Leslie Garcia Leslie Garcia

Considering Group Therapy? Here are 3 Reasons Why You Should

Group therapy provides a convenient safety net on which to build our strength as individuals while discovering a common bond as part of a larger community. For many who are on the fence about individual therapy, group therapy provides a more comfortable and satisfying bridge to healing.

There is power in belonging.

Did you know that being a part of a community with shared interests and goals automatically increases our feelings of self-worth, motivation, and creativity?

There is power in belonging.

Are you also aware that the same benefits of belonging — and more — are multiplied when attending group therapy sessions?

Group therapy provides a convenient safety net on which to build our strength as individuals while discovering a common bond as part of a larger community. For many who are on the fence about individual therapy, group therapy provides a more comfortable and satisfying bridge to healing.

 


Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together. James Cash Penney

 

Beating isolation, learning coping skills from a diversity of peers, and being held accountable are 3 of the main reasons to register for a group therapy workshop near you. Let’s explore these in more detail:

 

1. BEAT ISOLATION: Sitting in session with others who are authentically and courageously sharing their journeys to mental wellness, is always a distinct reminder that you are NOT alone. This is called the principle of universality. Yes, each person does come with his or her own unique circumstances, but, through continued group therapy sessions, the struggle is shared. This opportunity to truly connect with others in a facilitated and safe space reduces the frequency of self-imposed alienation and builds a solid sense of self-worth.

 

2. LEARN COPING SKILLS FROM A DIVERSITY OF PEERS: Have you ever had one of those moments where you spend the entire day struggling to figure something out and when you finally ask for assistance the other person quickly offers you the solution? This is because they were able to approach the experience with new eyes and a fresh perspective. One common reason is that the person also encountered a similar situation. Again, don't think that you are alone.

In exchanging support with participants with different personalities and backgrounds, the same happens in a group therapy session. Through a constant loop of feedback and connection, members act as sounding boards and mirrors to their peers. Participants consequently develop and strengthen communication, socialization, relationship, and coping skills by modeling the successful behavior of both peers and facilitators!

Those who attend group therapy sessions are often better equipped to relate to themselves and find it easier to take risks while managing their moods and triggers in a healthy manner.

 

3. BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE: We all know it’s easier to wake up every day at 4:00 a.m. and go to the gym with a partner than it is to do it solo. Working with a compassionate group of individuals as invested in your wellness journey as they are in theirs, will reinforce the commitment and motivation that everyone needs to be successful.


 

Why not give group therapy a try? We’re always better together!

Curious about our upcoming MILLENNIAL MINDS! SUPPORT GROUP FOR MILLENNIAL WOMEN? Visit our EVENTBRITE page here or contact us at info@counselingpc.com.

Have a great week!

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Leslie Garcia Leslie Garcia

The S Word Can Kill You

Stigma and silence have power. But acceptance and sharing are even more powerful.

Are you one of many millennials suffering in silence? Even a decade ago, when many millennials would have been in high school or about to start their undergraduate careers, data showed that they suffered the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950’s!

Stigma and silence have power. But acceptance and sharing are even more powerful.

Are you one of many millennials suffering in silence? Even a decade ago, when many millennials would have been in high school or about to start their undergraduate careers, data showed that they suffered the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950’s!

Today, and due to a lack of targeted mental wellness resources, many millennials do not know where to turn for help. Stigma causes many others to believe that their struggles are not that serious. Please believe that stigma is one of the main reasons that silences people and prevents them from seeking help. Stigma can kill!

At Counseling Space, P.C., we are here to remind you that you are not alone. Those feelings you are struggling with are not a passing thing. They are not “wrong.” They are worth talking about.

While some are lucky to have family and friends who are willing to support, their help can only go but so far. One-on-one sessions with a trained mental wellness professional, or attending a group session facilitated by such a professional, ensure that recovery is one step closer! A trained mental wellness professional is:

  • Unbiased
  • Able to notice patterns
  • Equipped to teach emotional management and coping skills (see T-Kea’s video testimonial)
  • Fitted to relieve your burden of responsibility by offering you a safe space to be as honest, authentic and vulnerable as necessary

 

 

Being honest about where you stand emotionally and mentally does not make you weak. Your honesty will empower you for your overdue breakthrough! There is no shame in asking for help from a professional or from like-minded peers in a facilitated group setting. Please speak up if you are struggling!

If you or a millennial woman you know is in need of support NOW, we encourage you to sign up for our MILLENNIAL MINDS! Support Group for Millennial Women. Our group is designed to enhance self-awareness, improve mental well-being, explore problem-solving techniques and MORE!

If you are looking for more information about the support group, visit our EVENTBRITE page. If you are seeking more information on millennial mental health, visit our blog to follow our Millennial Monday Blog Series. Lastly, please feel free to share the information in this post with those you believe it would benefit.

We look forward to welcoming you and your loved ones to our support group! As T-Kea mentioned in the video, let’s THRIVE together!

Have a great week!

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Leslie Garcia Leslie Garcia

Millennials: From Crisis to Community

Over the last two weeks, we have discussed 2 characteristics that make the millennial generation unlike any other before it: their impressive entrepreneurial spirit and the acute stress they suffer. Yet, there is another distinguishing trait that makes millennials stand out: millennials will utilize social media to promote and fund a charitable organization. In fact, an extraordinary 94% of millennials prefer to use their skills to benefit a cause.

Over the last two weeks, we have discussed 2 characteristics that make the millennial generation unlike any other before it: their impressive entrepreneurial spirit and the acute stress they suffer. Yet, there is another distinguishing trait that makes millennials stand out: millennials will utilize social media to promote and fund a charitable organization. In fact, an extraordinary 94% of millennials prefer to use their skills to benefit a cause.

As we face the 9/11 anniversary, many millennials will have memories of a previous school day marked by loss and horror. The current political climate, devastating hurricanes, and the uncertainty of the Dreamers (DACA) legislation could also have a negative impact on mental health with feelings of helplessness, nervousness, and hopelessness.  If these feelings are ignored, there is a risk of developing anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or depression.  

At Counseling Space, P.C., our focus is to empower millennials to turn to community so that crisis becomes the energy behind creation! In recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Month and the fact that there are very few mental health and wellness resources tailored to the millennial population, we created the MILLENNIAL MINDS! Support Group for Millennial Women.

Why millennial women? Because millennial women are the MOST stressed of the millennials; many quoting stress as the prime factor preventing them from making healthy lifestyle changes.

This group is designed to empower these millennial women to live with intention by enhancing their self-awareness, improving their mental well-being, exploring problem-solving techniques and so much MORE! Our supportive group sessions start on Tuesday, September 19th and space is LIMITED with only 8 slots available (see flyer for more details).

Lastly, here are some additional resources for those needing more immediate assistance with understanding the rights of Dreamers (DACA), the destruction of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and the weight of this week’s 9/11 commemorations:

Please feel free to share the flyer and information in this post with those you believe it would benefit. 

Stay tuned for our final Millennial Monday blog post next week, and have a great week!

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Leslie Garcia Leslie Garcia

The Millennial Entrepreneurial Spirit

Today, Labor Day is an official federal holiday with most taking advantage of the long weekend to plan mini vacations. But there’s one group for whom this day off may just be a suggestion to get more accomplished: millennial entrepreneurs!

Today, Labor Day is an official federal holiday with most taking advantage of the long weekend to plan mini vacations. But there’s one group for whom this day off may just be a suggestion to get more accomplished: millennial entrepreneurs!

In an environment of intense competition, most millennials believe that career success requires independence, inventiveness, and adaptability. Millennials are also less interested in managing others and climbing the corporate ladder than in owning their own businesses. Profit and purpose are inextricably linked for this self-determining generation.

Every day, millennial entrepreneurs are adding to a growing number of companies in both the traditional and non-traditional sectors. Millennial entrepreneurs are starting businesses a decade earlier than Boomers, launching in their mid-twenties versus the late thirties. Worldwide, the average millennial entrepreneur would have already started 7 companies by the age of 35. Their investible wealth now exceeds 5.6 billion.

However, outside of an unforgiving economy and mountains of student loan debt, the top 3 challenges that women business owners face are a limited access to funding and few industry-specific mentoring and skills development programs. They also experience the absence of resources that address the need for relationship building, time and stress management and increased self-confidence.

It is clear that millennial women entrepreneurs need to be guided in protecting their mental health just as fiercely and courageously as their ambition! At Counseling Space, P.C., the MILLENNIAL MINDS! Support Group for Millennial Women was created to fulfill this need. This group is designed to enhance self-awareness, improve mental well-being, explore problem-solving techniques and MORE!

Our supportive group sessions start on Tuesday, September 19th and space is LIMITED with only 8 slots available (see flyer for more details). Over the next 2 Mondays, we will share valuable insights into the stress and future outlook for millennials in our MILLENNIAL MONDAYS blog post series!

In the meantime, please feel free to share the flyer and information in this post with those you believe it would benefit. 

Stay tuned for next Monday’s post, and enjoy your Labor Day festivities!

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Leslie Garcia Leslie Garcia

Millennial Women and Their Mental Health

Every generation has a defining word. The word for the Millennial Generation is: STRESSED. Numerous surveys conducted by the American Psychological Association found that millennials experience twice as much anxiety as the generations before and are much less equipped to manage it.

Every generation has a defining word. The word for the Millennial Generation is: STRESSED. Numerous surveys conducted by the American Psychological Association found that millennials experience twice as much anxiety as the generations before and are much less equipped to manage it.

Some other words to describe the Millennial Generation are: ambitious, highly educated, confident, and entitled. Millennials are addicted to ambition in an academic and professional climate of intense competition and debt. However, this generation also lives in an age with limitless options for material goods, media content, career possibilities, and lifestyles. They are paralyzed by choice, ambition addiction, career crises, debt and, most significantly, a lack of connection. These stressors all lead to poor sleep and eating habits and an inclination towards unhealthy coping strategies like substance and Internet abuse and involuntary isolation.

It is this isolation that truly hurts millennials! Much of their stress and psychological burden are lessened significantly by connecting to a supportive social network. This is the call we are answering at Counseling Space, P.C. with our Support Group: “MILLENNIAL MINDS!” for Millennial Women.

Why millennial women? Because millennial women are the MOST stressed: 51% losing sleep worrying at night compared to 32% of men. Millennial women based in just New York experience depression 15 more days per year than millennial men.

Our supportive group sessions start on Tuesday, September 19th (see flyer for more details). Over the next 3 Mondays, we will share valuable insights into the stress and future outlook for millennials in our MILLENNIAL MONDAYS blog post series! In light of next week’s Labor Day celebrations, our upcoming post will touch on the bold entrepreneurial spirit of millennials.

If you want to learn about our group, or are interested in seeking individual services, click here to schedule a free consultation.

In the meantime, please feel free to share the flyer and information in this post with those you believe it would benefit.

Stay tuned for next Monday’s post, and have a great week!

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