How To Use Values To Overcome Social Anxiety

Leave a Comment / Stress/Anxiety / By Jordan Joachim

Stress/Anxiety

How To Use Values To
Overcome Social Anxiety

Therapist Advice: Using ACT Therapy To Overcome Social Anxiety

ACT Therapy is type of psychotherapy that utilizes mindfulness as a way to stay present to overcome difficulty. It’s goal is to understand the present moment in stead of running from it to find success in combatting issues. It’s through it’s understanding of values that we can overcome social anxiety.

Photography By: Kateryna Hliznitsova

Table of Contents

Anxiety disorders are the most common disorders experienced by many. While they can be scary, it is empowering to know you already posses something to help you navigate them. ACT Therapy uses values to overcome social anxiety. The best way to use values to overcome social anxiety is to understand, prioritize, and to commit to them. Follow along to learn exactly how to do that.

Know Your Values

Photography By: Kateryna Hliznitsova

We all have values, but currently you are valuing your anxiety over these things. In order for us to transfer that power back and overcome social anxiety, we must first know what those values are. Here are three ways to identify your values

What’s Most Important To You

Think about what you value the most. Is it family, loyalty, or helping others. Examples like that would make taking care of your family or keeping commitments some things you may value.

What’s Your Purpose

This is something that not many people ask themselves. What do you live for? What do you want to accomplish? What’s your life story?

What Type Of Person Do You Want To Be

A good was to identify this is to notice what you admire in others. Do you want to be a person who never gives up, strives to be honest, or helps others in need. These are all admirable values.

Put Your Values in Order

You may not like the thought of someone telling you that you value your anxiety but if we are letting it get in the way of things, that is what we are doing. Emphasis on the words “letting it”. By prioritizing what we value, we are encouraging ourselves to overcome social anxiety.

Photography By: Kateryna Hliznitsova

Devalue Your Anxiety

A great way to overcome social anxiety is to devalue it. Yes we are uncomfortable and having negative thoughts but we don’t have to let anxiety decide what’s important to us and what we can do.

Place Importance On What’s Most Important

Speaking in public is scary but if we value helping others more, than we empower ourselves to get past that. Being in a crowd is uncomfortable but if we value helping others, it is something that we have to not let control us.

Hear Your Anxiety But Don’t Listen To It

ACT Therapy encourages us to learn from our anxiety to devalue it. Be aware that crowds make you anxious. Look deeper into why that is but don’t allow it to stop you from chasing your values.

Overcome Social Anxiety By Commiting To Your Values

Photography By: Kateryna Hliznitsova

If you want to learn how to breakup with someone nicely, you have to learn to be compassionate. Being compassionate is something we all recognize but view consciously practice.

Act As If What Matters Does

Actions speak louder than words. We may say we value family above everything, but our actions speak differently if we aren’t spending time with them or doing what is needed to care for them. Once you are aware of your values, move to act despite anxiety telling you to freeze.

Encourage Yourself

Adjusting our values does not come easy. It is easier said than done. For this reason, it is important that we change our words and thoughts to empower us. If you value hard work, remind yourself of this when you are not feeling motivated. Encourage yourself to stay true to your personal values.

Be Kind To Yourself

You’re not perfect and won’t always be proud of yourself. Forgiveness is a big part of commitment. If we want to continue moving forward on our journey, we need to forgive ourselves and give ourselves permission to keep trying.

Important Tips To Remember

Decide What Type Of Person You Want To Be
Devalue Your Anxiety
Place Importance On What’s Most Important
Act As If What Matters Does

We’d love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts or feelings below on How To Use Values To Overcome Social Anxiety. Be a part of our community. If you’re too uncomfortable for that at the moment but would still like to talk, reach out to us at Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

By: Jordan Joachim

Contact Us

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Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

How To Deal With A Narcissistic Parent

Leave a Comment / Family, Relationships / By Jordan Joachim

Relationships/Family

How To Deal With A Narcissistic Parent

Therapist Advice: Understanding and Dealing With A Narcissist

Thankfully, awareness of narcissistic behaviors has become more popular. This has helped many with dating and relationships. Unfortunately, knowing how to deal with a narcissistic parent is not as commonly known. Read along as we seek to change that.

Narcissism within the family can be difficult to deal with. Narcissism works best when others are unwilling or unaware on how to challenge it. The best way to deal with a narcissistic parent is to understand what they suffer from, know how it impacts you, and prioritize yourself over them. Here are a few suggestions on how to do just that.

Table of Contents

Understanding What They Suffer From

It may seem like dealing with a narcissistic parent is impossible. With a proper understanding however, dealing with them becomes much more manageable. A narcissistic parent, like all narcissist suffer from a disorder where they believe the world revolves around them and anyone who disagrees with them is delusional.

Lack Of Empathy

One of the key defining characteristics of a narcissist is their inability to feel empathetic. They really lack the ability to feel how you feel. For this reason, they can’t truly understand where you are coming from. It is a disorder and a sad one at that.

They Are The Gift And You Are Just The Occasion

Narcissist view themselves as a gift. You are blessed to have them near you and you are just a tool for them to use. Anything that contradicts this belief does not make sense to a narcissist. It is easier for them to believe everyone else is crazy before they can can accept that their belief could be wrong.

Incurable But Manageable

If you have a narcissistic parent, know that they will be a narcissist for life. With therapy they can become aware of their behavior and get better but it will never go away. Loving a narcissist can be a difficult life long commitment.

Know How It Impacts You

You’ve undoubtedly learned some traits about the person you are now breaking up with. Use this knowledge to find the perfect ways to let them down. Also use this knowledge to find the perfect ways to lift them back up. Knowing someone will naturally reveal how to breakup with someone.

Doubting Reality

Although a narcissistic parent believes they’re always correct, the way they see reality is not. In order for you to see things their way, they need to manipulate you. This can cause you to doubt reality and begin to incorrectly see the world through their eyes.

Frustration

Although knowing they have a disorder can keep you from becoming manipulated, it is only half the battle. Being constantly challenged by them and attempting to explain to them can be both frustrating and exhausting. This also has the ability to turn into other mental health symptoms in you such as depression.

Low Self-Esteem

Being constantly put down, told you are incorrect, and being left to feel inferior takes a toll on your self-esteem. In time, you may begin to think they are correct and despite all you do will be unable to ever be right in their eyes.

Prioritize yourself over them

If you want to learn how to breakup with someone nicely, you have to learn to be compassionate. Being compassionate is something we all recognize but view consciously practice.

Avoid Manipulation

A narcissist needs to manipulate you to get what they want and have you see things through their eyes. Avoid manipulation by challenging their words and being yourself.

Respect Your Feelings

You’ve spent years developing your gut and intuition. Don’t allow a narcissistic parent to take that away from you. Question them and their comments. Respect your feelings by trusting yourself.

Set And Follow Through With Boundaries

By now you should have a better understanding of your narcissistic parent. Set some rules and boundaries for behaviors and comments that you will no longer allow. When they break them, tell yourself and them that you are no longer allowing yourself to be treated this way. This may make them angry, but your happiness matters too!

Important Tips To Remember

What They Suffer From Is Incurable
They Way They See The World Is Incorrect
Don’t Allow Yourself To Be Manipulated
Set and Follow Through With Your Boundaries

We’d love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts or feelings below on How To Deal With A Narcissistic Parent. Be a part of our community. If you’re too uncomfortable for that at the moment but would still like to talk, reach out to us at Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

By: Jordan Joachim

Contact Us

Email:

Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

How To Beat Sexual Performance Anxiety Without Medication

Leave a Comment / Relationships / By Jordan Joachim

Relationships

how to Beat
Sexual Performance Anxiety
Without Medication

Therapist Advice: Sexual Performance Anxiety

Sexual intimacy is one of the tools we use to maintain the connection within our relationship. This can provoke anxiety for many. Follow along as a therapist shares how to beat sexual performance anxiety without medication.

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

Table of Contents

Sexual performance anxiety, like all performance anxiety can be reduced with proper understanding and technique. Understanding yourself, partner, and experience are important in such. The best way to beat sexual performance anxiety without medication is to build your self-confidence, focus on your partner, and be present. Here are a few suggestions on how to do just that.

Build Your Self Confidence

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

While it strangely is one of the most disliked tips, one of the best ways to beat sexual performance anxiety without medication is to build your self-confidence. Anxiety and confidence our enemies. If you strengthen one, you weaken the other.

Practice Makes Perfect

There is a reason why this saying is so popular. While no one is perfect, regular practice helps us learn more about ourselves and get better. Remember you are learning. Discuss this with your partner, build confidence, and have fun at the same time.

Encourage Yourself

Become your own cheer leader. Positive support goes a long way and encouraging yourself builds self-esteem. While staying in the moment, root yourself on and compliment yourself.

Forgive Yourself

Your not going to conquer this in a day, so forgive yourself to have a better attempt tomorrow. Being hard on ourselves increases our anxiety the next time around. Forgive yourself and give yourself permission to continue trying and getting better.

Focus On Your Partner

A part of the anxiety you are experiencing is coming from worrying about your performance. Coincidentally, this turns into anxiety that gets in the way of performance and gives us more to worry about. One way to beat this viscous cycle of sexual performance anxiety without medication is stop thinking about our performance and start thinking about our partners.

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

Worry Less About You And More About Them

Rather than thinking about how you are doing, look at your partner. Ask them what they’d prefer and place your attention on them. Whenever a thought about yourself arises, quickly begin focusing on them.

Look For Support

Get your partner involved. Tell them you are looking for cues for what they enjoy and ask them to encourage you when you are following them.

Know Your Partner Is Self Conscious Too

You are not alone. Everyone is constantly thinking about themselves. Remember this and be different. Tell your partner things to put them at ease and in return make yourself feel better in the process.

Be Present

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

If you want to learn how to breakup with someone nicely, you have to learn to be compassionate. Being compassionate is something we all recognize but view consciously practice.

Respect The Moment

Intimacy is more than the release of sexual tension. It is a shared moment in time within a deep expression of love. Rather than think of yourself, give this moment the respect it deserves and be one with the experience.

Be One With Your Partner

Remove the thought of yourself. Pretend you do not exist. Increase the intimacy of the moment and decrease your anxiety, by becoming one and moving in unison with your partner.

Value The Moment

When we value an experience over our ego’s, we put more energy into this effort and less into our internal struggles. These are the steps to learning how to beat sexual performance anxiety without medication.

Important Tips To Remember

Practice Makes Perfect
Forgive Yourself
Be One With Your Partner
Value The Moment

We’d love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts or feelings below on How To Beat Sexual Performance Anxiety Without Medication. Be a part of our community. If you’re too uncomfortable for that at the moment but would still like to talk, reach out to us at Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

By: Jordan Joachim

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Email:

Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

10 Helpful Public Speaking Tips

Leave a Comment / Motivational, Stress/Anxiety / By Jordan Joachim

Relationships

10 Helpful Public Speaking Tips

A Therapist's Guide To Getting Over A Fear Of Public Speaking

While a fear of public speaking is one of the most common fears, the solution is not as well known. Here are 10 helpful public speaking tips from a therapist.

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

Table of Contents

While it may feel terrifying, getting over a fear of public speaking is possible with good advice. The best public speaking tips are centered around encouraging yourself, remaining grounded, focusing on your audience, and pouring yourself into your message. Continue reading to learn 10 helpful public speaking tips from a therapist.

1.) Encourage Yourself

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

Stop being your own worst critic and start becoming your own best cheerleader. Tell yourself positive affirmations, pump yourself up, and be proud of your bravery in facing your fears. Encouragement should be at the top of all public speaking tips lists.

2.) Forgive Yourself

Stop being so hard on yourself. Perfection is impossible but expecting it with something you lack experience in is insanity. Realize that you will make mistakes or stumble. Accept that this is part of the experience and continue. Give yourself permission to struggle and forgive yourself when you do,

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

3.) Focus On Someone In The Audience

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

Have you heard the tip to pretend your audience is naked before? This is to distract you from being self-conscious and turn your anxiety into humor. I like the idea of finding a comforting face in the audience or someone giving positive feedback through their body language. Use them to stay anchored and grounded.

4.) Feel The Audience

The best speakers do more than just recite their material. They are aware of their audience and adjust the way they communicate to what the audience needs. In terms of public speaking tips, this also distracts you from focusing on yourself and creating anxiety. If your audience looks bored, liven up yourself. If they look disgruntled, become more humorous.

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

5.) Fall In Love With your Material

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

A fear of public speaking can make focusing on your speech difficult. Your speech serves a purpose though and deserves your attention. You can give it such by studying, seeing the importance, and falling in love with your material. Loving your material over being self-conscious of yourself is one of the most virtuous public speaking tips.

6.) Practice Makes Perfect

A part of the reason why you feel uncomfortable is because this is not something you regularly do. Confidence comes from familiarity. While it still will be new, you can increase your confidence by practicing speaking in public and speaking in public more often.

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

7.) Use Grounding Techniques

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

Grounding techniques pull us away from worrying about the past, future, and other outside events. Grounding techies keep us in the present. Using your five senses are a way to stay grounded. While speaking, examine your audience or listen for sounds around you. Feel the texture of your podium or hands.

8.) Find A Role Model

Find someone you like as a public speaker and imitate what qualities are attractive to you. This will give you more public speaking tips and practice as you rehearse what you see.

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

9.) Utilize Style

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

Rather than focusing on whether you are nervous or who’s looking at you, focus on the style you want to present. Concentrating on being laid back, funny, or cool will communicate to your audience that you are a good presenter and distract you from worrying about things that make you anxious.

10.) Value Your Message Over Your Ego

Your ego is telling you that you need to worry about how you will look if you make a mistake or are uncomfortable. Valuing your message over your ego will remove that pressure and encourage you to make just sharing the message what’s important.

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

Important Tips To Remember

Encourage Yourself
Fall In Love With Your Material
Find A Role Model
Value Your Message Over Your Ego

We’d love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts or feelings below on Public Speaking Tips. Be a part of our community. If you’re too uncomfortable for that at the moment but would still like to talk, reach out to us at Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

By: Jordan Joachim

Contact Us

Email:

Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

Fantastic Public Speaking Advice

1 Comment / Motivational, Stress/Anxiety / By Jordan Joachim

Relationships

Public Speaking Advice

Therapist Advice: how To Conquer A Fear of Speaking

Public Speaking makes the list of top fears for many people. This is for good reason, there’s a lot of pressure and it’s not something many people do regularly. It is possible to get over a fear of public speaking however. Follow along as a therapist shares public speaking advice.

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

Table of Contents

Being able to speak in public is valuable skill. A fear of speaking in public while intimidating, can be conquered. The best public speaking advice is to build your self-confidence, focus on others, and pour your heart and soul into it. Here is our recommendation on how to achieve that.

Building Self-Confidence

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

As mentioned earlier, most people have a fear of speaking in public because it’s not something they regularly do. Know that this is normal and give yourself both the permission and encouragement needed to get better with public speaking.

Practice Makes Perfect

It’s not what you want to hear when you are looking for public speaking advice but it’s extremely helpful. Learning good speaking skills, rehearsing, and doing more public speaking is essential when wanting to get over a fear of public speaking.

Encourage Yourself

Boost your confidence by talking positively to yourself. Remind yourself of your positive traits and other things you have gotten good at it. Become your own cheerleader and enlist others to join your team as well.

Forgive Yourself

Give yourself permission to make mistakes. Being judged is a primary fear in public speaking. Remove it by becoming aware that no one is perfect and accept that everything will be fine if you make a mistake.

Focus On Others

Have you ever heard someone say to picture the audience naked when doing public speaking? This is actually great public speaking advice. It uses the technique of removing the attention from yourself and passing it on to others. Here are a couple other ways of doing so without metaphorically removing your audiences clothes.

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

Worry Less About You And More About Others

It’s difficult to focus on two things at the same time. Therefore, let’s remove ourselves from the equation and focus on the audience. Whenever we begin to think about ourselves, find someone else to pay attention to.

Find The Supportive Member

It’s an irrational fear that everyone in an audience will hate you. Most people fear public speaking and will be sympathetic towards you doing what they are afraid of. If one member looks intimidating, look towards another that is paying attention or has a comforting appearance.

Remember They’re Really Worried About Themselves

One great tip is to remember that people are really self-centered. They are not focusing on you as much as you are. They are thinking about their day and their selves. In fact, they are only listening to you to see how it relates or impacts them. Take some of the pressure off of yourself by realizing that no one cares about you as much as you do.

Put Your Heart and Soul Into It

Photography By: Andrej Lišakov

So far we’ve learned the benefits of uplifting ourselves and using other’s as a distraction. Pouring your heart into your work however, is great public speaking advice. Not only does it reduce the anxiety we’re experiencing but improves delivery of our message as well.

Give Your Message The Attention It Deserves

Passion makes for great preachers. Audiences become captivated when they pick up on passion. If you fall in love with your topic, you’ll speak with passion and gain the respect of those listening.

Feel Out The Audience

Rather than worrying about your performance, look to the audience. Feel out whether they are happy, sad, and bored and adjust to give them what they need. You’ve now added life to your speech.

Value The Message More Than Your Ego

When you value a message, you’ll naturally speak in a manner that reveals it’s importance. You’ll worry less about how you look making a mistake and more about making sure the message gets the attention it deserves.

Important Tips To Remember

Encourage Yourself
Give Yourself Permission To Make Mistakes
Remember People Are Really Worried About Themselves
Value The Message More Than Your Ego

We’d love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts or feelings below on Public Speaking Advice. Be a part of our community. If you’re too uncomfortable for that at the moment but would still like to talk, reach out to us at Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

By: Jordan Joachim

Contact Us

Email:

Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

12 Couples Vacation Ideas To Help Relationships

Leave a Comment / Relationships / By Jordan Joachim

Relationships

12 Couples Vacation Ideas To Help Relationships

Therapist Advice: Using Vacations To Better Relationships

Vacations are great for relaxing and unwinding, but they can be great for bettering our relationships as well. This article was written by a couples counselor and shares 12 Couples Vacation Ideas To Help Relationships.

Photography By: Thomas Boxma

Table of Contents

Couples vacations, when done right, help us reconnect and reignite the flame of our relationship. The best couples vacation ideas to better a relationship are centered around romance, spending quality time together, and are limited in distractions. Keep reading to learn 12 Couples Vacation Ideas To Help Relationships that are centered around these themes.

Couples Vacation Ideas For Romance

Photography By: Thomas Boxma

Some couples wrongly assume that just being together will make a situation romantic. Incorrect, romance takes work but some locations make it easier to obtain. Keep in mind the times that you visit locations. Spring Break can bring an unpleasant party atmosphere and distract you from paying attention to each other.

Paris, France

Some cities scream romance and Paris may be the loudest. Have a picnic under the Eifel Tower. Take a dinner cruise on the Seine River. Have your portrait taken at Montmartre and visit the I Love You wall.

Venice, Italy

If the language, music, and food don’t put you in a romantic mood, a private gondola ride along the Grand Canal will do so.

The Maldives

A private Bongalo overlooking the Indian Ocean while you lay under the stars with the one you love. The Maldives is sure to ignite any heart.

Couples Vacation Ideas For Quality Time

The best way to obtain quality time is to make your partner the focus of your trip, not the destination. Locations that provide seclusion and intimacy remove distractions and encourage us to be intimate. You don’t need the most expensive destination to obtain ultimate privacy. Visiting a location during it’s off season is one way to feel more secluded.

Photography By: Thomas Boxma

Seychelles

Private beaches along remote hillsides. Seychelles provides seclusion, intimacy, and luxury.

Iceland

Stay in a cabin, snuggle up by a fireplace, and enjoy the Northern Lights in the arms of your love.

Caladesi Island State Park, Florida

How do you find seclusion in one of the largest tourist locations in the United States. Caladesi Island has no resorts and requires a ferry or private boat to stay. This private adventure is not too far away.

Couples Vacation Ideas That Limit Distractions

Photography By: Thomas Boxma

If you want to learn how to breakup with someone nicely, you have to learn to be compassionate. Being compassionate is something we all recognize but view consciously practice.

Hike Inn, Georgia

This location along the Appalachian provides more than privacy. They discourage cell phone use by having no electrical outlets in the rooms. They also ask you to not being cell phones on the property.

Sheldon Chalet, Alaska

No Wi-Fi, cell phone coverage, and the nearest town is 50 miles away. Have a picnic on a Glacier or watch the Northern Lights without letting social media ruin your romance.

Chiva Som, Thailand

With various types of massages, treatments, and detoxes available. Chiva Som allows you to connect with your partner, mind, and body. Also, no phones are permitted outside of your room.

Important Tips To Remember

Romance Is More Than Being Alone
Focus On Your Partner Not The Destination
Quality Time Together Is Better Than Personal Time Alone
Limit Your Distractions And Ditch Your Phones

We’d love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts or feelings below on 12 Couples Vacation Ideas To Help Relationships. Be a part of our community. If you’re too uncomfortable for that at the moment but would still like to talk, reach out to us at Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

By: Jordan Joachim

Contact Us

Email:

Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

Couples Vacation Tips For Relationship Building

Leave a Comment / Relationships / By Jordan Joachim

Relationships

Couples vacation tips
for relationship building

Therapist Advice: How To Grow In Your Relationship While On Vacation

Vacations help us unwind, relax, and reenergize. While they have been shown to increase work performance, they can also help us in our relationships as well. Read along to learn helpful couples vacation tips to enhance your relationship.

Photography By: Thomas Boxma

Table of Contents

While everyone can benefit from a vacation, not every vacation is beneficial for your relationship. Rather than choosing any destination that looks appealing, it is important that you create a vacation that is centered around the enhancing of your relationship. The best couples vacation tips for relationship building is to choose romantic destinations that focus on just the two of you and make your time together the overall experience. Read along to learn how to do just that.

Just The Two Of Us

Photography By: Thomas Boxma

The same way you can feel alone in a room full of people, you can feel disconnected from your partner while on a trip with them. It’s easy to be distracted by attractions and a new location. It’s important you plan your vacation with the focus being the relationship, not the getaway.

Spend Time Building Intimacy, Not Expecting Intimacy

Don’t expect your destination to do all the work. The point of this trip is for you to build intimacy not find things to do it for you. Make a conscious effort to be more attentive, present, and romantic with your partner.

Remove The Distractions

Secluded destinations can make this easier. Choose a location with privacy. Choose a location where you are encouraged to stare into your partners eyes and not your phone.

Make Your Partner The Destination

Remember this vacation is less about where you go and more about who your with. Make your time together the focus. Whatever the location, it’s how you expierence it together that matters most.

Romance Is In The Air

You can’t have couples vacation tips without mentioning romance. While this is seems obvious, doing it is not. Many people believe just being with their partner is romantic. If this was true, we wouldn’t need articles like this or couples counselors such as myself. Here are some suggestions to get the flame going.

Photography By: Thomas Boxma

Visit Areas Where Romance Is The Theme

Not all locations are romantic. In fact, even romantic locations can change with the season. A beach can be romantic but no so much on Spring Break. Choose a location that encourages intimacy and fills you with passion.

Visit Areas Where Other Couples Are

While you want to feel secluded and have privacy, having other couples around can help too. Seeing others being romantic can remind us to get closer to our partner. Seeing couples doing the opposite can remind us of what we came here to do. Use both the good and bad examples of other couples around you.

Make Time To Talk

Spend time discussing feelings, desires, and wants romantically but not critically. Being away from our everyday routine and stressors can make these conversations more impactful. Take advantage of this romantic atmosphere and work on your communication skills.

Experience Experiences Together

Photography By: Thomas Boxma

If you want to learn how to breakup with someone nicely, you have to learn to be compassionate. Being compassionate is something we all recognize but view consciously practice.

Limit Alone Time And Focus On Couples Activities

While personal time is important, it’s not the purpose of this trip. Time to limit this time and spend most of your time doing activities together and creating quality time.

Focus On Your Partners Experience

Self-centeredness will never make the list of couples vacation tips. If both partners are focusing on their partners happiness, both partners end up happy and with a better understanding of each other.

Let The Sparks Fly

In the beginning of a relationship, it’s the new and unfamiliar experiences that excite us. You have the opportunity to recreate this in new locations. Explore new territories, do new things, and spend time with your partner as you fall in love all over again.

Important Tips To Remember

Spend Time Building Intimacy
Remove The Distractions
Limit Personal Time
Focus On Your Partners Experience

We’d love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts or feelings below on Couples Vacation Tips For Relationship Building. Be a part of our community. If you’re too uncomfortable for that at the moment but would still like to talk, reach out to us at Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

By: Jordan Joachim

Contact Us

Email:

Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

3 Tips For Raising Mixed Race Kids

Leave a Comment / Family / By Jordan Joachim

Family

3 Tips For Raising Mixed Race Kids

Therapist Advice: Raising Confident Mixed Race Children

This article discusses the challenges that mixed race kids face while also providing a solution. This article was written by a therapist with mixed race children in an attempt to raise awareness and build confidence in mixed race children.

Photography By: Polina Kuzovkova

Table of Contents

During their developmental stages, children are confronted with various issues that effect them into adulthood. Mixed race kids are no different but also have separate issues that other children may not face in the same way. With proper advice and encouragement, mixed race kids can be given the tools to create confident and capable adults. The 3 best tips for raising mixed race kids is to teach him how to celebrate themselves, develop their identity, and overcome prejudice. This article will go into detail on how to do just that.

Celebrating Mixed Race Kids

Photography By: Polina Kuzovkova

When’s the last time you were celebrated? Did it make it you feel nice or recognized? This is something that many mixed race kids need. Being celebrated combats the common thought they have that their being different is bad or weird.

Seeing The Beauty In Themselves

While many see mixed race kids as beautiful, we are much tougher on ourselves. Your child may not see this and struggle with being different. Help them see what we see, how beautiful they actually are.

Seeing The Beauty In Diversity

When you seeing something different point out to your child on how that makes it unique and special. Teach them that there is no normal, just different people making different people. Help them to see how exciting and colorful this makes communities and families.

Celebrating The Best Of Both Worlds

Teach your child that every race and culture is beautiful in their own way. Teach them to see how they are the product of two beautiful things coming together to create something beautiful.

Identity Issues of Mixed Race Kids

Discovering who you are and deciding who you want to become is a major part of building or own personal foundation. Mixed race kids may struggle with this as they may look different from others. Here are a few ways to encourage them on this journey of self-discovery.

Photography By: Polina Kuzovkova

Struggle With Not Seeing Others Like Them

If your child does not see others like them they may feel alone or like an outcast. Help them to see that everyone is different in their own way. Explore areas or watch films where they can see their features in others too.

Finding A Sense Of Belonging In Multiple Cultures

Your child may feel that they have to pick a culture or side they feel closer too. Help them to see that they don’t need to choose because they belong to both despite looking different.

Encourage Them To Be Themselves

Help your child to see that not only is it ok to be yourself but that it is freeing as well. While culture is beautiful, being who you want to be and not who you think others want you to be is empowering.

Prejudice Towards Mixed Race Kids

Photography By: Polina Kuzovkova

Help your child to see prejudice for what it is, fear based ignorance. Some mixed race kids may see prejudice as proof that something is wrong with them. Here are a few ways to educate them on how prejudice actually reveals what is wrong with others.

Teach About Envy and Jealousy

Help your child to realize that people are self-centered. They may not like you because you have a trait that they wish they had. They may not be happy or feel confident in themselves. They may think others will like you more than them.

Teach About Fear

Teach your child that many people are afraid of things changing or being different. Help them to see that this is an irrational or silly fear to have. Help them to see to that many people are prejudice because they are afraid of things they don’t know.

Teach About Ignorance

Help your child to realize that many prejudice people aren’t bad people, they were just taught poorly. They may have not been raised in a diverse area. They may have had or heard of someone having a bad experience with someone different and now think all different people are the same.

Important Tips To Remember

See the beauty in diversity
Find belonging in multiple cultures
Be yourself
Know prejudice is just fear and ignorance

We’d love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts or feelings below on 3 Tips For Raising Mixed Race Kids. Be a part of our community. If you’re too uncomfortable for that at the moment but would still like to talk, reach out to us at Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

By: Jordan Joachim

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Conquering The 3 Biggest Problems In Interracial Dating

Leave a Comment / Relationships / By Jordan Joachim

Relationships

Conquering
The 3 Biggest Problems In Interracial Dating

Interracial Dating Advice From A Therapist

Interracial Dating has become more commonly accepted but conquering it’s problems is not common knowledge. Read a long to get advice from a couples counselor.

Photography By: Lia Bekyan

Table of Contents

Dating is difficult and interracial dating introduces are new set of concerns. We’ve found most interracial relationships to struggle with the same set of problems. The best way to conquer the three biggest problems in interracial dating is to learn how to communicate, adapt to their culture, and face prejudice. Follow along as we discuss how to successfully do all three.

Speaking Their Language

Photography By: Lia Bekyan

Communication is a major key in every relationship. While speaking their language could literally entail learning their actual tongue, in this sense it means just learning how they communicate. People communicate differently and people of different cultures are no exception to that.

Learning Their Cultural Norms

Sometimes we take offense of things that weren’t intended to be. Learning more about a culture can save us from this. Learning traditions around greeting, eating, meeting family, and speaking are good places to start.

Understanding Their Style Of Communication

Most arguments occur from lack of and poor communication. Misinterpreting leads to communication breakdown. Understanding how they communicate entails learning their body language, tone, and intent. Some cultures and people are more reserved, while other’s are more outspoken.

Helping Them Understand Your Difficulties

It is important that we never assume. Just because you say something, doesn’t mean that someone understood it. Communication is more than talking, it is also listening and comprehending. Discuss with your partner why you are struggling with somethings. Ask your partner to share their perception to be safe.

Adapting To New Culture

This is something that can be difficult to do. This doesn’t always mean were close minded. We are creatures of habit and sometimes it’s difficult to change the things we have been doing our entire lives.

Photography By: Lia Bekyan

Stuck In Your Own Traditions

Your culture is a beautiful thing but being unable to accept any change will bring a distavorous crash to your relationship. Interracial dating involves both people trying different things.

Not Seeing The Importance of Their Traditions

Resentments occur when we don’t feel respected. Downplaying or ignoring a tradition of our partner can create bitterness. This can become evolve into fights and arguments.

Failing To Create A Culture Of Your Own

Something beautiful happened when you two got together. Don’t stop there, blend the cultures and traditions of you two to create something new. This will tighten your bond in your relationship.

Facing Prejudice

Photography By: Lia Bekyan

While other problems within interracial dating are sometimes hard realize, this is one that many fear even before the dating begins. It’s sad part of the human experience that no one wishes to be a part of. With the proper perspective and mentality however, it can be navigated through successfully.

Outside Pressures

Not everyone is as openminded as you. Accepting that people are different, helps us to accept that other’s ignorance is a reflection of them not you. When you bump into or hear someone that is closeminded, try to not take it personal. It literally is their problem, don’t let them make it yours.

Within The Family

This one may hurt the most. We want our families to be involved in our relationships and don’t want their faults to be seen as ours. Talk with your family about interracial dating before introducing them to your partner. Talk with your partner’s family to tighten your bond with them as well.

Within Ourselves

This is a tough one. How can I be prejudice if I’m dating someone different? Unfortunately, we all have things that don’t sit well with us. Take a deep look inside to discover yours. Even better, invite your partner into this conversation. This can be a mind opening and bond building experience if done with love.

Important Tips To Remember

Learn To Speak Their Language
Create A Culture Of Your Own
Be Openminded, Towards Others Too
Explore Prejudice Within Yourself

We’d love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts or feelings below on Conquering The 3 Biggest Problems In Interracial Dating. Be a part of our community. If you’re too uncomfortable for that at the moment but would still like to talk, reach out to us at Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

By: Jordan Joachim

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Email:

Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

The 3 Best Tips For A Blended Family

1 Comment / Uncategorized / By Jordan Joachim

Family

The 3 Best Tips For A Blended Family

Advice From A Family Therapist

While the idea of combining two different families and forming a new one is beautiful, it is also scary. Raising a family is a learning experience and raising a blended family is no different. Thankfully you don’t have to do it alone. Follow along to learn the 3 best tips from a therapist.

Photography By: Federica Giacomazzi

Table of Contents

Relationships are a beautiful part of life but most relationships must come to an end. This is for all of our benefit. If we learn how to breakup with someone nicely, we’ll leave the relationship by building them up versus breaking them down. The best way to breakup with someone nicely is to help their future, understand their character, and be compassionate. Here are a few suggestions to do just that.

Understand Who You Are

Photography By: Federica Giacomazzi

You may think this to be easy, but I am not necessarily asking you to know yourself as an individual. If you want to successfully raise a blended family, you need to know who you are as a group. Understanding who you are entails looking at your family histories, values, and visions.

Family Histories

This can be tough if the family histories have been traumatic but that makes it all the more important. Family histories tell us how to plan and navigate into the future.

Family Values

Knowing your family values sets the foundation for what your family stands for and will tolerate amongst each other. Family values create family character.

Family Visions

This is something you should decide on as a group. Not only will this create a healthy community but it will make it more obtainable for all. Your family vision is where you’d like to see your family go mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and financially.

Create Something New

This is after all the summary of a blended family. You have taken two families and combined them to make something new. So why not do just that. Work to create a new family environment rather than arguing about which one will remain.

Photography By: Federica Giacomazzi

Adopt A New Style

Don’t force one family to adapt to another’s family style. Create a new style, the outcome of your new blended family. Creating new rituals and traditions can be fun.

Invite Other’s To Participate

One of the best ways to make a blended family work is to get everyone involved in the process. Get feedback, take suggestions, and change ideas based upon what works best for your new family.

Change When Needed

This is a learning process for everyone. If a new idea or goal is not working, don’t be afraid to alter it to something more important. Use some discretion however, as some goals won’t come easily.

Struggle Successfully

Photography By: Federica Giacomazzi

If you want to learn how to breakup with someone nicely, you have to learn to be compassionate. Being compassionate is something we all recognize but view consciously practice.

Keep Your Eyes And Ears Open

Watch the development of your family with intention. By observing your struggles, you’ll be able to handle them appropriately before they turn into something far worst.

Befriend Other Blended Families

You don’t have to do this alone. In fact, you shouldn’t. Whether it’s online or you find another blended family nearby, befriend each other and share experiences for further growth.

Give Grace

No one is perfect and neither is any family. This is a new experience for everyone, so there is bound to be mistakes and misunderstandings. Giving grace is forgiving each other to better grow in love with each other.

Important Tips To Remember

Understand Who You Are
Adopt A New Style
Keep Your Eyes And Ears Open
Befriend Other Blended Families

We’d love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts or feelings below on The 3 Best Tips For A Blended Family. Be a part of our community. If you’re too uncomfortable for that at the moment but would still like to talk, reach out to us at Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

By: Jordan Joachim

Contact Us

Email:

Info@GrowAgainCounseling.com

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10 Helpful Public Speaking Tips

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1.) Encourage Yourself

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Conquering The 3 Biggest Problems In Interracial Dating

Interracial Dating Advice From A Therapist

Speaking Their Language

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Facing Prejudice

Important Tips To Remember

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Without Medication

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Conquering
The 3 Biggest Problems In Interracial Dating