John Ernst, PhD, LPC Talks About… CHILDREN AND TECHNOLOGY   It used to be that the only technological issues parents had to be concerned about were how much time their children spent in front of the TV or on the (corded) telephone. Times have certainly changed. Today, kids desire a variety of video and computer […]

Amanda Anderson, LPC Talks About… FIGHTING THE WINTER BLUES: FOODS FOR A MOOD PICK-ME-UP     Photo by Kristina Tripkovic on Unsplash The start of the winter season should bring about joy and holiday cheer, right? This is not the case for many far from the equator. In fact, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects a […]

John Ernst, PhD, LPC Talks About… THE PARTY’S OVER, NOW WHAT?   Christmas and New Year’s were times of joy and celebration for many people. Not only were the actual events pleasant, the time spent in anticipation of and preparation for the holidays gave you something to look forward to. But the pary’s over, so […]

John Ernst, PhD, LPC Talks About… TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE   In my practice, I often meet people who report that they’ve misplaced the ability to move forward in their lives. They say they are dissatisfied with their existence and they don’t like how they feel. Although day-to-day functioning may not necessarily be a […]

John Ernst, PhD, LPC Talks About… A SENSE OF HUMOR IS NO JOKE   The pandemic. World conflict. Mass shootings. Internet scams. Politics. Natural disasters. Watching the news on TV hasn’t been a very pleasant experience lately. Not to mention the overdue bills, the ‘D’ that little Jimmy just got in math, and the argument […]

John Ernst, PhD, LPC Talks About… DREAM A LITTLE DREAM   Recently, there has been an increased focus on the importance of getting adequate, productive sleep. National Sleep Awareness Week was March 14-20, World Sleep Day was March 19th, and March has been designated as Better Sleep Month. Sleep is important to all of us, […]

  John Ernst, PhD, LPC Talks About… YELLING AT YOUR KIDS!   The Problem: I often hear this complaint from frustrated parents: “My kids won’t respond unless I yell and scream at them. I’ve tried everything, and yelling is the only thing that works.” You probably haven’t tried everything, but you’re obviously feeling trapped in […]

John Ernst, PhD, LPC Talks About… GIVING IT YOUR BEST SHOT   In my practice, I frequently treat patients who struggle with a variety of fears and phobias, as well as the uncomfortable anxiety that accompanies these conditions. A fear of needles or getting a ‘shot’ (injections, vaccinations, blood draws, etc.) ranks high on their […]

By: Trish Torzala, LPC   The month of September tends to be the signature month that transitions the summer season into fall – kids return to school, people pull out the sweaters and (what’s become cliché) coffee shops roll out pumpkin spice everything. Over the past several years, the month of September has also become […]

John Ernst, PhD, LPC Talks About… TALKING TO GOOD KIDS ABOUT BAD STUFF   The current uncertainty about local, national, and world health issues is potentially stressful for many adults, causing changes in people’s lifestyles as well as in the way they think. Psychologically, it is important to avoid ‘anticipatory anxiety,’ where people become unnecessarily […]