One is the Loneliest Number

A lonely person walking into the distance waters

The dictionary defines loneliness as:  sadness because one has no friends or company.  So in today’s society, you would think with the multitude of social media options, such as Facebook and Twitter, loneliness would be almost non-existent. But, according to CIGNA’s recent nationwide survey, the reality is quite the opposite.   People are suffering more…

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Don’t Stress It: Take a Mental Health Work Break

Old time clock that has a sticky note that says "break time"

Whether you work in or out of the home, finding time for yourself is essential.  Throughout a busy workday, it is difficult to focus on relieving stress when there are looming deadlines or pressing responsibilities.  However, finding ways to give yourself a well needed boost helps to refocus your attention on the job at hand…

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Celebrate!

On Thursday June 8th at 1:00 PM, we were delighted to celebrate our formal Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! Here are our welcoming remarks from that wonderful afternoon: “Good afternoon! I am Lynn Motley, the designated spokesperson today for Huntsville Psychotherapy & Counseling Services. I want to thank the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, all the…

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Mental Health and Older Adults

It is important to remember that as our population ages, mental health and emotional well-being remain important considerations. While many older adults enjoy good mental health, many others are at risk of developing mental disorders, neurological disorders or substance use problems. In addition, older adults can develop diabetes, hearing loss, and osteoarthritis. Approximately 15% of…

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Diversity and Inclusion

Last week I attended a symposium on Diversity and Inclusion. The event was sponsored by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the City of Huntsville, Alabama A & M University, Leadership Huntsville/Madison County, the University of Alabama in Huntsville Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs and the U.S. Army Material Command. Those sponsors alone make a…

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Alcoholism is a Family Disease

Alcoholism, like most chronic illnesses, affects every member of the family, not just the individual suffering from the primary disease. If we were to use a sample family of father, mother and four children, here is what we might see: The father is the alcoholic. He is dependent on alcohol. Some of the behaviors he…

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Mindfulness

A client recently asked me: “What is involved in mindfulness and how do you implement?” “Mindfulness is a state of consciousness…a quality of being,” I said helpfully. My client stared at me blankly. Okay, let me try again. “My favorite definition of mindfulness comes from Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. He says…

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Why psychotherapy?

Why do I ‘do’ psychotherapy? Sometimes it is a good idea to stop, take a breath and reflect on your life choices and what you have learned and are learning from those choices. During one such moment I found myself musing over the above question. Psychotherapy and counseling are, quite simply, service to others and…

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