Services Provided

As a result, workers can become burnt out, and are no longer engaged, leading to a loss of productivity and self-fulfillment. Long-term, work and organization stress can lead to anxiety, depression, or other serious mental health issues, if we do not have constructive coping skills.

A phenomenon we have not experienced in our lifetime: the current pandemic which has caused a severe global economic deterioration and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs, presenting new, unprecedented challenges.

These challenges may seem overwhelming, but you can regain control.  You have the power to reorganize your life to reprioritize what is most important, to regain balance. Our clinicians can guide your path in discovering insights into alternative perspectives to re-evaluate, re-energize and re-engage.

Common signs of depression:

• Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Angry outbursts, irritability, agitation, or frustration
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
• Sleep disturbances (insomnia, or increase amount of sleep)
• Tiredness and lack of energy- extra effort is exerted for even small tasks
• Appetite disturbances (reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased cravings and weight gain)
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, with a fixation of past failures, or self-blame
• Trouble in thinking, concentrating, decision-making, remembering; slowed thinking, speaking, or body movement
• Frequent or recurring thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts, or suicide

If you think you may hurt yourself, or attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency room number immediately. Another option is to call the National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255); to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, call the same number, and press “1.”

If you have a loved one who is in danger of suicide, or has made a suicide attempt, ensure that he or she is not alone. Call 911 or your local emergency room number immediately. If you believe it is safe to do so, take the person to the nearest emergency room.

You are important. You have value. The feelings associated with depression are misleading—there is always hope. Together, with our clinicians, we navigate the route towards wellness. Our clinicians are experienced in treating depression utilizing a variety of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), focused on the present and problem solving. As every person is an individual, every individualist problem has an individualistic solution. We hope to embark on that expedition with you, to discover that solution.

Life Stress

We have all experienced stress in our lives, whether the death of a loved one, a divorce, an increase in financial obligation, or experiencing a chronic illness or injury (or being a caregiver)—the common thread: a huge life change. Change can be overwhelming, yet you have the power to persevere through it. We believe in the strength each person possesses, and their capability to harness that strength to overcome adversity, to actively create positive change— steps in the path towards overall wellness.

We believe each person has the right to live a healthy, balanced life, with the freedom to seek support and treatment. Our clinicians are experienced in guiding our male clients in opening themselves and accepting support. Seeking and accepting support and treatment is a sign of strength, as the individual is actively seeking tools for personal growth. The healthy coping skills and tools our clinicians can equip our clients include emotional regulation, effective communication, and focusing on self-care (taking time for leisure and hobbies), helping to improve mood, which not only contributes to healthy wellness in body and mind, but also in establishing and maintaining healthy relationships.

A part of that adjustment and transition is a grieving process. We grieve the person we have lost; we grieve the relationship we have lost; we grieve the person we used to be. We may not necessarily move on, but we do move with. We forge forward with that person we lost; we forge forward with what we have learned in a healthier relationship; we forge forward with who we previously were.

One of the most heartbreaking things we experience as humans is loss, and we grieve for that loss. One myth about grief is that there is a set duration of time. There isn’t. We may even grieve forever, where for some of us, that loss is so profound, we may need a little extra help and support to manage that grief. 

When we love someone, we easily slip into the present tense when we speak of them. That is normal. That person is still present for us, as that person will always be a part of us. Grief, like memories, will always hurt, but will also happen alongside all other emotions. Our memories will always be bittersweet, so we never truly move on, we move forward with those memories.

Rainbow Bridge, La Connor, WA

As life transitions can be both positive and negative, we may need a little guidance in navigating the negative or overwhelming; perhaps it is a loss of a job, or loss of a relationship. The most devastating: the loss of identity, perhaps due to a chronic, debilitating, or terminal illness— something out of our control.  We do grieve for that life transition; as that transition is a loss, in order to gain.

Most Common Life Transitions

• Marriage
• Divorce
• Become a Parent
• Loss of Loved One
• New Job or Career Path
• Loss of Job
• Retirement
• Relocation
• Chronic or Debilitating Illness
• Terminal Illness
• Other Health Issues

Not only is there a transition for the person who now needs to be cared for, there is a transition for the family member, most often the spouse, who now takes on the role of caregiver. The dynamic of the relationship changes, where the caregiver must take on more responsibilities and consequently, additional stress. The identity discrepancy (the blurred line between spouse and caregiver) can cause a strain on the caregiver, the care recipient, and their relationship, as no one likes the term, “caregiver,” and the care recipient does not necessarily want to be taken care of, feeling as if he or she is no longer independent or have autonomy. However, coping with the reality of the situation is a crucial step. 

The caregiver can also have a loss of identity, having transitioned from their role as partner, friend, confidante, to the role of caregiver, taking on much more responsibility, increasing stress level the caregiver may not even recognize or acknowledge. It is also important to recognize the caregiver, as his or her needs also matter; care giving can take a toll on the caregiver’s health, both physically and mentally. 

Studies indicate:

• Approximately 18 percent of spouse caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia, die before their care recipients
• Approximately 30 percent of caregivers, in general, die before their care recipients
• Elderly caregivers are at a 63 percent higher risk of mortality compared to non-caregivers in the same age range

Therefore, it is imperative for caregivers to take steps towards improving their quality of life, as he or she is placing everyone else’s needs above their own, often feeling powerless. However, in a seemingly uncontrollable situation, the caregiver can become empowered by taking care of their own needs as well, setting time for themselves and not allowing anything to impede it. That time can include speaking with one of clinicians, relieving yourself of what feels to be the burden of increased responsibility, taken on alone. The caregiver must be healthy and in a good place to provide the best care. In caring for themselves, the caregiver will be in a better state of mind, not only for themselves, but also for others. We hope to embark on the journey with you, navigating through the stresses of your role as a caregiver, as you travel the path towards to your rediscovery.

It is okay to take off that superhero cape.