Thrive Christian Counseling

Art of Parenteen ❤️

🙌🙌🙌
Regulation Resources:
🌱https://www.theottoolbox.com/zones-of-regulation-activities/
🌿https://www.theottoolbox.com/co-regulation/
🌱https://www.theottoolbox.com/mindfulness-for-kids/
🌿https://www.theottoolbox.com/emotional-intelligence-2/

You are not a “loner.” You are made in the image of God. He did not intend for us to be misfits or passive in life. Let’s embrace who God created us to be and take proactive steps. By doing so, we become good and faithful servants and find fulfillment in love and life. With the help of His Spirit and others, we can change our situation!

When emotions are high children (and adults) can't think clearly. Saying "use your words" won't help. They can’t always articulate what their behaviour is telling you.

We need to teach our kids how to manage emotions but we can't do this when emotions are high.

High emotions are not the time to try and problem-solve. When you are both feeling calm, it’s a much better time to talk about what they were feeling and what then could do differently.

Here are four things you can do in the moment that do help: https://genmindful.com/blogs/mindful-moments/4-ways-to-get-your-child-to-calm-down

More information on positive parenting and teaching healthy emotional regulation:

https://genmindful.com/guide/emotional-meltdown

📸: The Therapist Parent

When we associate quitting with failure, we end up staying in unhealthy relationships and dead-end jobs much longer than we should. "Quitting" is not an accurate label for stopping something that is no longer good for you or no longer brings you joy.

I spot Thrive counselors at the Edmond Chamber Woman Mean Business brunch. Thank you Evolution Imaging for including us in this amazing event!

Sunshine Support❤️

Be careful of who you allow access to you and your time. Saying “no” or putting up boundaries with people is not selfish. It’s necessary. Take note of the people in your life who you can go to, and the ones who just take and drain.

For more tips subscribe to my weekly email at drleaf.com!

What a comfort it is to know that God is with us even in the fire. Isaish 43:2 says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." 🙏

Are you prioritizing deposits into your relationship's Emotional Bank Account? Just as with a conventional bank account, a zero balance spells trouble. By consistently fostering positive interactions with your partner, you can ensure your emotional bank account will flourish!

Learn more about bids of connection by going to our blog https://bit.ly/43OWNbY

Thrive is excited to announce the newest member to our team, Sarah Hunt Billings. Sarah is passionate about helping individuals who are struggling to feel like themselves again. She works with women, couples and teen girls. If you would like to schedule with Sarah contact her through the website below.

Sarah Billings LPC-C|OKC|Thrive Christian Counseling Sarah Billings LPC-C is a counselor in Oklahoma City. She specializes in working with teens and adults. She integrates professional mental health counseling with a christian worldview.

It’s hard to remember this or even believe it, but you deserve to be proud of yourself. Look at how far you have come and how far you have grown! Even if it seems so small, and even if you feel like some days you go backwards, you are still progressing and deserve to be proud of yourself. In proud of you 💕

P.S going live tonight on the Neurocycle app at 7pm ET! I’ll be going live every Monday 7pm ET to answer questions and discuss hot topics and fun topics! Get the app here: https://www.neurocycle.app

Always wonderful information from Sarah R. Moore, Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting ❤️

ThatCalteacherlife ❤️

Therapy and medication are the most commonly known forms of treatment for mental health. These interventions are helpful, especially in severe cases of psychological distress. However, there are various other ways we can take care of our mental health (especially in the form of preventative measures from it becoming a mental health condition).

On my page, I try my best to inform on all these areas of mental wellness. I hope that education and self-awareness on these topics helps in some small way.
Which of these do you want me to share more on in the next few weeks?

Take care of your mind and body. Love, Nawal ♥️

“What If My NEW Awareness Makes Me Angry at a Parent or Relative?”

Unless you had a perfect upbringing, it’s hard not to feel sad or angry with your parents, relatives, or in-laws. In fact, as you may have already found out, an honest look at your past can often bring up some unsettling feelings and realizations. To share those emotions with members of your extended family, especially when you are initially working through them, is usually counterproductive. Your immediate goal is to process those feelings in order to reach a place of acceptance and resolve, not to cause division in your family. So focus on building the bond with your spouse and use the negative emotions constructively in your relationship with him or her.

After you come to the point of resolution and relief with your spouse, you may become aware of ways to improve your relationship with your parents by sharing with them your perception of your childhood experiences. At that point, a discussion with them might indeed be productive. Before you do so, though, ask yourself, “Can I handle any response I might get? Remember, the goal isn’t to place blame, but if your parents are open and willing to talk about their own upbringing, you may discover some truths that increase your compassion for and understanding of them.

“WHAT IF MY FEELINGS OVERWHELM MY SPOUSE OR ME?”

Many times people say, “IF I let myself start crying, I’ll never stop.” Actually, a crying spell usually lasts from ten minutes to an hour at the most. Then your body will rest. And people who rarely cry are often amazed by how much better they feel afterward.

Recently I was talking to a young man who hadn’t cried in years. When the dam finally broke, he was a bit scared by the intensity. “Did you feel better afterward?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “I felt lighter and happier than I have in a long time. I’ve been really depressed.” It’s not uncommon for people’s depression and anxiety to lift after a good cry.

If you feel overwhelmed by your feelings, it’s a good idea to turn to your spouse for support. But your spouse can’t be your only resource. If you do feel overwhelmed by the struggle in your past, seek out some good professional therapy. People who can’t manage anger, for example, may have unresolved grief. Excessive anger can also be a sign of chemical imbalances or brain injuries. A medical evaluation can be helpful if you suspect one of these issues.

Also, remember that things do get easier with practice. We have to know about our feelings before we can learn to manage them, and that process always takes time.

HELPFUL IDEAS AS YOU SEEK AWARENESS IN YOURSELF AND OTHERS

Pleaser: Anger is an underdeveloped emotion for the pleaser. But if you’re a pleaser, you won’t be very motivated to set boundaries and say no unless you develop an awareness of your anger and learn to express it appropriately. As a child, you were focused on the feelings of others, so you will probably identify the emotions and moods of others more easily than you identify your own. Learn to become aware of how much you let the moods of others dictate what you feel and how you behave. You will find it easier to be aware of your spouse’s two tanks (the encouragement tank and the internal stress tank) than you own. Work on acknowledging and communicating the condition of your two tanks.

Vacillator: You may find it easier to be mad than sad. So when you are mad, stop and ask yourself, “What is the hurt under the anger?” Share your hurt feelings straightforwardly, not with irritation, anger, or disgust in your voice. Try to identify what triggers your emotional overreactions and what from your history is fueling those overreactions. Share your insights with your spouse. Of all the styles, you are probably the more aware of your two tanks. Because of your disappointments, though, you may forget that your spouse has two tanks also. Even though you feel hurt, angry, and frustrated, remember, it’s not all about you. There’s another person in this marriage partnership. Make sure that you equally divide your time sot that you focus on filling your spouse’s fuel tank by going around the comfort circle and meeting his or her needs. Often, spouses of vacillators have not been refueled by their vacillator mate for a long time. Finally, ask about your spouse’s pressure tank and show interest in the stress he or she is experiencing.

Avoider: Finding words to match your internal discomforts may be a first for you. The soul words list is an indispensable tool. IT isn’t enough to just notice your feelings. You have to learn to say them aloud, so practice! Admitting that you have needs feels very vulnerable and uncomfortable. After all, if you are even aware of your two tanks, you attempt to manage them all by yourself, and you probably have not experienced enough help in your lifetime to know how good it might feel. Also, take the risky step of trying to share your feelings. Your spouse will love you for trying.

Controller: Due to the high levels of agitation and anger you’ve experienced, you’ve probably never thought about sadness. Look at the soul words list, and every day try to find a t least one word that is about something other than rage or anger. You probably entered adulthood with an empty fuel tank and a pressure tank that is so full of stress it is always ready to blow. Work on recognizing that your level of anger and reactivity is related to childhood pain. Nothing will change until you make this connection and get help to work through the pain. Good intentions are not enough. It is too difficult to relate successfully or calmly with anyone when your pressure tank is causing constant explosions.

Victim: Spend some time thinking quietly about what you feel. You’ve been so preoccupied with running away that you may have trouble giving your feelings much thought. And often the only feelings someone in self-preservation mode knows are depression and anxiety. Look at the soul words list and see what might be going on inside. You may have had few people put anything positive in your fuel tank when you were growing up, and now that thank may have little room for anything good, because it’s been filled with denigration, criticism, and condemnation instead. You may need to seek out some people who see your worth and numb feelings can lift when you find someone safe to listen to what’s inside. That is your first priority.

For more information about HOW WE LOVE or for resources that help build healthy relationships please visit our website. https://www.howwelove.com

Thrive is excited to offer IASIS Micro Current Neurofeedback. Check out this link to learn more about it.

IASIS Micro Current Neurofeedback | Thriveokc IASIS MCN is a helpful tool for balancing and relaxing the nervous system.  A minute, very brief ultra-microstimulation reduces the tendency toward fight or flight of our hypervigilant sympathetic nervous system. It enhances rest and recovery by supporting the “chill” part of our nervous system...

A powerful one to remember.

In the world of dating, listening to understand is a game-changer. It means that when you're with a potential partner, you actively make an effort to listen and comprehend their words, thoughts, and feelings. This means being fully present in the conversation, without judgment or forming quick responses.

Single and looking for research backed tips to improve your next relationship? Sign up for our Singles Snapshot newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BvFdwx

Expressing fondness and admiration in your relationships in an intentional and consistent way increases the amount of affection and respect between partners. Your relationship, especially in its early stages, may feel full of infatuation, sexual attraction, and hope. When the newness wears off, however, you’ll be glad that respect, trust, and love remain as a result of your sharing.

Try one of these examples today:
“I’m proud of the way you _____.”
“I’m attracted to your _____ (inside and out).”
“I am impressed that you _____.”
“I like how you _____.”

Get more relationship tips & conversation starters today in a free download when you subscribe to the Love Notes newsletter. Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/30JWG2H

👀

Forgive others for the past, reconcile the present, and discuss what the limits of trust will be in the future. Trust requires more than "I'm sorry." Repaired trust has to be earned and can only come from determining who that person shows up to be.

Thrive Christian Counseling Medical Center

Our values are an important aspect of our character. What we value is ultimately what we enforce and stand for. To "value" means to hold something precious or of high worth. The things that we value are the things worth fighting for. They are also the structures that organize our efforts into focused activity, with the aim of producing more of what we value. Your values shape your behaviors, focus, and direction. They will be your true north, the compass setting that keeps you going in a certain direction.