by Christine Hammond on March 28, 2020
Kim wished she could live on an island away from the constant badgering of difficult people in her life. Her grandmother would call her daily to disseminate the latest gossip on her family. Her brother was constantly comparing her success to his even though they did not share the same profession. Her boss was an… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on March 6, 2020
It doesn’t take much for Peter to have an emotional reaction. Most of the time, his family believed that he was overreacting. Commercials would make him cry, he would become angry over burnt toast, road rage was common, and panic attacks looked like heart attacks. After extensive physical examinations, his physician suggested that the problem… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on February 29, 2020
Dorothy recently lost her father to complications related to Alzheimer’s. Over the past ten years, she watched her dad deteriorate and become a shell of his former self. By the end, he did not know who she was, could not dress, and was on a soft food diet to minimize choking. She grieved his loss… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on January 20, 2020
It wasn’t until Martha came into her therapist’s office that she realized the extent of her stress. Prior to coming in, Martha thought she was losing her mind. As an executive, she was accustomed to the everyday stress of working in a high-pressured environment. But what surprised her recently was an inability to make decisions,… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on September 6, 2019
As Hurricane Dorian heads for the Florida shore with an anticipated category 4 center winds of 130-156 miles per hour, anxiety builds in residents. Forecasting the track of the storm is unfortunately not an exact science which only adds to the increased pressure in the air. The whole state is on alert, waiting to see… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on August 3, 2019
It was ironic that Rob was stuck in the victim mentality. He didn’t meet the typical profile of a victim. He was educated, had a family, and successful career in helping others, of all things. But lately, his marriage started falling apart, his kids were not responding to him, his friends were few and far… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on August 1, 2019
Carol has been a patient of mine for over five years. We have walked through some of the most difficult times in her life as she dealt with her failing marriage and then divorce, a move, significant career changes, undiagnosed medical issues, and co-parenting teenagers. Yet during our discussions, there was an undercurrent of, “I… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on June 13, 2019
Yes. According to a study reported in March 2019 of US News and World Report, mental health counselors are listed as one of the most stressful jobs next to attorneys and surgeons. The burnout rate for counselors is between 25-67% (depending on the study and type of practice) with a turnover rate of one in… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on November 30, 2018
Anna was already exhausted. The holidays just began and she was overwhelmed by the pressures on her budget, the extra demands on the schedule, the additions of parties and celebrations, and the excessive stuff in the stores. She tried to be excited about decorating, but it felt more like a chore than a pleasure. So… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on February 27, 2018
Dolores recently lost her father to complications related to Alzheimer’s. Over the past ten years, she watched her dad deteriorate and become a shell of his former self. By the end, he did not know who she was, could not dress, and was on a soft food diet to minimize choking. She grieved his loss… (more…)