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Avoiding Political Stress
In a world of constant political noise, it’s easy to feel anxious, angry, or overwhelmed. Political discussions and media can activate our body’s stress response—impacting sleep, mood, and overall well-being. But feeling emotionally charged by politics isn’t weakness; it’s a normal human reaction to deeply held values and uncertainty about the future.
Nick Vogt, LPCA
Nov 24, 20251 min read


Men's Mental Health: Why It Matters, How It's Different, and How We Can Support It
Men’s Mental Health Month encourages us to break the silence around men’s emotional struggles. By supporting honest conversations from childhood through adulthood, we help men build healthier ways to cope, connect, and ask for support. Together, we can create space for men to feel heard, understood, and empowered to care for their mental well-being.
Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Nov 18, 20254 min read


Understanding Dissociation: When the Mind Protects Itself and How Healing Begins
Dissociation isn’t weakness—it’s protection. It happens when the mind shields you from pain or trauma that feels too much to bear. You might lose time, feel detached from your body, or sense the world isn’t real. Grounding, gentle breathing, and therapy can help you reconnect with safety and presence. Healing is possible—you don’t have to do it alone.
Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Nov 13, 20255 min read


Protect Your Peace: How to Set Boundaries During the Holidays
The holidays can be joyful — and exhausting. Between family expectations, social plans, and endless to-dos, it’s easy to lose your peace. Setting healthy boundaries helps you protect your energy, say no without guilt, and focus on what really matters. This season, give yourself permission to slow down and protect your peace.
Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Nov 12, 20254 min read


Press Play for Calm
Music has been part of the human experience for over 100,000 years—and for good reason. It has the power to soothe our minds, calm our bodies, and reconnect us to the present moment. Listening to familiar, comforting songs can lower heart rate, ease muscle tension, and even trigger the release of dopamine, helping us feel grounded and safe.
Nick Vogt, LPCA
Nov 5, 20252 min read


Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Nov 1, 20250 min read


Staying Connected: Building a Lifelong Bond with Your Child
The parent–child relationship is one of life’s deepest and most lasting connections—and it evolves beautifully over time. From playful moments in childhood to meaningful conversations in adulthood, staying connected requires presence, curiosity, and love. Each stage brings new opportunities to build trust, share experiences, and strengthen emotional security.
Maria Thibodeau, LPCA
Oct 28, 20253 min read


Meta-Awareness: The Hidden Skill That Makes Therapy Work
Meta-awareness is the practice of noticing your own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors as they unfold—like taking a step back and watching your mind in action. It’s a powerful therapeutic tool that helps you recognize patterns, such as minimizing your feelings, avoiding discomfort, or rushing to fix things instead of feeling them.
Nick Vogt, LPCA
Oct 22, 20251 min read


The Stages of Grief and Permission to Feel Every Last Bit of It
Grief doesn’t follow rules—it arrives uninvited and moves at its own pace. Whether you’re mourning a loved one, a relationship, or a dream, the emotions that follow can be complex and unpredictable. The stages of grief aren’t steps to complete, but touchpoints that help us understand what we feel—denial softens the shock, anger gives voice to pain, bargaining seeks meaning, depression brings depth, and acceptance helps us live with loss in a new way.
Allyson Pisani, LPCA
Oct 21, 20252 min read


Reclaiming Desire: How Mental Health Shapes Sexual Connection and Libido
Mental health and libido are closely connected. Stress, anxiety, trauma, and depression can all impact desire, intimacy, and pleasure. Healing starts with understanding this mind-body link—rebuilding trust, communicating about needs and fantasies, and practicing consent to restore confidence, connection, and a healthy libido.
Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Oct 14, 20255 min read


Stop Feeling Pressured to Always Be Happy: Feeling "Okay" is Enough
In today's culture, it often feels as though you must always be happy, positive, and thriving . Social media overflows with smiling...
Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Oct 10, 20252 min read


Cannabis and the Developing Brain: Building Your Best "House"
Your brain between ages 12 and 25 is like a house still under construction — the wiring isn’t done yet. Using cannabis too early can alter how memory, attention, and decision-making systems develop. Today’s high-THC products can overload those circuits, increasing risks for anxiety, depression, or dependency. Understanding how cannabis affects the developing brain helps you make informed choices — so when your “house” is finished, all the lights are on.
Nick Vogt, LPCA
Oct 6, 20252 min read


GROUP THERAPY FOR TEENS
We’re excited to announce a new group therapy series designed specifically for teens! Growing up can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to managing stress, emotions, friendships, and family dynamics. This supportive group provides a safe space for teens to connect with peers, share experiences, and build healthy coping skills.
Led by licensed therapists, sessions will focus on topics like self-esteem, communication, stress management, and emotional resilience.
Maria Thibodeau, LPCA
Oct 2, 20250 min read


OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
October is Mental Health Awareness & Screening Month! This month’s newsletter highlights key events like Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct 6–12), World Mental Health Day (Oct 10), and free depression screenings happening across Connecticut. With the theme “My Mental Health at Work,” we’re focusing on how workplaces, communities, and individuals can come together to support well-being. Explore local events, helpful resources, and simple ways to check in with yourself and othe
Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Oct 1, 20250 min read


Breaking the Silence: Talking about Sex in Therapy
Couples Counseling and Sex
Couples counseling offers a powerful space to explore how sexual and emotional intimacy
interact in your relationship. Many couples come to therapy feeling stuck in a cycle: arguments about sex spill into other parts of life, or tension elsewhere shows up in the bedroom.
Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Sep 30, 20256 min read


How Student Athletes Win the Mental Game: Sports Psychology, Therapy, and Real Talk
Student-athletes push limits every day, whether it's on the field, on the track, in the gym, or in the classroom. Pressure bulbs, expectations mount, and mental health can get squeezed. But when they tap into sports psychology and therapy, they don't just survive, they thrive. At CT Counseling Group, we help student athletes unleash mental strength, sharpen focus, and build resilience that lasts.
Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Sep 30, 20254 min read


The Intersection of Sports Psychology, Mental Health, and Trauma
These professionals play a crucial role in helping athletes navigate the unique mental health challenges they face, from performance pressure to injuries and personal struggles. They don't just boost performance; they also support cognitive health and aid in the recovery from trauma.
Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Sep 30, 20252 min read


How to Communicate Effectively
Communication is truly one of the building blocks for creating secure relationships in our lives. We communicate with our partners, families, acquaintances, colleagues, strangers, and even our pets. Today, we have the ability and technology to connect with others through a wide variety of platforms.
Maria Thibodeau, LPCA
Sep 29, 20252 min read


“Wise Mind” and Finding Balance Between Emotion and Logic
Every human mind is home to two distinctive advisors, Emotional Mind, where thoughts and behaviors are driven by urgency and feeling, and...
Nick Vogt, LPCA
Sep 29, 20253 min read


Trauma, Social Media, and Therapy: Finding Balance in the Digital Age
How Trauma Shows Up Online
Trauma does not stay in the past. It reappears in everyday experiences, including online ones. A single post, image, or headline can instantly bring back painful memories. Social media also blurs boundaries. Survivors may feel pushed to share their stories before they feel ready. Others may face criticism, judgment, or insensitive comments that intensify their pain. In this way, digital spaces can retraumatize rather than comfort.
Kathleen Duong, LPCA
Sep 23, 20253 min read
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