CHILDREN

  • stress management

  • phobias: a strong, overwhelming and irrational fear of something that poses little or no real danger; there are numerous types, but some common ones are:

    • fear of closed-in spaces (claustrophobia)

    • fear of heights, fear of flying

    • fear of a specific animal, like snakes, spiders, etc.

  • OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder): there are numerous examples of having this type of intense and chronic anxiety related to persistent thoughts, urges, or images that lead to repetitive and compulsive behaviors, but some common ones include fears:

    • about germs and getting sick/contaminated

    • about physical health and fear that one has a disease or serious illness

    • involving aggressive impulses (about possibly hurting someone else or themselves - e.g. fear of kicking someone for no reason, fear that they might suddenly swerve their car off the road for no reason)

    • involving doubts about their physical safety (always checking locks on doors, frequently checking to make sure stove/oven is off, etc.)

  • life transitions:

    • leaving home for the first time (becoming independent)

    • getting married

    • having babies/young children

    • changes in job/career

    • parents launching teens/young adults

    • empty nester (i.e. parents whose children have left home)

    • mid-life struggles

    • “sandwich generation” (parents who have children at home and who are also caring for their aging parents)

    • change in living situation due to physical decline or need for greater assistance with daily tasks

  • grief and loss

  • LGTBQ

  • depression:

    • from mild to severe

    • depressive symptoms in reaction to a specific event

    • symptoms that are a distinct experience from how the person normally thinks/acts

    • symptoms that have been more or less chronic and consistent with how the person thinks/feels/acts throughout their life

  • anxiety (phobias can be under this major category as well):

    • generalized anxiety – chronic worry about many areas of life (work, school, family, relationships)

    • social anxiety – extreme nervousness in social situations (personal situations and/or work)

    • with panic attacks – physical feelings (e.g. increased heart rate/palpitations, sweating, shaking/trembling, feeling nauseated, feeling dizzy, feeling like can't breathe/swallow, etc.) that come on suddenly either in response to a specific situation (e.g. flying in an airplane) or that seem to come on out of no where (can't figure out why having the panic)

  • PTSD – intense anxiety symptoms related to a traumatic experience (past or current)

  • divorce

  • blended family issues:

    • step family adjusting to life together

    • remarriage without children

  • Bipolar disorder - there are several types of bipolar disorder, all involve episodes of depression and mania to a degree; manic symptoms include periods of elevated mood or irritability; when experiencing a manic episode, a patient often has high energy levels with reduced need for sleep; depression symptoms include feeling sad, low energy, low motivation, or loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities:   

    • Bipolar I

    • Bipolar II

    • Cyclothymic Disorder

  • family conflict

  • struggles with emotional regulation – difficulty managing one's emotional states in a manner that leads to healthy choices/decisions, behaviors and interactions; lacking the skills to manage our emotions in a productive manner, to reduce how vulnerable we are to negative emotions, and to build positive emotional experiences

  • problems with anger management