stress

Each and every one of us responds to stress differently. Some of us respond to stress by eating more than we usually do while others eat less than they are used to when they are stressed. Some of us exercise until they push themselves too far while others may stop their exercise regimens. Some use smoking, drinking and drugs to try to escape the stress in their lives. Sometimes, we may choose to withdraw from our friends, families and activities while some of us fill up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems, which leads to added stress. How does our stress response impact the way we respond to others? Are we often even mindful or aware of this? How can this affect our relationships? What can we do to improve the quality of our relationships?

Earning his Master’s Degree in Counseling and License in Marriage and Family Therapy, Mr. Jude Johnson practices at Akeen Mind in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jude specializes in the practice of mindfulness, meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy. He has attended extensive training on the practice of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and has applied these skills into clinical practice. Jude has worked in an array of settings including inpatient psychiatric/substance abuse, home based family therapy, alternative schools, emergency services, and outpatient clinics both as a therapist and administrator. Jude utilizes mindfulness and family systems theory as base ingredients to optimize the well-being of organizations, professionals, and people from all walks of life. He has experienced the benefits of practicing mindfulness first hand and is passionate about helping others discover their own inner resources for managing stress, pain and illness.

To find out more about Jude Johnson and his practice, Akeen Mind, you can visit their website or call (843) 364-5921 for an appointment.

Is a life-threatening diagnosis endangering your relationship?

Life-threatening diseases and illnesses, like cancer, are never easy to cope with in any circumstance. When these illnesses come into your life, you are faced with the possibility of not surviving the sickness. Not only are you dealing with the unknown, but you have the doctor’s visits and medical bills to deal with. When you have to go to several follow-ups to see the progression, or regression, of the illness, you are having to take time off of work. When you take time off of work, you aren’t receiving as much income as you were before. With the increasing medical expenses, income is important to be able to pay off these debts. These effects of the illness can put stress not only on yourself but onto your loved ones as well. What can we do to move forward in our relationships when our loved one is dealing with a life-threatening illness.

Earning her Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology, Dr. Gina LaFrazza is founder and owner of Gina LaFrazza, Psy.D., PLLC.  Dr. LaFrazza is a licensed psychologist with over ten years of experience in various sub-fields of psychology. She works with individuals, couples and families across the lifespan, providing therapy and comprehensive psychological and educational assessments. Dr. LaFrazza has a range of experience stemming from her work in a variety of settings. She has conducted assessments in one of the top hospitals in the nation for rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury, provided therapy in college counseling centers such the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and provided various services in private practices. Dr. LaFrazza is a member of the North Carolina Psychological Association.

To find out more about Dr. Gina LaFrazza and her practice, Gina LaFrazza Psy.D. PLLC, you can visit their website or call (919) 747-1531 for an appointment.

Do you have the skills to transform crises into connection in your relationship?

Hollywood tends to portray marriages and relationships in such a harmonious way where communication, trust, and honesty are never an issue.. However, we are all aware that relationships are never perfect and take quite a bit of work from both partners to be successful. Couples may have difficulties agreeing on the way to manage finances, raise children or spend their free time. In these times of disagreement things can get tense and uncomfortable for both people involved. We all tend to deal with these problems in different ways. Some people may instinctively get defensive while others may try to ignore the problem altogether. How do you turn these times of conflict into a way to connect with one another.

Earning her Doctoral Degree in Counseling Psychology at Temple University, Dr. Susan Orenstein is founder and director of Orenstein Solutions in Cary, North Carolina. Dr. Orenstein has devoted her professional career to helping individuals and couples improve their most intimate relationships. She specializes in relationship and couples issues. Dr. Orenstein is committed to providing state-of-the-art practices in marital counseling and to that end, continues to attend professional training programs.

 To find out more about Dr. Susan Orenstein and her practice, Orenstein Solutions, you can visit their website  or call (919) 428-2766 for an appointment.