by Essential Touchstones | Nov 13, 2023 | adolescents, children, services, therapy
Parenting is an adventure of its own—a journey filled with rewards and challenges. At Killebrew Psychological Services, we understand the complexities that come with nurturing the parent-child bond. That’s why we’re excited to feature Lauren Powell, our licensed professional counselor, who brings a wealth of experience and dedication to strengthening family dynamics.
Lauren Powell: A Pillar of Parental Guidance
Lauren Powell is not just a therapist she’s an advocate for families. With a rich background in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Lauren offers a robust toolkit for addressing the nuanced needs of parents and children alike. Her approach is both empathetic and practical, ensuring that each family member is heard, valued, and supported.
Parenting Tips from Lauren Powell
1. Embrace Effective Communication: Lauren emphasizes the importance of open dialogue. It’s not just about talking; it’s about connecting. Listen actively to your child, and express yourself clearly and with compassion.
2. Set Boundaries and Expectations: Children thrive with structure. Setting clear boundaries and expectations fosters a sense of security and respect. Lauren can help you establish these guidelines in a way that is supportive rather than restrictive.
3. Practice Patience and Consistency: Patience is the cornerstone of parenting. Consistent responses and actions create an environment of trust and understanding.
4. Engage in Family Activities: Lauren advocates for quality family time. Whether it’s a game night or a shared hobby, these moments can strengthen bonds and create lasting memories.
5. Prioritize Self-Care: Parenting can be overwhelming. Lauren reminds us that taking care of yourself is paramount. A well-rested, mentally healthy parent is better equipped to meet their child’s needs.
Comprehensive Family Support
At Killebrew Psychological Services, we offer individual counseling, family therapy, and a suite of services tailored to family counseling needs. Lauren Powell, along with our team, is dedicated to empowering parents and children to build strong, healthy relationships. From marriage counseling to trauma-informed care and addiction recovery, we’re here for every step of your family’s journey.
Whether you’re navigating the daily tasks of parenting or facing specific challenges, Lauren Powell’s expertise and personalized approach can make a significant difference. If you’re looking for guidance in strengthening your parent-child relationship or need support in other areas of family dynamics, reach out to us at Killebrew Psychological Services. Let’s work together to foster a nurturing, supportive, and loving family environment.
by Essential Touchstones | Oct 23, 2023 | massage, services, therapy, trauma
In the world of massage therapy, every now and then, someone emerges who doesn’t just possess the technical skills but carries a certain magic in their hands. Brenda Hayes is that rare gem. At Essential Touchstones, we proudly introduce Brenda Hayes as our resident massage therapist, who is renowned for her anointed hands and exceptional skill set, particularly in medical massage and trauma-informed therapy.
Brenda’s Unique Touch
It’s not just about the science for Brenda; it’s about the connection. Her understanding of the human anatomy goes beyond the muscles and sinews; she taps into the energy, the emotions, and the very essence that makes us human. This depth of understanding and intuition can be traced back to her special training.
Medical Massage: This isn’t your typical spa massage. Medical massage is targeted, specific, and purpose-driven. It aims to resolve conditions that have been diagnosed by a doctor, and Brenda has undergone rigorous training to ensure she provides relief to her clients suffering from a myriad of medical conditions. Whether it’s chronic pain, post-surgical stiffness, or any other ailment, Brenda’s medical massage techniques promise not only relief but also a path to better overall health.
Trauma-Informed Therapy: Trauma can reside deep within our muscles and tissues, manifesting as chronic tension, pain, and even emotional disturbances. Brenda’s approach to trauma-informed therapy ensures a safe, respectful, and understanding environment where clients can begin to heal both physically and emotionally. Her therapy is a holistic approach that recognizes the intricate connection between body, mind, and spirit.
Why Choose Brenda Hayes at Essential Touchstones?
With a plethora of choices available, what makes Brenda stand out? It’s her commitment, passion, and belief in the transformative power of touch. Every client is unique, and so is every session with Brenda. She doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all; her therapies are tailored to your specific needs, ensuring you walk out feeling revitalized and rebalanced.
If you’re searching for more than just a massage—if you’re looking for a holistic experience that addresses both body and soul—then Brenda Hayes at Essential Touchstones awaits.
Discover the magic of her hands. Book your session today.
Essential Touchstones is dedicated to promoting the best in therapeutic services. Our aim is to connect you with professionals who don’t just do their job but excel in their craft. Brenda Hayes exemplifies this spirit. Join us in experiencing the difference.
by Essential Touchstones | Oct 3, 2023 | adolescents, children, services, therapy
Adolescence is a critical time of growth and self-discovery, but it can also be a period of vulnerability. For some young people, the challenges they face can become overwhelming, leading to emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues. At Essential Touchstones, we understand these complexities and have curated a specialized Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) to address and support these unique needs.
Embarking on the IOP Journey
The journey into our IOP begins with a thorough Initial Assessment. This essential step ensures that every adolescent admitted to our program truly stands to benefit from it. The initial session with our IOP Coordinator is a collaborative space where both the patient and their parents come together to map out the path ahead.
Navigating Diagnosis with Psychological Evaluation
Understanding the root cause is pivotal for effective treatment. Our three-fold Psychological Evaluation process ensures a comprehensive assessment:
1. Intake Assessment with a Clinical Psychologist: A deep dive into the patient’s history, challenges, and needs.
2. Battery of Testing Assigned by Psychologist: Tailored tests to pinpoint specific issues and their intensity.
3. Test and Treatment Plan Review: A session where results are deciphered and a treatment plan is collaboratively constructed.
It’s worth noting that if the adolescent has undergone a psychological evaluation at another reputed facility in the past six months, we can seamlessly integrate those findings into our treatment strategy. Our esteemed clinical psychologists, Dr. Alyssa Killebrew, Ph.D., and Dr. Taban Salem, Ph.D., bring a wealth of experience to these evaluations, ensuring accuracy and empathy at every step.
Harnessing the Power of Individual Therapy
Therapy is a transformative tool, and at Essential Touchstones, we prioritize Individual Therapy. Unlike larger group settings, one-on-one sessions allow therapists to delve deeper into individual challenges, triggers, and aspirations. With a minimum commitment of one hour per week for the ten-week duration of the program, adolescents have the opportunity to build a trusting relationship with their therapist, fostering an environment of genuine growth and healing.
Why Essential Touchstones?
Adolescence is a time of turbulence and transition. It’s a period where the right support can mean the difference between feeling lost and finding one’s way. Our Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Treatment is not just about addressing challenges; it’s about equipping young individuals with the tools, understanding, and resilience to navigate the road ahead.
At Essential Touchstones, we don’t just treat; we transform. Join us on this journey of healing and empowerment.
by Dr. Alyssa Killebrew | Mar 16, 2023 | therapy
Healing from the life shattering impact of a sudden loss or multiple losses is an in-depth process for clients of all ages. Adjusting to a new world without a loved one can alter a person’s sense of self and may result in paralyzing sorrow.
Finding meaning after loss drastically increases a person’s well-being and reduces symptoms of complicated grief and persistent prolonged grief. Tailoring our strategies to meet the specific needs of each person and their families is our goal at Essential Touchstones. Give us a call today to schedule an intake assessment. Our grief specialist, Carver Brown, is ready to start working with you and your family today. Please call us at 769-231-9414.
by Dr. Alyssa Killebrew | Mar 16, 2023 | therapy
Tips for bad mental health days
We all have bad mental health days. It is what makes us human. These are a few tips to help you get through the days where you are “in your feelings” and need a little support:
- Cry if you need to. It can be cleansing and healing.
- Remember basic self care. Just do the very basics like showering, brushing your teeth, eating healthy, and drinking water.
- Don’t overwork yourself.
- Stay off your phone.
- Watch your favorite show.
- Sit outside and enjoy the sunshine.
Silent anxiety attacks
Silent panic attacks occur when a person has a panic attack, yet exhibits no facial expressions showing that fear or panic is occurring in the body. During a silent panic attack, the following symptoms are frequently felt:
- Changes in your vision
- Your throat closes
- Headache
- Nausea
- Intrusive thoughts
- Heart rate increases
- Derealization and depersonalization
- Dizziness and numbness in the limbs
by Dr. Taban Salem | Feb 8, 2023 | therapy
Does your child have behavioral problems at home or at school? Do you often find yourself in power struggles with your child? You’ve likely tried different punishments to control the behavior, but it keeps happening. What now?
The first step is to have grace and compassion with yourself. You are doing the best you can with a difficult situation! It is also important to remember that even though it may seem like your child aims to make you angry, every child, at the end of the day, craves positive attention from others — especially their parents. If they don’t yet have the skills to get that positive attention, they will settle for any kind of attention at all. This often means acting out in ways that drive you up the wall!
The next step is to reach out for help. You don’t have to handle this alone. At Killebrew Psychological Services and Essential Touchstones we will work with you to develop a customized behavioral modification plan. This plan will be tailor-made to your child and your home situation.
Children engage in the behaviors they do because those behaviors produce positive outcomes. The positive outcomes will be different for each child and may include things like escape from a task or situation that the child doesn’t like, attention from parents, siblings, or peers, or the satisfying feeling of empowerment that comes from behaving aggressively. For example, a child may have frequent meltdowns when they feel overwhelmed in school because they achieve the positive outcome of being sent out of the room and getting out of doing classwork. Your clinician can work with you to identify the specific positive outcomes that your child gets when they engage in a problem behavior.
Next, your clinician can help you design alternative, healthier ways for your child to achieve those positive outcomes. For example, a child could be permitted to take a short break when they raise a colored card on their desk. This would achieve the same outcome as having a meltdown (allowing them a brief escape from classwork), and they would also be praised for using the healthy coping strategy (positive attention). A child who acts out to achieve attention should be praised frequently anytime they are seen behaving calmly, playing nicely, or listening and obeying. This praise should happen immediately when the parent sees the positive behavior and should be specific (for instance, “great job folding laundry,” or “I love how you just shared a piece of apple with your sister!”).
Kids who behave aggressively because they experience strong anger or because they like the feeling of empowerment can be taught to recognize the early signs of anger in their bodies, and to use cool-down strategies. They can also be taught healthier ways of building self-esteem.
Behavior is much more easily changed by rewards than by punishments. This principle was discovered as far back as the early 1900s by researchers and it has been shown time and again in research ever since.
As a way of making good behavior even more appealing, your clinician can help you come up with a token economy – a system where your child is rewarded with tokens such as stickers or pennies when they engage in good behavior. The tokens can be traded for prizes that the child wants, such as time and attention from parents (getting to play a game or read a book together, or getting to help with a favorite job such as washing the dog or baking bread), extra screen time, getting to choose dinner, or small gifts.
