There are plenty of reasons why people move. Maybe you want a nicer house. Maybe you need to be closer to your job. Maybe you want to be closer to family. While most can identify their specific reasons for moving, many chose to focus only on the physical nature of the move. This means they are missing a great opportunity to use this major life transition as a time of renewal, a fresh start. You can piggyback off this life shift and make some lifestyle changes that will benefit you for years to ...read more
Does Therapy for “Baby Blues” Work?
Having a baby is one of the most amazing and awesome events in a person’s life. Babies bring joy and laughter into the house. But the reality is, they also bring sleepless nights and inevitable and irreversible change. Having a baby also brings changes to a woman’s body. During pregnancy and right after, a woman will experience shifts in her hormones. This may cause her to feel some depression and anxiety. This is a perfectly natural response to the event and is called having the “baby blues.” ...read more
Can Botox Really Improve Mental Health? Botox for Depression Treatment
It is estimated that over 16 million adults in the United States suffer from at least one major depressive episode each year. If you are in this group, you may have tried different treatments to help relieve your depression symptoms. The two most common treatments for depression are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and prescription anti-depressants. But new research is suggesting that Botox may also be an effective treatment for depression. Using Botox for depression sounds taboo, but may ...read more
How Social Media Can Actually be Good for Our Mental Health
Whenever there is a discussion about social media and mental health, there is generally a negative association. Many studies now have pointed to individuals developing depression or anxiety as a result of time spent on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. But is this a full picture? There is actually another side to the coin that suggests social media can actually be good for some people’s mental health. The key is to be a mindful social media user. Social Media Keeps Us ...read more
Is it Safe to Go Back to In-Person Therapy Sessions?
Just a few short months ago, none of us could have imagined how our lives would change at the onset of the Corona Virus. Now, several months into a global pandemic and resulting global quarantine, the world is slowly starting to open back up. But a lot of people wonder how long it will take before things fully return to normal. And many now wonder if it's safe to go back into in-person therapy? This is an interesting question and dilemma, because now more than ever, people need to be able ...read more
Communication Tips for Couples in Recovery
If you have found yourself in a troubled relationship, there is a very good chance you grew up with parents who argued and fought often. Your household was most likely filled with the sounds of angry voices, raised in an attempt to be heard or to simply drown out the other person. Your relationship would benefit from implementing these communication tips for couples. This means you had no role models for how to treat your partner or what effective communication looks or sounds like. And so, ...read more
What is Trauma Therapy?
Not many of us will get through life without facing our own share of challenges. But some people experience not just stress and strife, but actual trauma. Trauma may come in the form of a physically or emotionally abusive relationship, a physical accident such as a car accident, rape, the sudden loss of a loved one, or war. Trauma can also be less major experiences that still lead to significant distress. There are both small and big traumas and may require the need for trauma therapy. When a ...read more
3 Ways to Practice Self-Care for Improved Psychological Health and Happiness
When we think of self-care, things like soaking in a bubble bath, booking a massage, and reading a good book typically come to mind. While these are all excellent self-care strategies to incorporate into our lives — particularly when we’re feeling stressed, anxious, and overworked — sometimes our self-care needs run much deeper. If you're struggling with managing negative thoughts and emotions, for instance, therapy sessions with one of the counselors at Ocean Vista Counseling may be a good ...read more
How Family Therapy Can Help Families Be Resilient During COVID-19
All of us have struggled in our own way to deal with the effects of the coronavirus. But if you are a parent, you most likely have even more concerns about the impact the virus and subsequent lockdown have had on the emotional health of your children. Could your family benefit from family therapy? You’ve most likely taken certain precautions over the past few months to ensure your family’s health and well-being. You’ve made sure to social distance yourself from others, taking care not to ...read more
What is Therapeutic Mediation?
When you think of mental health therapists, you probably don’t equate them with a lawyer. But you’d be surprised how much these two professions have in common! Both therapists and lawyers offer counsel to others in an effort to help them resolve conflicts. While a therapist often helps clients solve their own internal conflicts, sometimes the conflicts that need resolving are those they have with others: friends, children, and spouses. This is called Therapeutic Mediation. What is Therapeutic ...read more