I get it, a mental health diagnosis can be spooky!

In the many years that I have been practicing therapy, I have heard countless clients struggling with their mental health identify themselves as “lazy” because they were not able to exercise or consistently work out. 

As a therapist, I work with my clients to challenge this criticism and negative self-attribute as it is often not an identity characteristic, rather a symptom of their existing mental health issue. 

There are a lot of webpages out there on “spotting” or “identifying” a narcissist, with one of the top google searches being “Signs I’m Dating a Narcissist.” Most of these articles give you a  lists of signs, symptoms, and behaviors that are typical in relationships with someone who has Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Much of them focusing on what someone else does as signs or symptoms you may be dating a narcissist.

You’ve probably heard it before, “I don’t need therapy, I have my bestie!” or a slew of other comments equating social support from non-trained individuals with professional counseling…even bartenders and hairstylists. 
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All the while much of our society still views talking through our feelings, relationships, or problems as weak, gossip, or complaining.​