Want to Improve Your Mental Health? Move Your Body!

It’s no secret that physical activity is great for both your physical and mental health. Exercise releases endorphins, which make us feel good - leading to improved moods and reducing stress levels. Unfortunately, as we get busier with work and family obligations it can be hard to find the time (or motivation) to exercise regularly. That's why it’s important that you take some time out of your weekly schedule for purposeful physical movement – whether it’s a fun group class at the gym or simply going for a walk around the neighborhood – because there are real benefits when it comes to improving your overall mental health! In this blog post, we'll discuss the importance of having regular bouts of physical activity in order to experience these positive effects on our minds.

What is EMDR?

If you've been hearing about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) recently, you are not alone. This innovative and powerful therapeutic tool is quickly gaining traction in the professional world of mental health therapy as a way to help people work through difficult experiences. In this blog post we'll be exploring what exactly EMDR is, the vast array of benefits it offers individuals who use it for treatment, and why you should consider adding it to your psychotherapy repertoire if you're a practicing therapist or psychologist.

Gray Rock Method to Defend Against Narcissists

Dealing with a narcissist can be grueling and a constant battle. It can be hard to identify narcissistic behavior, but once you do, you need to prepare to handle their tactics. The gray rock method is a technique that has proven valuable in dealing with narcissists. In this blog, we'll explore how to use the gray rock method to defend against narcissists.

Overcoming Trauma with Therapy

Trauma can have a significant impact on someone's life, causing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While there are many different therapies available to help individuals overcome trauma, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is gaining popularity for its success in helping people heal from traumatic experiences. This therapy has proven to be particularly effective when traditional talk therapy has not worked. In this blog post, we will explore how EMDR therapy works and its benefits.

How Do I Know if This Is Working? : The Importance of Setting Goals for Therapy

When you see a medical doctor for a throat infection, you know the antibiotic you were prescribed is working when your fever goes away and your throat feels better. When you see a therapist in order to improve your mental health, determining whether or not you’re making progress can be a little more tricky. Along with your therapist, however, you can and should set goals that will help guide your therapy and will allow you to measure the progress you’re making along the way. This blog post will discuss why goal-setting is crucial, how it can benefit you, and how to set effective goals for your therapy sessions.

Understanding the Symptoms of Betrayal Trauma

When we think of betrayal, we usually associate it with cheating or infidelity in romantic relationships. Betrayal, however, can happen in any type of relationship, including friends, family members, and even within professional settings. Betrayal trauma is a type of psychological trauma that occurs when someone we trust or rely on breaches our trust. The effects of betrayal can be overwhelming and long-lasting, leading to a host of emotional and physical symptoms.

The Global Importance of LGBTQIA+ Rights during Pride Month

June is Pride Month, a commemoration of the Stonewall riots in 1969, which led to the gay rights movement and activism. Pride Month celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community's right to love and be loved openly, without fear of discrimination or persecution. While society has come a long way in terms of recognizing and accepting this community's rights, there is still a long way to go. In our last blog, we explored anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation being proposed in Texas and throughout the United States. This blog will examine LGBTQIA+ rights in international law, mental health issues that affect this community, and how we can help reduce the criminalization of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

The Dangerous Consequences of Anti-LGBTQIA+ Laws on Mental Health and Safety

Disturbingly, 2023 has the distinction of being a record-setting year for the number of anti-LGBTQIA+ bills introduced in state legislatures across the United States. The hatred that fuels legislative action threatens both the physical and emotional safety of the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride month should be a time for celebration, but the war on LGBTQIA+ means that we must also recognize the harm that legislative action causes and take action to protect the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ individuals. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Texas’ governing body is legalizing discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals, the damaging effects of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws on mental health, the role of extremism in promoting anti-LGBTQIA+ laws, and what can be done to support LGBTQIA+ individuals in these challenging times.

The Connection between Pride Month, LGBTQIA+ Identity, Mental Health, and Therapy

At Ray Family Therapy, we believe strongly in the value of the Gottman Relationship Checkup as a tool for couples’ therapy. All clients will complete the Gottman Relationship Checkup at their first session, and our therapists are trained to interpret the results of the checkup and incorporate the information learned through the checkup to create a plan of action for couples’ therapy.

How to Strengthen Your Relationship with the Gottman Relationship Checkup

At Ray Family Therapy, we believe strongly in the value of the Gottman Relationship Checkup as a tool for couples’ therapy. All clients will complete the Gottman Relationship Checkup at their first session, and our therapists are trained to interpret the results of the checkup and incorporate the information learned through the checkup to create a plan of action for couples’ therapy.