-wanted pregnancy, the last thing on your mind may be creativity, and that's understandable. The early days of grief feel so very physical, and that's because there is a large
PCOS and Mental Health
Knowing the connection between PCOS and mental health issues and how to seek help for them can make living with this condition much more manageable from a mental health perspective.
Asking for Help
Asking for help can be easy for some and challenging for others. This self-help TIP guides you through some of the barriers that get in the way of asking for help and ways to resolve …
Couples: Talking About Money
Use these prompts to talk to your partner about money
Moving Toward Emotional Availability
How to become more emotionally available and increase the level of intimacy in your relationship
Having Difficult Conversations
While social media can be a wonderful venue for bringing friends and family together, arguments online about abortion can devolve into the Wild West.
Feeling Stuck in Therapy
This article will help you assess whether you are truly stuck in therapy or if you simply feel as though you are. If you are truly stuck, no worries. This article will also guide you …
Beat Anxiety and Worry
Learn how to beat worries on a cognitive level and tackle anxiety on a physical level, to double your skills for beating anxiety and worry.
Managing Anxiety During Self-Isolation
Use these therapist-recommended tips to manage anxiety during self-isolation.
Dealing with Death during COVID-19
Death happens all the time, but in the new era of social distancing and pandemic, how can we cope?
Lancie Mazza, LCSW (Therapist & Director Of Virginia Office)
Lancie Mazza, LCSW (she / her / hers) has been working as a counselor for 25+ years. She received her Masters in Social Work at University of Pennsylvania, and has gone …
"Alex" Caroline Robboy Resume
Resume / CV
Alex Caroline Robboy CAS MSW LCSW PA Licensed Clinical Social WorkerAASECT Certified Supervisor of Sex Therapy and a Sex Therapist IMAGO Certified Marriage CounselorCenter for Growth / Sex Therapy in Philadelphia233 S …
The Boundary Circle
Codependency Therapy: the boundary circle encompasses the whole process of setting a boundary: defining what the boundary is, or what you need to feel safe, how to communicate the boundary, or capturing the words that …
Getting Kinky
Want to try something new in the bedroom but you're stuck on what to try? With this activity, you and your partner can explore new sexual activities in a structured yet fun way!
Quality Time with Your Partner
Spending quality time with your partner is something most couples want as part of their relationship. This article discusses examples of what quality time is and what it is not.
L&D or D&E?
Saying goodbye to your baby is never easy. Which method is right for you?
Babyloss in Unintended Pregnancy
If we all had our way, parents would have total control over when and how they get pregnant: minimal trying, minimal effort, and an easy pregnancy journey. Unfortunately, this is not the reality. Sometimes
Therapy in a Rainbow Pregnancy
Sometimes, getting pregnant again after babyloss is just the tip of the iceberg, and instead of feeling relief after seeing a positive test result, many loss parents feel dread. Though they wanted and hoped
Seasonal Affective Disorder and Covid
Are you finding that you’re experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder more this year during Covid? Check out these tips on how to overcome the symptoms.
Jonah Taylor, LSW (Associate Therapist)
Jonah Taylor (he/him) is an associate therapist at The Center for Growth specializing in mindfulness-based therapy for mental health and well-being. Jonah’s therapy practice includes a current focus on couples counseling, relationship issues …
Pregnant and Afraid?
This tip will explore some of the common fears that people experience when finding out they are pregnant. Understanding these fears can better prepare you to move through them and towards a hopeful future.
Worry Time
Do you often find yourself worrying about events in the future? Check out this article on ways to combat worry and anxiety through worry time!
Farhana Ferdous, MA, ATR (Associate Therapist)
Farhana (she/her) is trained as an art therapist and counselor. She is a collaborative therapist who aims to nurture an environment of compassion, understanding, and acceptance …
Janette Dill, MFT (Associate Therapist)
Janette Dill, MFT (she/her) is a graduate of LaSalle University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Program which included a one year internship where she worked with individuals, couples, and family systems. Added to that list …
Art Therapy and Counseling
Art Therapy promotes healing and change through guided and spontaneous art making within the context of a supportive, therapeutic relationship. A key tenet of art therapy is the acknowledgment that humans are complex beings best …
Are You Minding Your Food
Are You Minding Your Food? Mindfulness seems to be one of the new buzz words. If you google it or search in YouTube you’ll find tons of corresponding sites. Most people attribute it to breathing
Build Stability with Morning Routines
Life can be unpredictable. Use this tip to develop a grounding morning routine you can take anywhere.
From Stress to Rest
If you find it difficult to recognize when you are in a state of stress and have a hard time calming down, this article will give you tips on how to move from stress to …
Shifting Gender Identity
Do you feel your gender pulling you in a new direction lately? Sometimes it moves around and is hard to catch, pin down, and understand what it’s telling you.
Emily Davis, MS (Associate Therapist)
Emily Davis (she / her) is an Associate Therapist at The Center for Growth. Emily provides a warm, friendly and supportive environment where she values each client’s strengths and goals. In a session with …
Spot Love-Bombing In Action
Are you being love-bombed? Notice these red flags and create a dating journal to assess your new relationship.
Self-Care For Teens
Are you a teen struggling to understand how to implement self-care into your life? Find different ways to think about self-care that are personal to you.
Depression Therapy Services
When you think of depression, sadness may first come to mind. But depression is much more than the ordinary sadness you might expect someone to feel after losing a job or failing a test …
Anxiety, Panic, OCD Therapy
Anxiety Therapy : Panic Attack Therapy: OCD Therapy
Here’s an important truth about anxiety: Everyone has it. Simply put, anxiety is the mind’s ability to imagine, plan, and anticipate as means of keeping …
Child, Tweens, Teens Support Group
YES - Youth Educational Empowerment Support Group Registration: 215-922-5683 x 100 x 111 The Child, Tweens and Teen Support groups are otherwise known as the YES group, Youth Empowerment Support group. These child, tweens and
When Love Bombing Stops
In this article, you will understand to recognize the signs of love bombing by a narcissist, and when it comes to a stop.
Jordan Pearce, MA, LAC, NCC (Associate Therapist)
Jordan Pearce, MA, LAC, NCC (they/them) is an associate therapist at The Center for Growth, based in the Ocean City, New Jersey office. While Jordan’s special areas of focus include trauma recovery, anxiety, depression …
Trauma: the Recovery, Healing, and Personal Growth Journey
This trauma and recovery article will support you in understanding your traumatic experiences, guide you with compassion during your personal growth journey, and if you are in struggle, provide you with some words to ask …
Covert Narcissism- What Makes It So Tricky To Identify
This TIP breaks down the differences between covert and overt narcissism and why covert narcissism can often be difficult to detect.
Therapy For Legal Issues
Therapy Services Offered For Legal Issues
Court Ordered Therapy (call Christian or Alex)
Therapy for Dealing with Child Custody Issues
Therapy for Going Through a Divorce
Therapy When You’re Charged With a …
Building Community as a College First Year
This tip describes methods of approaching others and building friendships during your first year in college. This includes resources to utilize while on campus.
Functional Neurological Disorder FND Therapy
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Therapy
We offer individual, family therapy and support group services for functional neurological disorders in Philadelphia PA, Ocean City NJ, Mechanicsville VA and Santa Fe NM
What is …
Using Art Therapy To Explore Boundaries
This art therapy directive will help you to explore, understand, and set goals for your boundaries in personal, professional, and family relationships.
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
Living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) can feel confusing and scary. There are not always clear answers and it may feel difficult to get the support you need from health care providers or loved ones
Diagnosed with Parkinson's
Being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease can leave you dealing with so many mixed emotions. It can leave you feeling afraid of what the future may hold. Questioning if you will ever have a normal life …
Parentified During Childhood
This tip explains the concept of parentification and how being parentified as a child can follow individuals into adulthood. This includes an in-depth example of parentification and a description of how parentification influences childhood development.
Tolerating Distress in EMDR
Traumatic experiences are challenging to address and can create significant distress. Tolerating distress in EMDR is an important skill to learn.
What to Expect In Your First Clinical Counseling Internship
This article discusses what intern therapists can expect as they begin their first clinical internship experience. Topics covered include note writing, researching cases, navigating supervision, and managing your own emotional landscape and self-care.
Social Media Conversations with Children
Learn ways to communicate with your child about social media and their safety. You will also get tips on learning how to foster better communication with your child around social media by understanding their interests …
Daughters of Narcissist Mothers
This TIP will help readers understand the unique impact that narcists mothers can impart on their daughters emotional wellbeing.
The Harm of Food Morality in Orthorexia
Orthorexia is a condition where individual have an unhealthy focus on the cleanliness and health of foods. Food morality is a guiding principle in food morality. Learn about how to combat your food morality.
Healing Power of Soil
Have you ever considered soil as mood booster? This article proves it is well past time to expose dirt as the depression-busting powerhouse that it has always been.
What is DARVO?
What is DARVO? DARVO is a useful tool for examining and understanding problematic communication in a variety of interpersonal relationships. DARVO is an acronym that stands for Deny, Accuse, Reverse Victim and Offender and can …
Holiday Survival Guide: Politics
The holidays can be a tough time for everyone and can bring up a lot of difficult emotions and dynamics. With the recent midterm elections and other political tension in the country, it is likely …
Jessica Soriano, LSW (Associate Therapist)
Jessica Soriano, LSW in PA & NJ (she/her/hers) is an Associate Therapist at The Center for Growth.
Jessica Soriano, LSW (she/her/hers) is a compassionate therapist who serves individuals, couples, children and families. She …
Recognizing Emotions After Being Parentified
This tip explains how to begin the process of understanding emotions as an adult who was parentified as a child. This includes an exercise using an emotion wheel and detailing how emotions can present in …
Blended Families With Teenage Children
Blended families are super complex. This tip navigates starting these conversations about the process of blending a family system. As well as, signs for parents to look out for with their teenaged children.
Filipino American Mental Health
The Impact of Internal Beliefs and External Perceptions of Filipino-Americans in Determining Access to Mental Health
Trusting Yourself
This article walks you through a few practical ways you can begin to develop self-knowledge and self-trust, which can aid in more confident and convicted decision-making
Talking about your Eating Disorder with your Mom
Eating disorders can be hard to experience without the support of others. This article will help give you a framework when you decide you want to tell your mom about your eating disorder.
Ella Chrelashvili, MA (Associate Therapist)
Ella Chrelashvili (she/her/hers) is an associate therapist at The Center for Growth, providing individual, couples, and group therapy to adults and adolescents in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Society Hill Therapy Office. In addition, she …
Infertility Counseling Services
Infertility Counseling Services
Therapy in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville & Santa Fe
Biological parenthood is often described as being one of the most important, transformative and meaningful of …
Harnessing Anger in Relationships
Anger standoffs between couples can be surprisingly common yet infrequently resolved in real-time. If these anger locks show up in your coupledome, dive into this blog. There's a smashingly effective exercise just within your reach!
Social Media Overload
Are you concerned about how much time your teen is spending on the internet? Social media overload could be the issue. Continue to read to learn ways to unplug your teen from the internet and …
Anxiety Around Eating in Public
This article will help you understand if you have anxiety around eating in public, how it can affect your life, and what you can do to help subside that anxiety.
Building Confidence: Self Esteem Therapy
This article is about building confidence through using journal prompts that cultivate a growth mindset and eliminate shame. In this self esteem therapy exercise, the reader is asked to identify accomplishments and problem solve around …
Men: Improve Sexual Performance by Asking Yourself for Consent
Asking yourself for consent before engaging in sexual activity with others can be a helpful step in reducing male sexual dysfunction.
What Does It Mean To Be Non-binary?
Gender can be complicated in a society with strict rules about how people should feel, behave, and express themselves based on their assignment to one or the other of two genders. But many people, more …
Emotional Invalidation in Relationships
Sharing your thoughts and feelings is one of the most fulfilling ways to establish closeness, intimacy, and safety in a relationship. But when your emotions are dismissed, belittled, or questioned, the connection can be damaged …
You Deserve to Feel Safe at Home
You deserve to feel safe in your home. Feeling unsafe can have impacts on your physical and mental health,and it is an important part of assessing your overall physical and mental well-being.
Navigating Parental Caregiving
This tip helps reflect on the role of caregiving and the issues that may arise once you take on such a complex role.
Roomi Kunuria (Intern Therapist)
Roomi Kunuria (she/her) is an intern therapist at The Center for Growth and a graduate student completing her Master of Education in Counseling Psychology at Temple University. Roomi will be serving as a therapist …
Raegan Galleher (Intern Therapist)
Raegan Galleher (she/her) is an intern therapist at the Center for Growth. Her internship runs from May 15, 2023 - May 8, 2024. She is currently working towards her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology …
Men: Stop Compulsive Sexual Behavior by Healing Your Avoidant Attachment Style
For men who struggle with both an avoidant attachment style and compulsive sexual issues, emotionally focused therapy (EFT) can be a beneficial approach
Identify Your Defense Mechanisms
Learn about defense mechanisms and identify which ones might be influencing your life.
Dan Spiritoso, MS (Associate Therapist)
Dan Spiritoso MS (he/him/his) is an Associate Therapist at The Center for Growth within the Society Hill office, and he also provides virtual therapy throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Dan offers individual therapy child …
Hair Pulling Patterns: Trichotillomania
A hair pulling self-help monitoring tool to help you build awareness of your hair pulling behaviors looking at the SCAMP domains: Sensory, Cognitive, Affective, Motor, and Place.
Radical Self-Care Therapy
What is radical self-care therapy? Radical self-care is all about going beyond temporary quick fixes to our problems and finding long-lasting self-care strategies that leave us feeling nourished, energized, and hopeful. Take a self-care inventory …
Queer Families of Choice: Understanding Queer Communities and the Role of Chosen Family
Many queer people, especially those who have strained relationships with their family of origin, often create strong networks of friends - a chosen family, or family of choice - that provides love, support, acceptance, and …
Nawaal Amer (Intern Therapist)
Nawaal Amer (she/her) is an intern therapist at the Society Hill office and works with clients virtually in PA & NJ. During Nawaal’s internship, July 2023 through June 2024 she will be able to …
Therapy for Loneliness
Therapy for loneliness can provide a deeper understanding of ourselves, heal past wounds, and build more meaningful relationships.
Compassion-Focused Therapy: Creating a Safe Place Exercise
In this tip, we will be talking about an exercise called "Creating a Safe Place." This isn’t about going to a physical space, but rather it’s about creating imagery of a physical and emotional environment …
Tuning Into Boundaries
This article discusses the importance of recognizing and understanding personal boundaries by monitoring your feelings and reactions in different situations. It emphasizes that negative emotions can indicate when boundaries are being violated, while positive feelings …
Learning About Boundaries
This article emphasizes the importance of boundaries in personal well-being and healthy interactions. It describes boundaries as protective walls that safeguard physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. It provides an overview of different domains of …
Opening Relationships- Therapist’s Guide
Licensed therapist empowering couples to navigate open relationships across PA, NJ, and VA.
How to Navigate Stress as a Queer Teenager
This tip is for teenagers that identify as queer who struggle with stress. This tip helps teenagers begin to identify what stress is and how it can be different because of their status as queer.
Understanding Hurt Between Partners
Most people don't know their attachment style and how it shapes their relationship. Learning about attachment bonds and working with them can help.
Hack Your Nervous System: Stress Therapy
Do you ever wish you could hack your nervous system and change the way you react to stressful situations? Do you ever wonder why you might respond to stressful situations the way you do? This …
Assessing Sexual Boundaries
This article is all about assessing sexual boundaries in partnered interactions, regardless of your relationship status. It distinguishes sexual desires as what you find enjoyable and arousing in sex, from sexual boundaries, which are the …
Depression and Your Basic Needs
This tip offers suggestions for caring for basic needs like eating, personal hygiene, and getting dressed to help those dealing with depression. Explanations for the impact of depression and the relevance of external support are …
Questions to ask my pregnant partner
So, you just found out that you or your partner is pregnant! Congratulations.
As you enter this new stage of life, we created a series of questions for you and your partner …
Finding Social Support as a Queer Teenager
This article discusses how important social support is for teens that identify with the LGBTQIA+ community. It details where to look for support and how to best use it. This article is great for teens …
Communicating Sexual Boundaries
The article "Communicate Your Sexual Boundaries" discusses the complexity of identifying, expressing, and maintaining sexual boundaries in relationships. It addresses the challenges individuals face in recognizing and communicating their boundaries. It emphasizes that sexual boundaries …
Therapy Hangovers
Sometimes we may experience increased reactions to our therapy sessions. These are called therapy hangovers and can be a part of the therapeutic process. This article is here to help you understand and traverse the …
Exploring Non-Binary Identity in Therapy: What to Expect
If you're wondering what it might be like to explore non-binary identity in therapy, this tip is for you! Perhaps you have questions like, “What should I expect? What should I be looking for in …
Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety
Many people struggle with social anxiety. It’s like having a tiny critic in your mind who will criticize and scrutinize you when you’re in social situations. It can make small things, like going to the …
Sarah (Sid) Treaster, MSW, MEd, LCSW (Associate Therapist)
Sarah (Sid) Treaster (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary therapist at the Center for Growth in Providence, Rhode Island. Sid works virtually in Rhode Island, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They provide in-person and virtual therapy …
Practicing Body Neutrality: A Path to Self-Acceptance
Practicing body neutrality, unlike body positivity, doesn't require you to love or celebrate your body's appearance. Instead, it encourages a more neutral stance—one that acknowledges your body's existence without assigning value based on its appearance …
Changing Your Name as a Trans/Nonbinary Person
The choice of changing your name as a trans/nonbinary person is a deeply personal decision for individuals seeking a name that better reflects their true identity. Names are a fundamental aspect of our identity, yet …
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for FND
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective way to help Functional Neurologic Disorders (FND). Using techniques from CBT clients with FND can reduce their symptoms and improve their day to day functioning.
Limerence and Narcissistic Tendencies
Limerence is described as an all encompassing obsession that is centered around limerent objects. Limerence can closely resemble love, but is characterized by fantastical longing, rumination, and extreme highs and lows. People with anxious attachment …
Mental Health Therapy for Seniors
Mental Health Therapy for Seniors
Are you a senior looking for mental health therapy? Are you unsure of what happens in therapy? Do you worry the therapy is not going to equate to …
Managing Jealousy and Feeling Compersion in Non-Monogamous Relationships
Non-monogamous relationships offer individuals the opportunity to explore love, intimacy, and connection in ways that diverge from traditional monogamous norms. If you have recently opened up your monogamous relationship to include other sexual and/or romantic …
Treating Gender Dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is a complex and deeply personal experience that affects individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Understanding this condition, its treatment options, and strategies for managing it …
