The Grouport Journal

Explore all things mental health. Check out some of our latest journals below.

Navigating Narcissism: Establishing and Maintaining Boundaries

Mental Health

Navigating Narcissism: Establishing and Maintaining Boundaries

Dealing with a narcissist can be challenging, especially when it comes to establishing and maintaining boundaries. Narcissists often have difficulty recognizing and respecting the boundaries of others, which can lead to conflicts and emotional distress. This article will delve into the complexities of narcissism, the importance of boundaries, and practical strategies for setting and maintaining these boundaries when dealing with a narcissist.

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The Anatomy of Overwhelm: Understanding and Managing Emotional Overload

Mental Health

The Anatomy of Overwhelm: Understanding and Managing Emotional Overload

Feeling overwhelmed is a common experience that many people grapple with, especially in today's fast-paced world. It can manifest as an intense surge of emotion, where feelings become too much to manage, often leading to stress, anxiety, and fatigue. This article delves into understanding the state of emotional overwhelm, what triggers it, and effective ways to manage and navigate this emotional state.

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Therapy Frequency: Understanding the Common Patterns

Mental Health

Therapy Frequency: Understanding the Common Patterns

Therapy is a valuable tool for addressing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues. It can be tailored to the unique needs of each individual, which includes the frequency of sessions. People often wonder about the ideal frequency of therapy sessions. This article will explore how often people typically attend therapy and the factors that influence this frequency.

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Do Therapists Give Advice? Exploring the Nature of Therapeutic Guidance

Mental Health

Do Therapists Give Advice? Exploring the Nature of Therapeutic Guidance

Therapy, a vital component of mental health care, is a collaborative process between the therapist and client. A commonly held assumption about therapy is that it predominantly involves a therapist giving advice. However, the reality of therapeutic work is much more nuanced. This article will explore the unique dynamics of therapy, addressing the question of whether therapists provide advice, and illustrating what they do instead to support their clients' journey towards healing and self-improvement.

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The Unfamiliar Reflection: Understanding the Feeling of Not Recognizing Yourself

Mental Health

The Unfamiliar Reflection: Understanding the Feeling of Not Recognizing Yourself

Feeling as though you do not recognize yourself can be a bewildering and even distressing experience. It often occurs when you perceive a disconnection between your external presentation and your internal self-perception. This article explores the reasons why you might not recognize yourself, the implications, and some steps to reconnect with your true self.

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Approval From The Outside: Understanding External Validation

Mental Health

Approval From The Outside: Understanding External Validation

External validation refers to the process of seeking or receiving affirmation, acceptance, or approval from outside oneself. While everyone appreciates acknowledgement and acceptance, relying too heavily on external validation can have significant implications for mental health and self-esteem. This article delves into the concept of external validation, its origins, and its impact on individuals.

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Unfenced Terrain: Lack of Boundaries Personality Type

Mental Health

Unfenced Terrain: Lack of Boundaries Personality Type

Boundaries play a critical role in relationships and personal well-being. They establish the limits of acceptable behavior, protect individuality, and promote respect. However, certain personality types have difficulty setting or maintaining boundaries. The lack of boundaries personality type often struggles with assertiveness, personal space, and autonomy. This article delves into the characteristics and implications of this personality type.

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Drawing the Lines: Examples of Boundaries with Family

Mental Health

Drawing the Lines: Examples of Boundaries with Family

In every relationship, boundaries are essential for maintaining a healthy interaction and preserving individuality and respect. Establishing boundaries with family members can often be more challenging due to the emotional depth and complexities associated with these relationships. This article aims to provide examples of effective boundaries that can be established within the family setting.

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BIPOC Mental Health Month: Its Importance and Objectives

Mental Health

BIPOC Mental Health Month: Its Importance and Objectives

BIPOC Mental Health Month, formerly known as Minority Mental Health Month, takes place every year in July, highlighting the unique struggles faced by underrepresented groups in the United States. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and the observance aims to raise awareness about the distinct mental health needs and disparities affecting these communities. This article delves into the significance of BIPOC Mental Health Month, the specific challenges faced by these communities, and the call to action that the month embodies.

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Navigating the High Seas: Dealing with a Dramatic Family

Mental Health

Navigating the High Seas: Dealing with a Dramatic Family

Dramatic families, characterized by heightened emotions and conflict, can be challenging to manage. However, understanding the dynamics, the effects, and strategies to cope can help individuals navigate the stormy seas of dramatic family relationships. This article delves into the ins and outs of dealing with a dramatic family, providing insights and guidance for those who find themselves amidst familial drama.

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Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?

Mental Health

Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?

Fear is a primal emotion, crucial to the survival of human beings. However, its enjoyment seems counterintuitive. Yet, some individuals relish experiences that induce fear, like horror movies or thrilling rides. This article delves into the fascinating reasons why some brains enjoy fear, investigating the role of adrenaline, the brain's reward system, and the sense of accomplishment that overcoming fear can provide.

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The Healing Power of Safe Space Therapy

Mental Health

The Healing Power of Safe Space Therapy

The concept of a 'safe space' is vital in therapeutic contexts. Safe space therapy aims to create an environment where individuals feel secure, understood, and free to express themselves without fear of judgment or repercussion. This article delves into the essence of safe space therapy, its importance, and how it can be effectively created in a therapeutic setting.

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Navigating Love's Terrain: Distinguishing Healthy Relationships from Toxic Ones

Mental Health

Navigating Love's Terrain: Distinguishing Healthy Relationships from Toxic Ones

Navigating relationships can be a complex journey, often requiring careful discernment to differentiate healthy, nurturing partnerships from toxic ones. Understanding the distinction is crucial for one's emotional well-being and overall quality of life. This article delves into the characteristics of healthy versus toxic relationships, highlighting the importance of maintaining one's individuality and respect within a partnership.

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Charting the Path to Healing: Understanding Success in Therapy

Mental Health

Charting the Path to Healing: Understanding Success in Therapy

The measure of success in therapy can be subjective, varying significantly from one person to another. The term encapsulates numerous factors including symptom reduction, improved well-being, and personal growth, among others. However, understanding what constitutes success in therapy is critical, both for those seeking help and for the therapists who guide them. This article provides an insight into the definition of success in therapy, its indicators, and strategies to enhance therapeutic success.

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Paving the Path to Change: An Overview of Progress Therapy

Mental Health

Paving the Path to Change: An Overview of Progress Therapy

In the diverse realm of psychotherapy, progress therapy has emerged as a dynamic approach that focuses on the ongoing development and advancement of individuals. Rather than concentrating on diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, progress therapy centers on personal growth, change, and the journey towards achieving one's full potential. This article will delve into the concept of progress therapy, its key components, and techniques employed.

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How Therapy Dogs Improve Mental Health

Mental Health

How Therapy Dogs Improve Mental Health

In recent years, the utilization of therapy dogs in mental health treatment has gained significant attention. These specially trained animals provide comfort, relief, and a sense of companionship to individuals dealing with various mental health disorders. This article explores the role of therapy dogs in mental health improvement, the science behind it, and the wide-ranging benefits they offer.

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Establishing Boundaries with a Narcissist

Mental Health

Establishing Boundaries with a Narcissist

Maintaining a healthy relationship with a narcissist can be an arduous task. Narcissistic individuals, characterized by grandiosity, entitlement, a constant need for attention, and a lack of empathy, often violate the personal boundaries of those around them. Establishing and maintaining boundaries with a narcissist is crucial to ensure one's mental health and well-being. This article examines strategies for setting boundaries with a narcissist and ways to enforce them effectively.

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Embracing Fortuity: Navigating Life When Things Suddenly Start Going Well

Mental Health

Embracing Fortuity: Navigating Life When Things Suddenly Start Going Well

Life can sometimes be a rollercoaster ride, with ups and downs that are often unpredictable. Everyone has periods of struggle and success, and it's quite common to experience challenges and setbacks. But what happens when, unexpectedly, life starts going well? This article explores the emotions and changes that can occur when life suddenly takes a turn for the better, and how to navigate this newfound positivity in a healthy and balanced way.

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Navigating Toxic Positivity: Understanding and Mitigating Its Impact

Mental Health

Navigating Toxic Positivity: Understanding and Mitigating Its Impact

While the pursuit of positivity and happiness is a universal goal, an excessive or forced focus on positivity can result in a phenomenon known as 'toxic positivity.' This term refers to the overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state, which results in the denial, minimization, and invalidation of authentic human emotional experience. This article explores the nature of toxic positivity, its psychological impacts, and strategies to counteract its effects.

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What Is Malingering?

Mental Health

What Is Malingering?

Malingering, a term frequently used in the medical and legal fields, refers to the intentional fabrication, exaggeration, or induction of physical or psychological symptoms for external gains. Unlike other conditions, malingering is not recognized as a psychiatric disorder, but rather as a potential issue that medical professionals must be aware of during diagnosis and treatment. This article provides a detailed understanding of malingering, the rationale behind it, and strategies to identify and manage it.

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What is group therapy?

Grouport Info

What is group therapy?

If you’ve recently discovered the concept of group therapy, you might be wondering, “What is group therapy like?” When considering any type of talk therapy or psychotherapy, it’s important to be aware of your options and to understand the benefits and challenges associated with them. Once you have a basic understanding of what to expect, you can make an informed decision about whether or not group therapy is the best choice to address your mental health concerns and move forward with positive ch

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Social Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms & How to Manage Them

Anxiety

Social Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms & How to Manage Them

Do you struggle with social anxiety? Social anxiety is “an irrational fear of regular, daily social interactions that culminates in avoidant behaviors that can disrupt your life”. So what does this mean? It means that if you have social anxiety, you may experience disruption in your work life, education, and daily routine, as well as your relationships with the people around you. Social anxiety can bring a great degree of fear, worry, and missed opportunities to your life on a daily basis. 

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5 Things You Need To Know About Group Therapy

Grouport Info

5 Things You Need To Know About Group Therapy

The American Psychological Association says that we have been experiencing a continuous rise in the popularity of group therapy here in the United States since the aftermath of the second World War. During this time period, returning combat veterans were placed into therapy groups and the licensed mental healthcare providers leading them saw major benefits from these therapy sessions.‍Some therapy groups can be organized around a similar experience, such as navigating the aftermath of losing a l

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How to Manage Life With OCD

OCD

How to Manage Life With OCD

Dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, can be incredibly difficult. People who suffer from OCD tend to be stuck in a destructive pattern of obsessions followed by compulsions. Obsessions are defined as unwanted fears and thoughts, while compulsions are defined as repetitive behaviors meant to quell anxiety or prevent bad things from happening.‍If you are trying to navigate dealing with OCD thoughts, you might try to ignore or even stop your obsessions, but in fact this will likely o

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Depression Or Clinical Depression? How To Spot the Difference

Depression

Depression Or Clinical Depression? How To Spot the Difference

The Mayo Clinic explains that depression is a type of mood disorder characterized by a loss of general interest and regular feelings of deep sadness. It is important to remember that depression is more than just a period in which you feel down: if it reaches a clinical level, it could interfere with your daily life, productivity, and relationships. ‍WHAT IS CLINICAL DEPRESSION?Clinical depression is more than just periodic episodes of feeling down or discouraged, it instead involves a perva

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How To Know The Difference Between Boredom And BPD

BPD

How To Know The Difference Between Boredom And BPD

Boredom is defined by feeling uninterested and unsatisfied and is most evidenced through periods of high energy (where you feel you have nowhere to channel that energy), or when you are having a hard time staying focused on a particular task. Boredom is a pretty common issue found in adolescents as well as children. It is important to remember though, that young people may complain that they feel bored when they are actually having a difficult time handling their feelings or thoughts.‍There are

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Understanding And Treating OCD

OCD

Understanding And Treating OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a mental health disorder marked by a pattern of escalating obsessions (unwanted fears and thoughts) that lead to compulsions (repetitive behaviors). This pattern of obsessions leading to compulsions can end up interfering with your daily activities, ultimately causing significant distress and a diminished quality of life.‍Those suffering from OCD will often ignore or try to stop their obsessions, which can in turn escalate their levels of anxiety and dis

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New York & Distress Tolerance...Navigating A Tough City with Mindfulness & DBT

All Articles

New York & Distress Tolerance...Navigating A Tough City with Mindfulness & DBT

New York City is one of the toughest cities to live in: if you want to live here for the long haul, it’s important that you develop strong levels of distress tolerance. There will always be external stimuli threatening to overwhelm you, whether it is a car honking, music blaring, or people rushing around you and often bumping into you. Are you familiar with experiencing all of these stimuli at the same time? Welcome to NYC!‍There are many different approaches that can help you deal with this str

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Overcoming Fear Of Abandonment And Rejection

All Articles

Overcoming Fear Of Abandonment And Rejection

About 10% of people in the United States struggle with some type of phobia; this means that millions of individuals are currently coping with different types of fears. While fear of abandonment is not officially considered a phobia, it is widely considered to be among the most commonplace–and potentially damaging–fears. Individuals who suffer from a phobia of being abandoned might behave in ways and engage in thought patterns that not only negatively affect them, but also their relationships wit

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DBT And What It’s Good For

All Articles

DBT And What It’s Good For

What is DBT?Dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) under the psychotherapy umbrella that seeks to provide people with critical skills that can help them diminish conflict in their relationships as well as manage difficult emotions. DBT hones in on equipping individuals with skills in four major areas:‍‍1. Interpersonal effectiveness: Equips individuals with techniques that can help them better communicate with the people around them in ways that s

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How To Navigate "Stormy" Relationships By Practicing Mindfulness & Setting Boundaries

All Articles

How To Navigate "Stormy" Relationships By Practicing Mindfulness & Setting Boundaries

We all know that relationships, no matter what kind, can be incredibly difficult to navigate. Whether you are having difficulties in your relationships with your peers, friends, or family, “stormy” ones–ones that are characterized by frequent ups and downs–can be tricky. Toxic relationship patterns can undermine your self-discipline, your work and home life, your sleep habits, physical health, and mental health if not managed successfully long-term. Are you feeling the strain of unhealthy relati

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3 Ways Your Self Image Impacts Moods, Decisions And Priorities

All Articles

3 Ways Your Self Image Impacts Moods, Decisions And Priorities

According to the Cleveland Clinic, self image is defined as “the mental picture we hold of ourselves.” This image we hold of ourselves defines what characterizes us and sets us apart from others. In other words, the different characteristics we use to describe ourselves come together to form a collective self representation that is the culmination of our strengths and weaknesses as seen from our own perspective.‍ Here are three major ways that our self image can impact our moods, decisions, and

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Anger Management with DBT

All Articles

Anger Management with DBT

DBT, which stands for dialectical behavior therapy, is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) developed by Marsha Linehan in the 1980s to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). Over the past few decades, experts have found that DBT can also be effective in the treatment of various other issues, such as:Substance abuseMood disordersDepressionDisordered eatingPost traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Bipolar disorder‍DBT therapy works to equip clients with useful skills in four major areas:

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What is DBT Treatment?

DBT

What is DBT Treatment?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral treatment developed by Marsha Linehan in the 1980s which was originally intended to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). People who are trying to cope with BPD often experience incredibly intense negative emotions that might be very difficult for them to manage. These emotions can negatively affect their mental health, sleep, eating, working, and interpersonal relationships, along with other facets of their lives. It’s

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The Beneficial Scope of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DBT

The Beneficial Scope of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cognitive-behavioral therapy initially designed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder. However, its scope has expanded over the years. It is now used to treat various mental health disorders by teaching patients to live in the moment, develop healthy coping strategies, and improve relationships.

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What Happens In DBT Therapy: 5 Things To Keep In Mind

All Articles

What Happens In DBT Therapy: 5 Things To Keep In Mind

Here at Grouport we offer a wide variety of therapy types conducted completely online, from the comfort of your home. These sessions often include various forms of psychotherapy and talk therapy, including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Our therapists are well versed in treating a wide variety of mental health issues and other conditions, and are formally trained in many different therapeutic approaches, including DBT.‍Typically, ind

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Using Therapy to Manage Chronic Illness or Disability

Chronic Illness

Using Therapy to Manage Chronic Illness or Disability

Living with a chronic illness or disability presents a unique set of physical and mental challenges. While medical treatments focus on managing physical symptoms, therapy can play a vital role in addressing the emotional and psychological aspects. This article explores how therapy can be an effective tool for managing chronic illness or disability.

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Chronic Illness & CBT For Mental Health: An Introductory Guide

Chronic Illness

Chronic Illness & CBT For Mental Health: An Introductory Guide

Whether you recently received a diagnosis of chronic illness, or are years into your journey, you’ve likely wrestled with the intense mental health challenges that can follow a diagnosis. It’s not surprising that the uncertainty, lifestyle changes, and costly or even painful treatments often come with emotions such as depression, grief, sadness, denial, and anxiety.‍When working through living with chronic illness, it can be common for doctors and caregivers to focus primarily on your physical h

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Here’s What You Need To Know About Healing From Grief & Loss

Grief & Loss

Here’s What You Need To Know About Healing From Grief & Loss

Moving on after losing a loved one is never easy. Wherever there has been deep emotions, like love and affection, there will be emptiness and grief in its absence. Adjusting to the reality of life without your loved one is not easy, quick, or predictable in its process. Healing from grief & loss is unique to each person and their journey. ‍Your Grieving Journey Is Unique To YOU‍Some people describe moments in their healing process as dissociative, while others feel shattered, or even co

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A Survival Guide To Living With BPD

BPD

A Survival Guide To Living With BPD

If you’re struggling under the weight of your Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) diagnosis, you’re not alone. For almost 2% of the American population, this mental health condition poses significant challenges. You may be overwhelmed by intense emotions, loneliness, hopelessness, anger, or even numbness. All of these feelings can make everyday life very challenging for those living with BPD. The good news? Thousands of people just like you have learned how to live rich and fulfilling lives, e

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