Educational Blogs from Our Mental Health Therapists

Learn about common challenges, including depression, anxiety, relationships,
trauma, and more, written by Monkton, MD therapists!

Mindfulness in Action: How Entrepreneurs Can Incorporate Mindfulness Concepts Into Their Day

Busy entrepreneurs who are interested in mindfulness might be concerned about having one more thing to do each day. Mindfulness, however, is a practice that we can integrate into our day. It’s not a task that requires us to set aside additional time. In fact, applying mindfulness concepts and practices can help us to be more calm, present, and focused as we go about our day. Let's take a look at how busy entrepreneurs can utilize these concepts throughout the day.

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How to Give the Ultimate Holiday Gift Based on Someone’s Love Language

If you’re familiar with Dr. Gary Chapman’s Book on The 5 Love Languages, then you know just how impactful it can be when you show someone love according to their own love language.  You might also be aware of how impactful it can be when someone shows YOU love according to YOUR love language.  As we enter into this gift-giving holiday season, it’s worth keeping our friends and family members’ love languages in mind, so we can give a gift that TRULY hits the spot! 

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Mindfulness, Relationships, Communication Skills Melissa Wesner Mindfulness, Relationships, Communication Skills Melissa Wesner

Holiday Gift Giving Mistakes to Avoid

When we fail to recognize another person’s love language in our gift-giving, we can miss the mark, despite making a genuine effort to show thoughtfulness and care.  When we fail to give a gift according to someone’s love language, the gift recipient can be left feeling overlooked and unappreciated.  In this blog, I’ll be sharing some gift giving mistakes from my own life (or others I know), so you can avoid making them this holiday season! 

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DIY Creative Stress-Relief Crafts for Children: Stress Ball for Reducing Anxiety

Many kids enjoy using stress balls as a fidget tool to help with focus and concentration. But did you know that you can also use a stress ball to intentionally reduce anxiety? This can be accomplished by focusing on the distinction between feelings of a tensed hand when you squeeze your stress ball and a completely relaxed hand when you release the grip of your stress ball. Go ahead and try out this fun craft that you and your child can use together!

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5 Tips to Prevent and Manage Conflicts with College Roommates

For many people, college is an exciting opportunity to move away from home, find and explore your passions, and have a little bit of fun. For many people, college is also a time to explore what it is like to have roommates, and typically, they live, sleep, and eat only about six feet away from you. Living with anyone can be hard, and it is especially difficult to live with someone during one of the most stressful, exciting, and transitional times of your life. Conflicts, especially with roommates, are inevitable, so it is important to know how to navigate (and maybe even prevent some of) these uncomfortable situations. 

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Resources Melissa Wesner Resources Melissa Wesner

6 Great Resources for Mental Health Provided by LifeSpring Counseling Services in Maryland

On the lookout for helpful, therapist-recommended resources for mental health, wellness, and the like? Our Maryland therapists have created, gathered, and recommended great resources that promote mindfulness, motivation, stress reduction, and education. If you, or someone you know, is currently in therapy and are in need of some additional resources or are simply looking for educational or self-care resources to use on your own, here are some we have available at LifeSpring Counseling Services!

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College Students, Resources, Anxiety Melissa Wesner College Students, Resources, Anxiety Melissa Wesner

Mastering the Art of Time Management: Helpful Tips for Busy College Students

Are you the type of college student that LOVES to be busy? You’re probably taking a full academic course load, working an on-campus job, and involved in several clubs and organizations. Combine all of your obligations with your desire to have a social life (which is so important for your well-being!), you’re probably exhausted and looking for a way to navigate the busy college years and make time for it all. Trust me, I’ve been there too! Here are a few of my favorite tried and true ways to master the art of time management.

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Mindfulness Resources for Kids to Help Them Regulate Emotions and Reduce Stress

Mindfulness encourages us to pay attention to the present moment; it means being aware of our thoughts, feelings, and our environment. When we practice mindfulness, we are helping ourselves to regulate emotions and reduce stress. However, this can be a difficult skill to master, especially for children! Here are some fun and creative ways to practice mindfulness and help your child stay present throughout the day. 

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DIY Creative Stress-Relief Crafts for Children: Calm Jar for Reducing Stress

Have you ever noticed that when your child is upset, stressed, or frustrated, it can seem impossible for them to control their behaviors and reactions? You may also notice that their breathing is fast and short and that their heart rate has sped up too. The calm jar is one tool that we can use to help kids practice mindfulness, the ability to calm down and focus on what is going through their mind, body, and environment. This is an excellent (and fun!) craft for you and your child to make together. 

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Anxiety, Resources Melissa Wesner Anxiety, Resources Melissa Wesner

Mental Health Therapists Recommend Their Top 16 Strategies for Managing Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the top reasons people seek counseling at our office.  For this reason, our mental health therapists have a lot of experience to offer people who are struggling with their anxiety.  If your anxiety has been showing up frequently, intensely, and it has been impacting your functioning, we hope you’ll find these strategies helpful.  As always, it’s important to remember that coping strategies only work if you use them!

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Internships, Resources, Careers Melissa Wesner Internships, Resources, Careers Melissa Wesner

What I Love About Being a Therapist at LifeSpring Counseling Services

At LifeSpring, we love the work that we do! The trust placed in us is a privilege and an honor that we do not take lightly. If you’ve ever wondered how therapists do what they do all day, let us be the first to tell you.  We asked our therapists what they love about being a therapist, so we could share it with you!

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Internships, Resources, Careers Melissa Wesner Internships, Resources, Careers Melissa Wesner

Here's What There Is to Love About Working at LifeSpring Counseling Services!

At LifeSpring, we work really hard to create a supportive work environment for our staff members.  In order to provide quality care for our clients, we have to care for our team. It’s one thing to read that on a website, it’s another thing to hear it directly from members of the team. We asked our clinical and administrative team what they love about working here at LifeSpring Counseling Services in Maryland, and here’s what they had to say.

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Boundaries: A Key Aspect of Healthy Relationships and Protecting Your Peace

Setting a boundary with someone means clearly communicating the limitations and rules of your relationship with them. Typically, your personal boundaries will stem from your values and experiences. While setting a boundary might start an uncomfortable conversation, the power and confidence of saying β€œno” is an important skill in fostering healthy relationships (with others and with yourself!). 

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Resources, Online Counseling Melissa Wesner Resources, Online Counseling Melissa Wesner

How to Reduce the Stigma Around Mental Health and Normalize Seeking Therapy

Mental health is an essential aspect of our overall well-being, but for many people, seeking therapy is still stigmatized. Seeking therapy should be seen as a normal and proactive step towards taking control of one's mental health, just as going to a doctor for a physical ailment is seen as a necessary part of healthcare. In this blog, we will discuss ways to normalize seeking therapy and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

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Online Counseling, Resources Melissa Wesner Online Counseling, Resources Melissa Wesner

Sunshine and Self-Care: Why Summer is the Perfect Time to Invest in Your Mental Health

As the sun shines bright and warm breezes fill the air, summer is often associated with carefree days, beach vacations, and outdoor adventures. It's a season that exudes joy and relaxation, which is one of the reasons why starting therapy might not be the first thing that comes to your mind for the summer. In this blog, we'll explore why summer is a great time to seek therapy and how it can enhance your overall well-being during this vibrant season.

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Brainspotting, Online Counseling, Resources Melissa Wesner Brainspotting, Online Counseling, Resources Melissa Wesner

How to Attend a Brainspotting Intensive When You Live Out of State

Brainspotting is a powerful therapeutic approach that has been gaining popularity in recent years due to its ability to help clients overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Brainspotting Intensives are becoming increasingly popular for people who want to do a lot of deep work in a short period of time. There are a limited number of practices that offer this service, so it may be difficult to find. 

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The Power of Retreats: 10 Ways They Fuel Success for Small Business Owners

As a small business owner, the journey to success can be both thrilling and demanding. Research has shown that retreats offer numerous advantages for entrepreneurs, ranging from increased productivity and creativity to improved overall well-being. In this article, we will delve into ten research-backed ways that retreats can benefit small business owners and transform their professional lives.

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Resources, Communication Skills Melissa Wesner Resources, Communication Skills Melissa Wesner

Ways to Offer Support to Family Members Who Refuse to Seek Therapy

Encouraging family members to seek therapy can be challenging, especially if they are resistant to the idea. However, therapy can be a valuable tool for helping individuals address mental health conditions, emotional struggles, and personal challenges. If your family members won't seek therapy, here are some steps you can take.

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