Solving the Mystery of Sleep

There’s no question that every day feels busier during the fall. The days are shorter, and the sun sets earlier. This is the time of year of deadlines, yearly reviews, final exams, holiday parties, and numerous other life to-dos. Many people try to accomplish their daily to-do list by sacrificing their full night sleep. I myself have been guilty of thinking a late or all-nighter is the best way to accomplish everything I need to get done. Other people find that as their schedules get busier, their ability to have a full, restful night’s sleep gets smaller and smaller.

HALT Part 3 of 5 – Am I angry?

The HALT method is one of the most useful tools I have ever come across as a therapist. Whenever you find yourself heading towards a fight with your spouse/coworker/etc., ask yourself: Am I feeling hungry, angry, lonely or tired? This simple question has the power to radically transform those conversations. … Read More

Best of Gwinnett 2015

Each year, people cast their votes to acknowledge their favorites in different categories in the Best of Gwinnett issue of Gwinnett Magazine. This year, GROW Counseling has been nominated in the category of Best Counseling Service under the Community & Social services category. We are honored to join other businesses and organizations in competing for this special title!

Seasonal Affective Disorder

For some, the changing of the leaves and cooler temperature spark joy, for others it means shorter days, less sunlight and the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Unlike holiday blues, which many people experience during this time of year due to added stress of the season, SAD is a recurrent clinical depression linked to person’s predisposed biology. The exact cause has not been determined, but many studies suggest a correlation with reduced sunlight exposure. This is found to interfere with the body’s biological clock, which regulates mood, sleep, and hormones. Recent research, is also associating low vitamin D levels as a factor in those diagnosed.

Why Are Teens So Stressed Out?

Teens experience stress in many areas of their lives. Some stress, in small doses can be helpful for motivation. But many teens are experiencing higher levels of stress for extended periods of time, which is called ‘chronic stress’. If chronic stress isn’t identified and coped with, a teen’s physical and emotional health can be negatively impacted.

Keep the Spark Burning by Focusing on the Home Team!

Couples can actually learn a few valuable tricks from their favorite teams. According to marriage researcher, John Gottman, PhD., happy couples have a few things in common: They have friendship and admiration, they have each other’s back, they handle conflict well, and they have a sense of “we-ness”. With these characteristics, they form a pretty strong team that can handle life’s toughest challenges.

Talking With Your Teen About Porn: 7 Tips for Having the Conversation(s), Part 2 of 2

We’ve spent plenty of time in prior blogs discussing whether or not porn use merits a conversation with your teen; and addressing common barriers to having this conversation; and offering suggestions as you prepare yourself for the conversation. Finally…you are ready to talk! Included in this blog are the last 4 of 7 great tips to keep in mind when you have your conversation.

Signs Of Mental Illness in Your College Student

Mental illness can go undiagnosed and untreated in college students, but can have a significant and negative impact on a college student’s functioning; this blog discusses early signs of mental illness in college students.

Debunking Meditation Myths

Many people know the benefits of meditation but are still hesitant to practice it. Although meditation seems like it should be simple, it can feel difficult for many people. There are many myths about meditation that scare people away from doing it regularly. Included in this blog are some ways to separate meditation myths from reality!

Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Anxiety: Why Is This Happening to Me?

If you or a loved one recognize the symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety, the next logical question is “how did this happen?” According to the experts, there isn’t a singular cause. Following is a list of physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors which may contribute to the development. This illness not only affects women who have given birth but also pregnant women, adoptive mothers, women who have had a miscarriage or still birth, and even fathers can all experience their own form of postpartum depression and/or postpartum anxiety.