CHRISTINE M. VALENTIN, LCSW, LLC
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Specialties, Fees & Hours
  • Video Counseling
  • Contact Me
  • Forms
  • Privacy Practices Notice

It's a New Year and I Want To...

1/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Improve my self-esteem? Be more positive and less stressed? Work on my personal relationship(s)? The list can go on and on. Regardless of what is on your Resolution list, it is important to remember there are certain aspects that must hold true in order to increase your chances of success and reduce the likelihood of failing to achieve your goals/desires for this year. 
​
1). It Must Come From You- many of our intentions for change originate from good places but they are not often our own. In many cases, they can be other people's recommendations or beliefs of what we should look like, how we should be living our life and/or what type of relationship we should be in. And while you may want to pursue such changes, unless you truly have the desire to embark on the journey for yourself, the chances of success can be minimal. Therefore, make sure your goal is what YOU really want. 

2). You Must Have a Plan - Once you identify what YOU want to work on, you then have to decide how to get there. Devising a plan can make the attainment of your goal much more realistic. For instance, if your goal is to improve your relationship(s), then sit down with a pen and paper and begin listing what specifically you want to improve, why it needs improving, and how you can do so. Essentially, you want to outline the steps you need to take so as to achieve your goal. Depending on your goal, this step can be difficult. Should you find yourself stuck, consider reaching out to family, friends or a professional to help you. 

3) You Will Need Perseverance -  Any aspiration worth attaining usually takes "blood, sweat and tears." In other words, hard work, dedication and sacrifice are usually required; Hence, why the first two points are extremely important. When things get tough, when you find yourself exhausted and want to quit, refer back to your reason(s) for pursuing your goal(s) and review your plan of action. Doing so can help reignite your spirit and give you more energy to continue forward.  


Whether you are trying to lose weight, trying to improve your personal relationship or want to enhance who you are as a person, the above steps can be beneficial to achieving success.

What other strategies or recommendations do you believe can help? Please share them below. 

0 Comments

2 Key Components to a Healthy Relationship

2/4/2015

3 Comments

 
Picture
Within my therapeutic practice, I often work with individuals who experience anxiety related to problems they are having in their relationship. While some individuals will question whether they should do anything different, others are unsure if they should put in any more effort. In order to help them with their uncertainty, I often encourage them to work on some of the key components I believe are important to having a healthy relationship. 

Communication - Being able to openly and honestly talk with your partner about what is bothering you about the relationship is vital. Without this, you may find yourself not voicing your opinion about what bothers you, which can result in your partner believing everything is fine. The problem with one person believing everything is fine is they will continue engaging in the behavior you may find troublesome thereby increasing the chances of feeling resentment or irritation with your partner. Whether you are worried about your future, your sex life, your differences, etc., it is important to bring up any issues you have so that you can both work on improving the situation and resolving the problem. 

Respect - Having to communicate your feelings about what may be a sensitive issue for you or your partner can be hard to do, especially if one person is hot-tempered and/or very emotional. As a result, it is important to remember to be respectful. Essentially, you want to avoid saying or doing things that you know will upset your significant other. For instance, if your loved one despises when you walk away from an argument, then don't. Or, if he/she hates when you scream then try to speak in a low, calm tone. Showing respect can also be done by refraining from accusatory statements that place all the blame on your partner as it will only cause him/her to become defensive. 

Being in a committed relationship, especially when the honeymoon phase is over, is without a doubt challenging. While I realize the aforementioned suggestions are "easier said than done", it is crucial to understand that with patience and understanding a lot more can be accomplished as opposed to having anger and resentment. 



Do you believe there are other important components to a successful/healthy relationship? If so, please share them below. . 

3 Comments

    Christine 
    M. 
    Valentin

    As a licensed clinical social worker, I help individuals reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. This blog is meant to share many of the suggestions I often recommend to many of my clients. Sign up to receive them directly. 

    Sign up to directly receive my latest blog posts!

    * required

    *

    *

    *




    Email & Social Media Marketing by VerticalResponse

    Archives

    August 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    Am I Suffering From Anxiety?
    Anxiety
    Anxiety Related To Relationships
    Arguing
    Articulate
    Avoidance
    Being Disliked
    Caring What Others Think
    Change And Commitment
    Changes In Routine
    Communication
    Compromise
    Confidence
    Confrontation
    Depression
    Disorder
    Emotions
    Fear
    Getting Help
    Helping Someone Who Is Depressed
    Help With My Relationship
    Holiday Anxiety
    Holiday Depression
    Improving Success
    Indecision
    Lack Of Confidence
    Lack Of Support
    Levels Of Anxiety
    Love
    Low Self Esteem
    Low Self-Esteem
    Manage Stress
    Mental Evaluation
    Negative Reactions
    New Year's Resolution
    Panic Attacks
    Panic Disorder
    Psychological Evaluation
    Relationships
    Respect
    Seeking Therapy
    Self Doubt
    Self-doubt
    Successful Relationships
    Therapy
    Trial And Error
    Trouble Sleeping
    What Is Anxiety?
    What Is Depression
    Worried About My Loved One

    RSS Feed

This Site is not intended to provide psychotherapy advice. The Site is intended only for use by individuals in search of general information of interest pertaining to anxiety, depression and related topics. Content is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for professional consultation or service. Contained observations and opinions should not be misconstrued as specific counseling advice.
Photos used under Creative Commons from soekfoto, Thales, Pawel Pacholec, lisabirtch, Mickey JT, Muffet, apparena, aresauburn™, Minette Layne, die.tine, A Gude, stephcarter, Kathy McGraw, srqpix, sun sand & sea, photogirl7.1, W J (Bill) Harrison, srluke, catlovers
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Specialties, Fees & Hours
  • Video Counseling
  • Contact Me
  • Forms
  • Privacy Practices Notice