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Finding Joy in Disappointment
Right now, everyone is making many sacrifices because of the extended impact of stay-at-home orders, cancelled events, cancelled vacations, job loss, and so many other disappointing things. Many people are missing out on weddings, graduations, proms, birthdays and...
![[VIDEO] Mental Health Forum – Featuring Alexandra Hoerr](https://i0.wp.com/optimumjoyclinicalcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IMG_0238.png?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
[VIDEO] Mental Health Forum – Featuring Alexandra Hoerr
Our founder Alexandra Hoerr joins a pastor, psychiatrist, and an individual who has experienced the benefits of counseling to discuss the complexities of integrating spiritual wellbeing and Christian living with counseling. While the church has historically been...
![[VIDEO] Navigating Racial Tension – A Mental Health Perspective](https://i0.wp.com/optimumjoyclinicalcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Screen-Shot-2020-06-02-at-3.51.47-PM.png?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
[VIDEO] Navigating Racial Tension – A Mental Health Perspective
Pamela Larkin, a mental health therapist at Optimum Joy Clinical Counseling, joins Alexandra Hoerr to discuss navigating the racial tension which plagues our nation. Pam brings a wealth of experience, including her professional and personal experience of being a...
Practical Support – A Resource List
In preparing for a talk I gave, I was tasked with pulling together some resources to help out many who are vulnerable and impacted by COVID-19. Many who never had to access resources before, are now needing to do so. Here at Optimum Joy, it’s important for us to...
The Power of Letting People In
I’m not sure about you, but more often than not, I get all worked up when I need to share something vulnerable with someone. With vulnerability, there is often a level of fear. My default is to create a story of how everything will pan out before it all begins--I go...
All or Nothing
A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog on something called “Personalization”, which is just one type of cognitive distortion that we all fall into at some point. Personalization is the most common cognitive distortion that I tend to notice with clients in the therapy room,...
What is Depression and How to Cope with it
Many individuals may experience depression at some point in their lives. While depression is common, about one in ten individuals may experience moderate to severe symptoms of it. Depending on the severity level of depression, it can significantly impact one's quality...
Procrastination: Now or Later?
Ever notice that when you have a deadline to complete a task or make a decision, you somehow remember all those other things you have been meaning to do? You decide that now is the time to reorganize your bookshelf or delete junk email. Or that you should read that...
Validation in Relationships
A lot of couples will come into therapy because they don’t feel like they are close anymore. Many times they will talk about how they are not physically close and through therapy they realize that they are not emotionally close anymore either. Having a stronger...
Minimalism and Mental Health
Over the last few years, minimalism has gained a large following. This has been due to the many documentaries, blogs, social media and economic circumstances that have called for a re-evaluation of our time, money, and possessions. Often, minimalism focuses purely on...