Category: Uncategorized

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Viewing Challenges Through a New Lense

Challenges help mold our character and contribute to our growth and development as individuals. Sometimes challenges can seem more like burdens. What if we changed our perspective and began looking at them as new opportunities? Perhaps challenges are the gateway to new and exciting transitions in our lives? Dr. Steven Joseph is a leading expert in positive psychology and a pioneer in the field of psychological trauma. According to Dr. Joseph,

“In everyday life we will be faced every so often with important decisions such as whether to take on a new challenge, like applying for a new job or starting a new course. Taking on such challenges is an important part of growing and developing as a person. The more we can test our limits and capabilities the more we will learn about ourselves. New challenges are opportunities for us.”

Accepting Challenges as Gateways to a Better Self

It may be difficult to see things from this perspective, particularly when we’re “in the moment.” After all, no one enjoys struggling or feeling stressed. However, challenges are a lot like fertilizer for a healthy soil. This soil is made from various ingredients that few people appreciate on their own, but when combined they create a surprisingly nourishing environment. From this,  some of the most beautiful creations can manifest. Likewise, in our own lives and experiences, challenges can provide the fertilizer from which we grow and thrive as individuals.

Embarking on a new challenge is almost always frightening, and understandably so! When we allow fear of failure to consume us we may make a habit of avoiding challenge altogether. After all, we can’t fail if we don’t try, right? Life in the shadow of fear is hardly fulfilling, just like a barren plot of land when compared with a beautiful garden. The latter requires considerably more work, particularly in maintenance and upkeep, but the rewards far outweigh the cost of the toil. By comparison, the barren plot of land requires little to no work whatsoever, but the results of that neglect are self-evident. Our lives are as beautiful and rich in variety of experiences as we make them. But first, we must understand that challenge is a necessary part of the bargain.

Avoiding Challenges is Not the Answer

Dr. Joseph says that “staying in your comfort zone out of fear is not always exactly comfortable.  By avoiding challenge, we don’t have the opportunities to learn about ourselves. We feel trapped as if we were leading a life that is not true to ourselves.” In fact, in many cases, avoiding challenge altogether causes just as much anxiety and fear as facing the challenge in the first place. This is because most of our fear comes from anticipation: the dread of something happening. By facing our fears and challenges head-on, we significantly reduce the opportunity for anticipatory anxiety. We are essentially telling ourselves “I’m going to do it, get it over with, and put my fears behind me.” Obviously this doesn’t mean acting without caution, but there is a great difference between behaving cautiously and hesitating to the point of avoidance.

Challenges are Opportunities

Challenges are not just obstacles, but opportunities. They can initiate change or inspire innovation. Dr. Joseph explains that “to lead an authentic life, we need to take on new challenges that stretch us and give us more opportunities to be ourselves.” This doesn’t mean living without fear. In fact, he suggests that authentic people do, in fact, feel fear, just like everyone else, the only thing that sets them apart is that they aren’t willing to let the fear control them. Rather, they face their fears, and come out stronger and wiser as a result.

Everyone has the opportunity to live authentically, just as we all have the opportunity to make choices and face our fears. A common misconception is that we have to do so alone, but there are numerous resources at our disposal to help us in surmounting personal challenges. Friends and family provide a supportive foundation on which we can rely to carry us through difficult times. In other cases, a therapist can also be a helpful ally in facing day-to-day obstacles both internal and external. Everyone feels fear, but we are also capable of overcoming that fear, and taking control of our own lives and choices. In this way, fear can transform into a kind of enthusiasm, from which we can learn to engage with our challenges and ultimately learn from them.

To learn more about speaking with a therapist in Boca Raton, call our office @ 800-378-9354.
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The Difference Between Reacting and Responding

There’s a difference between impulse and decision. When we react to a situation, we are acting impulsively. Reaction is, in essence, an emotional impulse triggered by outside stimuli. However, Austrian neurologist and psychologist Viktor Frankl theorized that “Between stimulus and response there is a space.  In that space is our power to choose our response.  In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Reacting vs. Responding: The Difference

Frankl implies that we often react without thinking. What this means is that we don’t choose our behaviors, we just act them out. However, we don’t need to just accept these reflexive behaviors. So what can we do? Frankl notes that there is, in fact, a “space” which exists before we react. By making use of this space, we can learn to grow and change. The key is to not only recognize but increase our use of this fundamental moment. With this awareness, we can free ourselves from pressures both internal and external, thereby finding true inner happiness.

Many of us encounter situations which seem to provoke particular reactions. Perhaps we’re faced with a person or circumstance which seems to purposefully make us upset, or perhaps we find ourselves responding negatively to a certain place or experience. Instead of simply reacting based on impulse, such as lashing out or falling into a negative thought spiral, we can instead choose to respond. The difference is by responding we are taking control of this situation that previously held control over us. We do this by finding our “space.” This space varies from person to person and can be derived by searching for meaning, or by meditation, prayer, or therapy.

So how can we find our space? Below are some helpful tips that can be incorporated into any therapeutic approach to taking control of one’s thoughts and emotions:

5 Useful Tips to Control Thoughts and Emotions

1. Be the Person You Want to Be

Many if not all of us have an image of an ideal self. The ideal self is the person that we would most like to be. It is our best image of who we are based on our goals, dreams, and aspirations. Thus, a good technique for learning to respond rather than just react is to think of the person we’d most like to be – the best version of ourselves. This is especially important in areas in which we might struggle. For example, if we find that we’re quick to anger when things become challenging, we might instead want to be more patient. Because of this, our ideal self might be a patient person. Taking the time to develop a clear vision of this goal can lead to better chances of achieving it.

2. Understanding Where Reactions Come From

All reactions come with reasons. After all, every feeling and thought has an origin point. Understanding this can make it easier to understand where our reactions are coming from. In this way, we can also better address our reactions by treating the source rather than simply dealing with the outcome. An example of an origin to a reaction may be if we had a parent or authority figure who was overly critical, and then developed a self-deprecating or anxious impulse whenever we are faced with a task we find difficult. When we look at the origin of this reaction, we realize that the real problem isn’t the reaction itself but addressing the previously overlooked situation from which it likely developed.

3. Observe Outcomes

On another note, while it is important to examine the origins of reactions, it is also important to be mindful, at least in part, of the outcomes. Each reaction will produce a result. While we shouldn’t dwell solely on the outcomes (origins are important, too, as we’ve previously examined), we should be aware of how our reactions will impact not only ourselves but those around us. By becoming more aware of the negative consequences of reflexive impulse, we will be more motivated to change to a more desired response. In other words, if we notice how our reactions are impairing us, we might be more likely to think before we act.

4. Think of a Better Response

Visualization often can help us achieve goals. By thinking of better ways that we can respond, we can increase our chances of becoming our ideal selves. It also increases the likelihood that we will change how we respond to difficult situations in such a way that it benefits rather than hinders us. For example, rather than reacting by yelling or getting frustrated we respond by calmly working through what is causing us stress.

5. Adopt a More Compassionate Approach

It’s no secret that personal change takes time and effort. Because of this, it’s important to support ourselves throughout this process. Being critical will only undermine our efforts to improve ourselves. Instead, we should practice understanding ourselves, our intentions, and being patient with ourselves. We can better achieve our goals with compassion and support, which ultimately will have to come from within in addition to being derived from our external environments.

The entire family will benefit from therapy and counseling.

Call 800-378-9354 to schedule an appointment with a Boca Raton family therapist.
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Improving Mental Fitness and Energy

What many people may not realize is that mental strength, like physical strength, is acquired through exercise. We can make our minds stronger over time by making our personal growth and development a priority, and always focusing on our mental energy. Just as we might carve out time in the day to go to the gym or train our bodies so, too, should we remember that our minds are just as if not more important. There are a number of healthy habits that can aid in this strengthening. Below, we’ll discuss 8 of the best practices of enhancing one’s mental strength and resilience.

1. Use Your Mental Energy Wisely

To be mentally strong, you’ll need to learn how to use your time and energy carefully and for maximum benefit. In today’s world, it’s very easy to find oneself distracted from things that really matter by a number of comparatively unproductive and unimportant tasks. To be mentally strong is to learn how to avoid these unnecessary distractions and to direct your efforts to the things that matter most to accomplish your goals.

2. Establish Goals and Work Towards Them

Building off of the first practice, mental strength can be built and maintained when you establish clear goals for yourself both personally and professionally. These goals should be meaningful and purposeful. Don’t limit yourself to goals that only provide immediate but hollow gratification. Keep your long-term goals in mind and don’t allow these short-term rewards to be a distraction. Furthermore, treat any obstacles as challenges to be overcome, not as limitations. No obstacle can prevent your success if you dedicate your mind to surpassing it. Doing this will not only help you achieve your goals but will also improve your mental strength.

3. Reframe Negative Thoughts

It’s no secret that negativity doesn’t help anyone achieve optimum mental energy. Everyone experiences negative thoughts sometimes, but the important thing is to not let those thoughts consume you or stop you from following your ambitions. While it may be difficult at first, try to silence pessimistic sentiments with positive reinforcement and productive inner dialogue. With practice, you will learn how to not only develop a resilience against harmful negativity, but also strengthen your overall mind and will. Be your own best friend and coach you won’t struggle to be motivated.

4. Reflect on Your Progress

A good way to enhance your mental strength is to take some time to reflect on your progress towards your goals daily. Make note of the things you’re doing well, and don’t be afraid to acknowledge any areas which might need improvement. After all, holding yourself accountable for mistakes is all a part of progressing towards your goals and growing stronger as a person.

5. Balance Emotions with Logic

Emotions can be powerful. Feelings often play a strong role in our choices, perceptions, and behaviors. But don’t let your emotions completely control you. Remember that you are in control, and pay attention to the ways that your emotions can influence your judgment. The key not only to improving your mental energy, but also to building a stronger mind is in learning how to balance feelings with logic to make the best possible decisions in any situation.

6. Practice Gratitude

We often feel as though we deserve more than we have. Oftentimes these feelings might have justification, but rather than dwelling solely on what we don’t have it’s also important to remember to be grateful for what we do. Mental strength can be enhanced through the practice of gratitude. Everyone has things in their lives for which they can be grateful, learning to recognize and acknowledge these things can not only help the mind but can also increase your overall happiness in your life.

7. Learning to Manage Discomfort

At first glance, this might seem strange, but really its a necessary practice. Some people go to any length to avoid distress, even if it impedes their life and overall satisfaction, others go out of their way to endure pain simply to prove that they’re tough. In reality, there are many times in our lives where we will have to face situations in which we feel uncomfortable, when our mental energy may not be at full capacity. To be mentally strong is to learn how to deal with these situations and feelings of discomfort, particularly if the outcome of the situation serves a greater purpose.

All experiences are educational, even those that may initially seem unpleasant. For example, you might feel scared before giving a speech in front of an audience, but that speech might ultimately prove to be a pivotal success in your personal or professional life. While you might feel uncomfortable, to be mentally strong is to learn how to manage that discomfort and focus on the ultimate goal.

Rebuilding a Relationship with Your Estranged Child

Much of the winter holidays focuses on family and togetherness.  Many of the images of the holidays show happy families of parents and grandparents and children all gathered around a menorah or a Christmas tree.  But what if you are estranged from your adult child?  What if you have grandchildren with whom you do not spend time because of this estrangement?  How do the holidays look for you?  Many people with estranged children have found other ways of celebrating the season with friends or other loved ones.  It is possible that you would like to begin to rebuild this broken relationship but do not know where to start.  If you would like to rebuild a relationship with your estranged child, there are a few things that you should know and remember.

1. Do not go in without a game plan.

Something has happened between you and your adult child that caused a rift.  It might have been something that you did or something that he or she did.  Regardless of who is at fault, if you are ready to rebuild the relationship, amends need to be made.  You may not know what your child wants from you to be able to start the rebuilding process, so asking may be a good place to start.  Then again, if he or she thinks that you should know and you do not, asking could backfire.  Do some research into techniques for talking to adult children in a non-confrontational manner.  Find an approach that suits your abilities and your comfort level.  If you have someone with whom you are comfortable, practice some of what you would like to say before you make your first attempt.

2. Keep your expectations realistic.

Rome was not built in a day. And your relationship with your child will not be a vision of perfection overnight either.  It is possible that your son or daughter sees your situation in a very different light than you do and is not ready to begin this rebuilding.  Relationships are built on trust and forgiveness.  These things take time to rekindle once they have been extinguished.  It is certainly acceptable to have hope for what you would like your relationship with your child to be eventually, but try to keep your expectations to a minimum.  Having too many expectations can put undue strain on an already difficult endeavor.

3. Commit to the effort.

Do not take the first steps if you are not fully committed. Starting the process of rebuilding and then abandoning your efforts will make it so much harder for your child to be able to trust you should you make the decision to try to rebuild at another time.  It could alienate your child further.  Committing to being all in for the long haul is best demonstrated rather than said.  Being committed to the effort means that even if you are rebuffed at your first effort, you will continue to make attempts at rebuilding the relationship.  Being committed to the effort means that you will persist because you love your child and care for your child despite all that has happened between you.  The nature of what occurred between you and how long that situation lasted for will really determine how long it may take for you to rebuild your relationship if it is possible to do so.

4. Be ready for your life to change.

Regardless of how old your child is, he or she may need you to be there and learn to put your family first. Putting your family first does not mean that you have to give up all of the other areas of your life.  It does not mean that you have to give up the life that you have built for yourself and the things that you regularly engage in, but it does mean that you will need to make time in your schedule for your child.  If he or she is ready to start working on this relationship, do not make it difficult for him or her to talk to you.  Allow some time for just the two of you to talk or work out some of your difficulties.  This is where you start to keep your promises.  And the most important thing about promises is that you only make the ones that you can keep.

10 Tips to Reduce Child Stress and Fears

1. Validate, Don’t Reassure

Reassurances are well intended. However, they cause harm instead of helping.  No matter how nicely couched or well put, reassurances give the message your child’s fear is unfounded and adds anxiety as children become anxious about having the anxiety. Validation, showing that you understand and commiserating empathically,  using a formula such as “It sound like you’re nervous about (insert fear here), I’m sorry you’re going through that,” encourages problem solving and confidence and will go a long way in helping reduce child stress.

2. Ask Questions Rather Than Give Answers

Ask questions that help your child come up with solutions, rather than giving them solutions.  This gives the message that your child has the power to overcome their fears.  Appropriate questions include clarifying what in particular is making them anxious, how likely they feel the feared consequences may be, and how long they think the discomfort they fear may last.  Most importantly, ask what other facts, or likely possibilities your child might be forgetting that may lessen the fear.

3. Use Empowering Phrases

If you have to introduce your own suggestions, use the following phrases that empower children, including “Would you be interested to know how I handle stress when I feel it?” or “Would you like to hear what I might do if I was in your situation?”

4. Inform Them

Let your child know that fear isn’t dangerous and that having anxiety doesn’t mean they won’t perform well or be able to accomplish the feared task.  In fact, anxiety is our body’s way of getting us to prepare the right way.

5. Remind Them To Focus on Results

Help your child understand that worrying about and focusing on results and outcomes get is the way of doing the best job possible.  The best thing they can do is focus on what they are doing in the present moment and gently bring back their attention to what they are doing, no matter how many times their attention strays.

6. Let Them Know That You Experience The Same Feelings

Let your child know that adults have stress and fear as well.

7. Make a List

Have your child make a list of strengths and examples of when they overcame fears to succeed.

8. Encourage Positive Self-Talk

Help your child develop their own personal mantras they can use to talk back to fears and concerns.  This helps replace negative thoughts with realistic thoughts, which allows your children approach feared situations in a more effective and accurate way.

9. Let Them Encounter Fear

Set up opportunities for your child to encounter their feared situations in small doses.  For example, if your child is afraid of going to the dentist, arrange one day to go and wait in the waiting room for 15 to 20 minutes.  Praise them for staying in the waiting room as long as they did and set up a different time to meet the dentist or to have them watch you at the dentist and so on, until their fear gradually diminishes to a tolerable level.

10. Seek Professional Assistance if Necessary

If your child continues to struggle, get them the right help earlier, rather than later. If you need help dealing with your anxiety issues, the greatest gift you can give your children is to effectively deal with that as well.

Case Study: Boston Bombing Caused PTSD in Child Witnesses

Child witnesses of the Boston Marathon bombings of April 2013 are more likely to have developed PTSD than those who didn’t witness the attack, according to a team of local psychiatrists from Boston University. Researchers found that the rates of PTSD among children who witnessed the attack were comparable to rates of PTSD among New York City schoolchildren following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Children Near the Bombings Affected, Study Finds

Local psychiatrists reported that, of the 460 parents who lived within a 25-mile radius of the bombings and manhunt, 11 percent reported symptoms of PTSD in their children. That’s about the same number of NYC schoolchildren who experienced PTSD symptoms following the 9/11 attacks. Of the kids themselves, about eight percent reported PTSD or other emotional problems following the Boston Marathon bombings.

Interestingly, not all of the children who suffered PTSD symptoms as a result of the bombings were present at the attacks. Some of them developed PTSD symptoms as a result of witnessing too much media coverage of the attacks and manhunt.

Study author Jonathan Comer, a member of the team of local psychiatrists who now teaches psychiatry and psychology at Florida International University in Miami, told Fox News, “Children near and far throughout the Boston area showed a range of mental health problems, not just PTSD symptoms. Exposure to the bombing itself and the manhunt events [on the media] were associated with considerable PTSD symptoms.”

Local Psychiatrists Say Kids Who Attended the Marathon More Likely to Develop PTSD

The Boston University study found that kids between the ages of four and 19 who were present at the Boston Marathon during the attacks were six times more likely to develop PTSD than those who didn’t attend the event. However, children who watched too much of the manhunt media coverage in the days following the bombing were also at a greater risk of developing PTSD symptoms. The manhunt lasted five days and required nearly one million Bostonians in the Watertown area to shelter-in-place.

As one of the best local psychiatrists at the time of the bombing, Professor Comer treated many of the children affected by the events of the Boston Marathon bombings and manhunt. “There was an enormous mental health toll associated with direct exposure,” he told NBC News. “And there also was a toll with kids exposed to the manhunt, which was an unfolding and uncontained situation that lasted much longer than the bombing itself.”

Kids Exposed to Manhunt Developed Additional Problems

Comer and other local psychiatrists in Boston found that while kids who were present during the bombing itself were most likely to have developed PTSD symptoms, kids who were exposed to the activities of the manhunt developed other problems. Some of the other issues included acting-out behaviors, emotional troubles, hyperactivity, problems paying attention and peer conflict issues.

“Our work shows that children’s reactions to such community problems is often more broad-based than PTSD,” Comer said.

Turn Off the TV

Ultimately, many local psychiatrists who worked with the victims now recommend that kids not be exposed to media coverage of local terror attacks or other events, especially if those events are happening in the kids’ own neighborhoods. Kids in the families surveyed watched 1.5 hours of media coverage of the attack and manhunt on the day of the event, with more than 20 percent watching more than three hours of coverage. Two-thirds of families didn’t try at all to control their children’s exposure to the media coverage of the events.

While most kids are psychologically and emotionally resilient enough to withstand the trauma of terrorist attacks and other such events, the best course of action is to turn off the TV and not allow kids to watch media coverage of these events. Even a small amount of exposure to media coverage can traumatize children, even those children who were not present at the attacks themselves. Some kids could develop lasting psychological problems as a result of exposure to media coverage of terror attacks and similar events.

Call Proliance Center today at 561-338-7725 to learn more about our child psychiatry services in Boca Raton, FL.

Treating Child Anxiety

This past weekend, I was playing with my kids at one of Boca Raton’s beautiful parks and couldn’t help but overhear a conversation that was going on between a mother and her child.

“I’m scared of going on the swings, Mommy.”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, honey.”

“But I am!” the child insisted.

“Nothing is going to happen to you,” the mother continued on sweetly.  “Your brother is already there, look!”

Clearly this child was anxious about going on the swings.  Now at first glance, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the way the parent handled this but with a closer look we can understand how this parent, and many more, can handle a case of child anxiety.

How To Handle Child Anxiety

When you are dealing with child anxiety, the first step is actually to validate their emotion, in other words, to make it clear that the child is not wrong for feeling the way he or she does.  Instead of reacting to the child’s anxiety by telling them they have nothing to be afraid of, this parent could have said something along the lines of “boy it must be hard to feel scared of doing something you want to do.  You know, even grown-ups feel scared some time.”  What a wonderful way to make a child feel less anxious.  You let them know that their emotions are not strange or bad and you empower them to ask questions by admitting the truth- that even adults feel anxiety.  This allows them to ask you for help in coming up with solutions to their problems.   This conversation was also an opportunity for a parent to let the child know that bravery isn’t doing something that they are not afraid of, but rather doing something that they ARE afraid of, despite the fear.  Being mindful of opportunities to help our anxious children isn’t easy but it sure allows us to tremendously help them.

– Dr. Jeffrey Kranzler, Proliance Center

Eat Less and Feel More Full…Naturally!

When people speak to me about losing weight they usually talk about having to eat less.  In my opinion,  the more full you feel the better able you will be to lose weight.  The key in healthy sustainable weight loss is to eat more without actually eating more.  What do I mean by that? Well, simply put, if you change the way that you eat you will feel like you are eating more.

It really comes down to the attention you give food.  I talk to people about losing weight by choosing to eat less while feeling like they’re eating more when they give full attention to the food they eat.

I’ll challenge you to try the following experiment with one meal.  Take this meal step by step:

  • Turn off the television and radio.  Give your attention to each piece of food.
  • Start by looking at the food as you bring it to your mouth.
  • Before putting the food in your mouth bring it to your nose and smell the food.
  • Then put the food in your mouth and gently hold it on your tongue.
  • Pay attention to the texture and the weight on your tongue.
  • As you chew, be aware of the taste, texture and feeling of the food in between your teeth.

Not every bite needs to be as slow and intentional, but giving awareness to the way that you eat will make you feel like you are eating more without actually eating more.  No one has ever lost weight feeling hungry and the more full you feel with less food, the greater your chances are at achieving and maintaining your target weight.

Now trust me, this eating exercise can get tiresome and is not for every meal, certainly not when eating with friends.  But by simply eliminating tv watching and other distractions while you eat, and by slowing your eating down in general, you can make major strides to losing weight and feeling more full.

– Dr. Jeff Kranzler, Proliance Center

What You Need To Know About A Nose Twitching Tic

What is a nose twitching tic?

This is often described as a repetitive and bothersome movement of the nose that for many people is described as “rubbing my nose because it tickles”, “flexing my nose and upper lip, as though there’s a bee on it and I’m trying to shoo it off without using my hands”, “moving my nose much like when you’re about to sneeze or you have an allergy “and “feeling like my nose tenses up and then relaxes a lot”.  Regardless of the variation, many people find it incredibly irritating to the point that the muscles that do this can actually get tired and begin to hurt.

What causes a nose twitching tic?

In most cases a nose twitch is relatively benign and can result from a lack of potassium in your diet, exercising a lot, excessive caffeine consumption, use of stimulant drugs/medications, stress, and lack of sleep.  Other times it may be related to a Tic Disorder, such as Tourette’s Syndrome.

Can stress cause a nose twitching tic?

Yes, some people get facial twitches when they are stressed, tired and even excited.

In fact, for those that have recurrent nose twitches any extremes of emotion can amplify this nose tic and increase its occurrence.

Is a nose twitching tic a problem?

This is not necessarily a problem and with most people it is more of a habit that is barely noticeable to any one else.  However, in some cases it is very much a bother, frequent, painful and very noticeable to others.  People find that if they focus on it they won’t have the nose twitching tic.  However, since they can’t do this all the time, particularly at night, it can get worse at night.

What to do about a nose twitching tic?

If it is not noticeable or much of a bother, ignore it, live with it and do nothing.  If you look around everyone has one twitch, habit or otherwise that is characteristic to them.  Comedians, for instance, pick up on this when they are going to imitate people.  If it is a bother, get help and treatment.

Who can help with a nose twitching tic?

One of the best doctors to consult for a nose twitching tic is a child psychiatrist that also treats adults.  Many child psychiatrists are trained to see not only children, but adults as well.  In fact, while not logical, they are trained as adult psychiatrists first, THEN they sub-specialize in children.  It is here that they learn about the identification, diagnosis and treatment of tic disorders, which often begin in childhood.  Other medical doctors may not recognize people with a nose twitching tic and may not be aware that it could be a tic disorder.   Sure they can tell you about whether it is a potassium deficiency, allergy or other medical problem, but the Psychiatrist (having also received medical school training) will also be able to identify these as the causes by running medical tests.

How to treat a nose twitching tic?

As with anything else it is important to treat the cause of the nose twitching tic.  Get enough sleep, cut caffeine intake, make sure to have potassium in your diet and do what you can to reduce stress.  Consider relaxation therapy and if needed, in very bad cases, medications can be used to significantly reduce the nose twitching tic.

What Marriage Counselors Do for their Patients

As a therapist who works with many couples, I’m often asked by first-time patients, “what can I expect when I come?” or “what will you do for us?.”  In essence, they want to know what marriage counselors do for their patients.  Though what marriage counselors do for their patients seems like a simple question to ask, the answer is never the same from one couple to the next.  Here at Proliance Center, what marriage counselors do for their patients is that we approach marriage counseling with the goal of personally tailoring the treatment we provide to each individual couple, based on their needs at the time of therapy.  What marriage counselors do for their patients here is that we recognize that each couple’s needs are different, depending on the stage of their relationship, environmental and situational factors, family lives, and other influences that have unique effects on each couple we see.  What couples can consistently expect at Proliance Center (what marriage counselors do for their patients here) is not only the highest degree of professionalism and training, but also personal regard and support as you move through the process of marriage counseling.

As therapists, we consider it a privilege that what marriage counselors do for their patients is to be invited into the couple relationship and we therefore treat this privilege with a great deal of respect and dedication.  It is often difficult for couples to take the step toward marriage counseling and know that it is frequently deemed last resort.  At Proliance Center, what marriage counselors do for their patients is to approach each new couple that seeks our services without judgment or bias. What marriage counselors do for their patients here is that we form a supportive alliance with you as a couple, not with one partner or the other.  Here what marriage counselors do for their patients is to view the day you decide to start counseling as a new beginning in your relationship and while we can’t repair the past, we can help you move forward in the most healthy and loving way.  What marriage counselors do for their patients at Proliance is to help you see the strengths in your marriage that frequently go overlooked and encourage you to build upon these strengths to make the future more satisfying.  We will also help you to find acceptance in the past and hope for the future.  Our goal in what marriage counselors do for their patients at Proliance is for each couple we assist is to guide them to a place where their marriage is the most satisfying part of their lives.

At Proliance Center, what marriage counselors do for their patients is evident in our therapists who truly love what they do and it is reflected in their work every day.  We strive to provide you with the highest quality of care because we truly care about you and the well-being of your relationship.  We will work with you and your partner to tailor a personal plan that best addresses the areas of your relationship that need improvement.  We invite your feedback and consider the process of therapy a team effort, involving consistent evaluation of the treatment process to ensure your progress.  Though we are experts in our fields of practice, we view the patients we see as experts on their own lives and relationships. What marriage counselors do for their patients is to highly value this expertise in the therapeutic setting.

If you feel that your relationship is in need of extra attention and support, a Proliance Center therapist would be honored to help you and your partner on your journey to a more happy and satisfying relationship!

A male and female interlocking hands in what appears to be a strong, happy relationship.

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