category title
Family Counseling Hayward, California
Family Counseling Hayward, California Learn more about the benefits of family therapy and how to find your family counseling Hayward options here. Home Table of Contents What is Family Counseling? Engaging in family therapy is often an important part of the recovery process. Since family can be the biggest support in navigating any challenges in […]
The Basics of Coping
The Basics of Coping This year the theme for Mental Health Awareness Month was “Back to Basics,” which makes me think about the basics of how we cope. Often times in treatment I hear the following statement, “I don’t know what to do, I have no coping skills.” Most people have coping skills but they […]
Brainspotting (BSP) Part 1: What’s in Your Brain?
Brainspotting (BSP) Part 1: What’s in Your Brain? In last month’s post, we discussed the clinical presentation of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD). These carry a constellation of symptoms that can be a significant challenge to treat. One reason for this difficulty is that talk-therapy, and even “gold-standard” treatments (e.g. Cognitive Processing Therapy) […]
Complex PTSD: What is it and how do we treat it?
Alternative options Complex PTSD: What is it and how do we treat it? Many of us are aware of the diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): this is a fear-based disorder stemming from the experience of an overwhelming stressor. Examples of stressors that may lead to a PTSD include single or discreet/time-limited-incidents such as combat, […]
What is Reiki?
What is Reiki? Reiki is an energy healing technique that promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety through gentle touch or hands hovering above the body. The term comes from the Japanese words rei (universal) and ki (life force). When ki is flowing freely, the mind and body are in its most optimal and balanced state. Reiki […]
Cultivating Gratitude
Cultivating Gratitude When thinking about the holiday season we think about togetherness, spending time with people we are close to, and seeing family members that we may not have seen for a long time. For some, this brings up feelings of joy and excitement, and for others it brings up sadness and stress. Cultivating gratitude […]
The Importance of Self-Talk
The Importance of Self-Talk Self-talk, the way in which we speak to ourselves. The way that we speak to ourselves is extremely important, it sets us up for the relationships that we enter, provides us with the basis for the treatment we allow in our lives, and impacts how we believe we deserve to be […]
Mental Health Toolkit
Mental Health Toolkit The world has been in a constant state of change, especially over the past couple years. At Alternative Options we put together a free Mental Health Toolkit designed to alleviate stress during these times. The worksheets and exercises offered here are an introduction to some things that can help manage your mental […]
Transitioning Back To School
Transitioning Back To School Missing School Returning back to school brings along a mix of emotions for many students. I don’t think any of us thought that kids would say that they missed school. The consensus has been that kids missed having face-to-face interactions. Having classes online was difficult to get acclimated to for various […]
How to show up in relationships & the best way to get your needs met
How to show up in relationships & the best way to get your needs met I’ll pose a question: If you can’t identify how you feel or what you need, how can you expect others to meet those needs? You, yourself have to feel your feelings to even get to a place of knowing what […]
