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Written by Alissa Becker, LPC Vicarious trauma, also known as secondary trauma, burnout, compassion fatigue or empathic strain, can be defined as indirect or direct exposure to another’s trauma through witnessing or hearing the narrative of that event. Signs of a trauma exposure response may include diminished creativity, an inability to listen or be present, chronic

Written by Laurel Edinburgh, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner When a child or teen runs away from home, parents struggle with a range of emotions. Parents are often scared, mad, exhausted, or feel hopeless or ashamed. About ten percent of teens will run away from home at least once. Teens run away in urban, suburban and rural

Written by Kelly Couture, MEd, LPC-S “When words are inadequate, have a ritual.”  — Author Unknown There are important rituals, rites of passage and causes for celebration in all cultures.  Some of these, such as graduation from high school or college took years of preparation and hard work.  Other sacred rituals, such as confirmation, baptism

Written by Laurel Edinburgh, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner It’s normal for teens to experience depression at some point during their adolescence. But remember that depression in teens is treatable. The symptoms of depression in adolescents may be different than those in adults. Recognizing the full range of symptoms of depression is an important first step. Depression

Written by Allison Steckbeck, LPC During this time of global stress and grief, self-care is more important than ever. Yet so many of our self-care routines and rituals are no longer accessible to us. Many of us are likely struggling to feel grounded during such an uncertain time. I’ve created a list below of self

Written by Erynn Besser, LPC As we slowly move into the second month of social distancing, we are working hard to maintain both physical and mental health. There are numerous ways our lives have shifted and social distancing is an experience we never thought we’d have. With the majority of businesses and institutions closed, our daily lives

Written by Valerie Davis, LPC Due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation we all face, now is an especially important time to practice self-care and tend to your mental well-being. The recent requirements for social distancing, as well as the virus itself, can increase feelings of fear, loneliness, anxiety, and sadness. Protect yourself by making

Written by Chelsea Alarcon, LPC Due to the worldwide coronavirus emergency, millions of people are losing people and things that they deeply love, need, and/or desire. Due to these losses, grief is something that many of us are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic (if we were not already facing it prior). Many of these COVID-19-specific