Working with human nature, not against it.
Everyone is familiar with those acute moments when life feels unbearable. Because you feel incredibly overwhelmed. Because you feel so lost. Because it hurts more than you think you can handle. The good news is that level of intensity, what you feel in those exact moments, cannot last. The body and the psyche just...
Defenses are kind of tricky because they are usually employed without your conscious consent. They are part of the workings of the unconscious mind to protect you. That doesn’t mean you can’t see them. It just means they can be sneaky! I wanted to write about this because I have been seeing it as...
I first had the opportunity of interacting with Leah Niehaus, LCSW when she invited One Heart Counseling Center to share about mindfulness, emotional awareness, and facilitate an art therapy activity at one of her daughter’s National Charity League (NCL) monthly meetings. Leah informed us that this year’s focus for the 8thgrade group was Social...
You are not alone! Many people have the experience of these conflicting states at times and this Huffington Post article brings together what people have to say about it. I find it helpful when I know there are others who have similar experiences. And I see my clients experiencing relief when I normalize their...
Anna Pirkl, MFT, ATR, LAADAC, one of our One Heart therapists, partners with South Bay Families Connected to do outreach in the community on her own time, outside of her work with OHCC. South Bay Families Connected is a non-profit organization whose mission it is “to improve the social and emotional wellness of South...
Buying something nice for yourself, planning a vacation, or getting organized can feel good. And you know there are times when those things barely scratch the surface of what you actually need. These are times where all you want to do is avoid, fix or stop what you are feeling. You want relief. These...
Healing of a furry kind, an interview by Anna Pirkl, LMFT, ATR, LAADC with Kryss Castle LMFT and Bella – Certified Therapy Dog. I arrive at Kryss’s office and Bella greets me. I can tell she is excited to see me, yet, she does not jump on me, rush up to me, or cover...
So you see that your child, preteen or teen could really benefit from therapy. And, your child, preteen or teen doesn’t want to do it. This is a tough dilemma. One that comes from being an aware and attuned parent. So, right there, you are already winning. You are doing a great job. I...
Last month, One Heart Counseling Center hosted a training on LGBQ+ and trans-affirming therapy practices, and it was incredible! Jamie Swanson, therapist and trainer at OC Holistic Therapy, paid us a visit and shared a wealth of information on trans-competent and compassionate clinical work. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Jamie as...
There are lots of first phone calls that start with “my child needs therapy, but I don’t know what is going to work”. Some parents will say: “maybe I’m the one who needs help!”. Or they say: “we’ve tried therapy before, but it didn’t work. I don’t know what to do!” It’s...