Different Abilities in the Workplace
Inclusion in the workplace is a relatively new concept in our history, marked by the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and its subsequent updates and iterations. Of course, people with different abilities were found in the workplace long before 1990, but the ADA has made it law that employers may not […]
Special Needs and Friendship
When a parent or caregiver receives a diagnosis for their child, a myriad of thoughts, hopes, dreams and fears flood that parents mind. The medical and financial costs, the emotional turmoil and trauma that comes with navigating medical and mental health scare systems, and the educational battles that come along with a special needs diagnosis […]
How To React When Someone Comes Out
Coming out – the process of revealing your sexual or gender identity to others around you – can be terrifying. Yet in an effort to live authentically, congruently, and freely, it is necessary to divulge certain very personal pieces of information with loved ones. We unfortunately live in a “heteronormative” society, which means that others […]
Welcome Jessy Coleman, LPC-Intern!
It is with great pleasure that Upside Therapy and Evaluation Center welcomes our new therapist, Jessica “Jessy” Coleman, LPC-Intern. Jessy is supervised by Nichole Lecznar, MS, LPC-S. Jessy received her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Oklahoma State University, and she is currently in the process of obtaining her second Master’s degree in Applied […]
Treatment Guidelines for Transgender Individuals
Historically, the mental health and medical communities have not always had the best understanding of transgender and gender diverse health care and mental health needs – nor the best intentions in caring for those who are not cis-gender. Thankfully, research, understanding, and humanity have evolved into a growing de-stigmatization of gender diversity. Internationally, movement is […]
Parenting A Child With A Disability
Parenting is hard, bringing risks and rewards, struggles and highlights. This is no different for a parent who has a child with a disability. Yet parents of special needs children also experience increased isolation and loneliness, additional roles of warrior and advocate, and increased fears about the future, and ones’ own mortality. The experiences of […]
How To Make, And Keep, New Years Resolutions
Research has shown that while over half of Americans make New Years resolutions at the start of a new year, only 8% of Americans keep or fulfill their goal. Problems identified in why they can’t keep their goals include goals that are too vague, too hard to attain, or take too long to see results. […]
How to Cultivate Gratitude in Your Family
Increasing research supports the benefits of gratitude and a healthy practice of focusing attention on appreciations and gratefulness. While this sounds great in theory, it can be hard to introduce this habit into the daily routine of family life. Our aim is to provide resources and tips to help introduce a practice of gratitude that […]
Belonging: The Barriers, and the Benefits
To know that we are not alone, that we are indeed a part of something larger, is a psychological need that occurs as early as childhood. Studies have shown that to be a part of a group or to have social connections are as critical to human survival as food, water, and shelter. In fact, […]
Teaching Consent to Children
As it often occurs, national events and headlines make their way to your living rooms and kitchen tables, and into our therapy offices, as well. Lately, questions about consent, boundaries, and healthy sexual expression have been occurring, as well as a question of “When should these topics be taught?” Theoretically, it should be easy. A […]