Saying yes to therapy is one of the most courageous steps one can take for one’s personal health. However, convincing a teen or young adult that they could benefit from therapy can feel like hiking Mt. Everest with no training! Here are some guidelines for navigating those conversations with your teen.
Read More“Grief is not an illness that needs to be cured, nor is it a problem that needs to be solved. It is a normal, natural response to loss.” - Paula Bunn
Read MoreYour teenager may seem aloof and independent, but they need you now more than ever. Here are some of the challenges your teen may be facing and how you can support them through the psychological changes that come with adolescence.
Read MoreAs someone who splits my time between dog training and mental health advocacy, I’m often asked about the difference between service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals (ESAs). Each type of dog has a different purpose, which means each type of dog is covered by different rules or laws. Unfortunately, many people are a little fuzzy on the difference, especially when it comes to mental illness-related disabilities. I thought it would be helpful to jump on here and share some of the things that separate these different types of dogs.
Read MoreI love that I get to help everyone who calls find someone who can be their therapist, whether it is at Integrity Counseling Group or if that means referring them elsewhere. So as you’re thinking about making that phone call, sending that e-mail, or shooting us a text message, I want to give you a few pieces of information that will take a bit of the unknown out of that initial conversation for you.
Read MoreIt’s okay if the holidays fill you with equal parts joy and anxiety. This season is not easy, especially if you have a history of mental health struggles. This is the time to dig out the tools that have served you well in the past, and perhaps try some new ones.
Read MoreWhen your thoughts focus on suicide, it's easy to feel like there are no answers. Here's how to get emergency help when you're not sure where you can turn.
Read MoreAs we approached our two year anniversary, we knew we needed to clarify our vision, starting with a new website that would speak to the heart of potential clients and those who trust us with referrals. Today, we’re excited to share that website with you, along with a behind-the-scenes look at what went into it.
Read MoreYou can find piles of books to tell you how much sleep babies need or how much sleep teenagers need, but we forget that adults need care too. Full grown adults need food, water, and sleep, just like any human. As we age our sleeping habits evolve and our sleeping needs change.
Read MoreWhile this is a challenging time for everyone, it’s also a great opportunity for building resilience in your children, just like those garden plants. By teaching them to build their emotional strength, you are in effect helping them send their root system deeper into the soil. Next time they face a challenge, whether it’s a difficult relationship at school or an athletic disappointment, your kids will be better equipped to bounce back and even thrive because of the lessons they are learning now.
Read MoreOur Carlsbad therapy office is located on Pio Pico, just east of I-5, off Carlsbad Village Drive. If Carlsbad is not convenient for you, our San Diego therapists also work out of San Marcos and Mission Valley.
Read MoreAmong the first things new clients ask when they call to set up an appointment are: 1) what are our fees, and 2) will insurance cover those fees? I address some of these questions on our Fees & Insurance page, but this blog post will take a deeper dive into the world of insurance plans, mental health care, and therapy.
Read MoreHi, I’m Cory Anderson, owner of and one of the therapists at Integrity Counseling Group. I’ve been doing therapy in San Diego for more than 10 years. In that time, I’ve had hundreds of first sessions with new clients! Here’s a peek into what to expect in your first therapy session.
Read MoreMost people with bipolar disorder alternate between long stretches of depression and (hypo)mania. For example, they may have depression for months or years at a time. With rapid cycling bipolar, a person experiences four episodes of mood cycling in one year. This could include any combination of mania, mixed mania, hypomania, or depression. Usually these shifts take place over the course of weeks or months, but some psychiatrists report having patients who can experience shifts lasting just a few days.
Read MoreSpouses of unfaithful partners are usually relieved to learn that their strong emotions around the infidelity are perfectly valid. According to Dr. Patrick Carnes, who founded IITAP, the leading organization for treating sexual addiction, discovering your spouse’s infidelity can be as traumatic as sexual assault.
Read MoreIf you stop at sobriety you are missing out on the full benefits of healing the addicted brain, such as overcoming “Stinking Thinking.” This is critical for relapse prevention. “Stinking Thinking” is a term often used in 12 Step programs to refer to the negative patterns of thought that add fuel to the fire of addiction. These thoughts sabotage your ability to see the world clearly and take responsibility for your actions.
Read MoreOne of our goals at Integrity Counseling Group is to create a safe space where clients can find freedom from depression, anxiety, marital conflict, addiction, and more. That’s why it is so important to us to make sure that our offices meet a few criteria.
Read MoreYou may feel afraid to be around your loved one, especially if they have expressed suicidal thoughts. This is a perfectly normal way to feel. You love this person, and it’s scary to think that they are suffering and might do irreversible harm to themselves. The important thing in this situation is to stay calm and stay with your loved one. You don’t need to talk about the depression the whole time you are together—you don’t even need to make it better.
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