Is It Introversion or Avoidance? How to Tell the Difference | Shifting Perceptions | Amority Health Written By: Rachel Cooper, MS, LPC Associate Supervised by Dr. Amber Quaranta Leech, LPC-S Is It Introversion or Avoidance? We all say no sometimes; skip plans, leave early, or prefer quiet time. But how do you […]
Shifting Perceptions During Change: Finding Ground When Life Feels Uncertain | Amority Health Written By: Rachel Cooper, MS, LPC Associate Supervised by Dr. Amber Quaranta Leech, LPC-S Quick Summary: Change, whether chosen or unexpected, can shake everything we thought we knew. Our brains may crave stability, so even positive transitions can bring anxiety, […]
In a world that feels uncertain and scary, people can develop more rigid thinking to regain a sense of control or safety. Unfortunately, this can lead to broken relationships, loneliness, and isolation. Below, I address common thinking pitfalls related to relationships and how to manage them. Black and white thinking (also known as “all-or-nothing thinking”)- […]
Therapy is not your healer. I am not your healer. God is. That sentence will set you free if you let it. A woman sat with me recently — strong faith, the Word in her bones, several Christian counsellors behind her. She came in nervously. Will this one work? Will she be the one who […]
Your anxiety is not just chemical. Your depression is not just trauma. Underneath, almost always, there is a quiet idolatry no one ever taught you to look for. I am not talking about statues and altars. I am talking about the much more painful kind — the kind that happens when a wounded soul, in […]
You were never broken. You were buried. There is a difference, and the difference is everything. The world tells you to fix yourself. Even a lot of Christian self-help tells you to fix yourself with better verses. But the Father’s invitation is something entirely other. He is not interested in fixing you. He is interested […]
Burnout can show up under the surface at first: irritability, exhaustion, trouble focusing, emotional distance, or the sense that you are carrying too much for too long. Counselling can offer a grounded place to slow down, understand what is happening, and begin rebuilding steadier ways of working, relating, and recovering. Sometimes burnout looks like getting […]
If the past is over but your body still feels unsafe, you may be experiencing complex PTSD. CPTSD can keep you stuck in anxiety, shame, emotional flashbacks, and survival mode. Trauma therapy and EMDR can help you understand these patterns and begin moving toward healing. “Why Do I Still Feel This Way?” Many adults living with complex PTSD ask themselves: “Why can’t I just move on?” “Why do I react so strongly?” “Why do I still feel unsafe?” “Why do I feel broken?” You may understand logically that the danger is over, yet your body continues to respond as if the threat is happening right now. That experience is real, and it is more common than many people realize. What Is Complex PTSD? Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, often called CPTSD, develops when someone has experienced ongoing trauma over time rather than a single event. […]
Emotions are the paints to life’s blank canvas, in my opinion. When you discover a new one, you’ve discovered a new color. Similarly to paints, there is a basic emotional palette, and then endless variations and combinations. In the art of contemplative psychotherapy, we practice meeting each emotional experience with present awareness and compassionate witnessing, […]
Healing Deep Wounds with Faith and Evidence-Based Care What Is Complex Trauma? Complex trauma—often referred to in clinical settings as Complex PTSD—develops from prolonged or repeated exposure to emotionally painful or unsafe experiences, often in early life. Unlike single-incident trauma, complex trauma is relational. It can stem from neglect, chronic stress, abandonment, or unstable caregiving. […]
