by Christine Hammond on December 19, 2021
For many, the stress of the holidays is overwhelming. The anticipation of family gatherings alone can create anxious, tense, and uncomfortable responses. Then there are the personal expectations of gift-giving, the lack of appropriate boundaries of friends, and the increased tension of an end-of-the-year work cycle. Sorting through these conflicting thoughts and emotions can be… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on December 12, 2021
The holidays should be several days of reduced work activity set aside to celebrate with family and friends. But all too often, these days are jam-packed filled with obligations, deadlines, expectations, responsibilities, and crises. Instead of letting the exhaustion take over, try these ideas to simplify. Make a list and check it twice. The first… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Are your clients consumed with negative thoughts about their looks? How much of their time is spent obsessing over body image? We live in a culture fixated on outward appearances. This body image obsession breeds discontentment and discontentment, in turn, causes money to be spent. Advertisements, TV, social media, magazines, and the internet bombard with… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Are your clients exhausted from doing too many things at once? Some research suggests that multi-tasking is impossible — when done, a person is actually giving only partial attention to many things. With all the advances in technology, it seems that life doesn’t stop long enough to give full attention to anything. Many find they… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
If a fairy godmother could grant a wish, what would it be? The answer is most likely an area of life needing some type of change. It could be financial, professional, relational, spiritual, physical, mental or emotional. Whatever the topic, it is possible to change without the help of a fairy godmother. Change can be… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Feeling lonely is bad enough but add the holidays to the mix and instead of helping, the feeling intensifies. This strange phenomenon tends to isolate even further and can bring about a deeper depression. In some cases, the hopelessness many lead to suicidal thoughts. The contrast is shocking. Everyone else seems to be happier. There… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
One minute everything seems fine. Then in a flood of intense emotion and erratic thoughts, it all changes. Life becomes a distorted kaleidoscope, with nothing familiar from before. Even speaking is difficult. It is impossible to explain what is happening because the event is so unlike anything experienced prior. In the past, the term nervous… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on August 31, 2016
For Floridians, hurricane threats send people scurrying around town collecting water, batteries, and can goods. The stores are flocked with people as the shelves begin to go bare. Preparations are made to homes and offices to protect landscapes, windows, and possessions. Anyone who lived through the four hurricane year of 2004, remembers the unpredictability of… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on June 24, 2016
Ever wonder what makes a person change for the better? The role of a counselor is to encourage healthy change. Many psychology schools teach the concept of unconditional positive regard as an effective method of transformation. The basic principle lies in accepting and supporting a person without judgement regardless of what they say or do…. (more…)
by Christine Hammond on August 26, 2014
(Excerpt taken from The Exhausted Woman’s Handbook) Ziana struggled with worry, anxiety, and panic attacks ever since the accidental car death of her twin brother 7 years ago. Her mind often raced with imagined future accidents, her response, and the ensuing added sadness. Driving on highways was still not possible for her and she was… (more…)