During the past week, I have been counseling clients in the Brentwood area on a variety of topics, but one recurrent topic continues to surface in most conversations. The idea that it is healthier to consider infinite possibilities rather than absolute labels, thoughts, or perceptions.

It can be very easy for us to pin someone else into a corner, or box- it gives us a feeling of security- to know how to manage people or outcomes.  However, when you can take the person out of the box and instead use the word, "Maybe they are ______, or a part of them may show _______, it allows us to connect with the "what if" we have that same trait of our own selves.

 Creating judgements in our heads is not a bad thing per se, but creating specific ideas that don't allow ourselves, others, or situations to evolve, can not be considered the healthiest coping tool for our emotional growth.

True growth is found with true acceptance. True acceptance stems from unconditional positive regard form you towards something inward or outward.

Growth comes from a give and take relationship- being able to coexist with the infinite variables of your self and your environment. Plants do not grow on their own, they need sun, water, soil. Babies can not thrive without interactions of a caretaker including food and shelter.

Consider the labels you place on yourself, others, or certain situation- characteristics that may be boxing yourself into a very limited perspective. For your emotional growth to develop stronger, consider replanting "overcrowded roots in a too small container" into a larger flower pot, to breathe in space for fresh perspective and room to flourish.

Annie Jung, M.A, LPCC is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Brentwood, CA. Her private practice provides mental health therapy for children, teens, adults, families, and couples. "Affordable and Effective Counseling for Clients of All Ages." Contact Annie Jung, M.A, LPCC for a free phone consultation or to schedule an appointment: 925-759-7200 or akjcounseling@yahoo.com
www.anniejungcounseling.com

Annie Jung, LPCC offers Women's Wellness Retreat

Women, ladies, moms, sisters, girlfriends in the East Bay area of Northern California, you are invited to "Relax, Renew, Refresh"... at the Women's Wellness Retreat, hosted by Annie Jung, M.A, LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.) The four-hour wellness counseling retreat will take place Saturday, December 8th, 2012 from 10am-4pm at the Awakening Center, located in the foothills of Mt. Diablo.
 

Women can become so busy juggling way too many things on the never ending to-do list, and start to lose steam near the end of the year, finding themselves exhausted especially between the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday crunch. 

Give yourself, or a woman you care about, the gift of time for herself- to reflect on the blessings of the year, emotional growth, goals achieved, direction visioned in the future, commitment to personal and professional roles, and acceptance and development of your true and whole self.

This day retreat will include lunch, quiet meditation, wellness talks, sharing circles, personal reflection breaks, and a take-home journal. Wear comfortable clothes, and bring a yoga mat or mediation cushion if you would like. 

For more information or to register, contact Annie Jung at 925-759-7200 or akjcounseling@yahoo.com. Visit www.anniejungcounseling.com for more information about her private mental health counseling practice. www.anniejungcounseling.com

Pre-registration required, $95 includes lunch. Bring a friend discount, and you both receive $15 off.

Location: 9701 Deer Valley Rd. Brentwood, CA 94513 

"Long Term Emotional Investment" Counseling Divorce & Custody Issues within Family Therapy

As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, many of my therapy conversations with families that I work with turn to the topic of how children are dealing with divorce and custody. As adults, it is infinitely clear how common the rate of divorce is. One of the harder moments of parenting truth is realized that choices made by the adults will be lived out in after effects by the children's daily lives. Plain and simple, children don't marry nor divorce; but yet a significant percentage of every school desks in our country seat children who are from a divorced family. 

This is somewhat parallel to the Social Security predicament of the United States, when it was announced that the generation of a certain age should not count on receiving Social Security checks for retirement. The money  just won't be there, it will run its course, and sadly- although I am still having it taken out of my payroll check, I can't count on it this money to be there at the end. It isn't that the system is bad, or the money is more valuable to one person or another, or that I don't deserve to  receive it. No, it was just that the Social Security system didn't go quite as planned, for as long as everyone had counted on, and it will end, and I got the end of the stick.

I remember watching former President Bush gives this speech, and he said something to the effect of: "...people who are under a certain age- you should not count on receiving a Social Security check. You need to make other retirement plans. There will not be any money for you this way; so plan accordingly."

Sure, I was mad and aggravated, and it felt unfair that I still had to keep paying although I wouldn't receive anything when I was "old and gray". But, I do remember thinking, "Well, at least he told us. It is better to know now than to find out later, when I really need it."

The point of this comparison, is that parents who are helping their children work through divorce and custody issues should always aim for Honesty, and Planning Ahead for a Changed Future. Of course, neither parent should ever take Honesty as a open forum for bashing, berating, and/or digging up unnecessary or age- inappropriate details. But, Honesty is important to use in conversations with the children for information on financial or housing changes, remarriages, and availability to be at school or extra-curricular events due to custody agreements.

So, the kids know the divorce is taking place, and that their time will be spent differently. Some kids have a harder time letting go of the old way, and some parents have a hard time planning a changed future. Holiday get-togethers and traditions may look very different now, as to the location and who is present or absent. Parents taking the route of Planning Ahead for a Changed Future will allow their children the confidence to not fear what is unknown. Remove the fear with information and plans as to what will be replaced, changed, or removed. It is much scary to a child to hear, "I don't know what we are going to do now, but I love you" as compared to "I love you, and here is what we are going to do about this change..." If you don't know how to plan ahead, seek a counselor or trusted family member. If your child feels you can plan the changed future ahead, they may take on the emotional burden of feeling the need to take care of it all themselves.

Children are indeed resilient, they do bounce back faster than adults- it is quite remarkable actually! But, don't let it fool you that their springiness is the same things as their ability to work through divorce and custody emotional issues on their own. As a divorced parent, when you aren't sure the next step in helping your child, start with Honesty and Planning Ahead for a Changed Future. It will give you solidarity, strength, and confidence that you will be able to provide a healthier emotional investment in your child's long-term future holdings.

Annie K. Jung is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Brentwood, CA. Her private practice specialized in mental health therapy for children, teens, and families and is located within the non-profit Awakening Center. She can be reached at akjcounseling@yahoo.com.

When was the last time you truly felt listened to?

That is the essence of what counseling is about. It is a time, set apart in your schedule, that truly becomes about you and only you. Sometimes, in this modern on-the go lifestyle, many people wish for more "me time"- but when it actually happens, and you are sitting face-to-face with a trained professional listener- it can be nerve-wracking to really just have a 50 minute session about you. Each of us, are full of so rich history, layers, personality, realtionships, desires, fears.... if we stop to ponder- we just might see a flaw, or a crack, or something that makes us feel uncomfortable, vulnerable. We feel exposed, and our socialized human condition doesn't celebrate emotional exposure- so to seek comfort one becomes conditioned to keep moving on by, without a pause for self-reflection or awakening to their true inner whole self.  

However, the strongest are those who do find a moment of pause, to value the strength in owning who they are- looking at their rich inner details and experiences from multiple perspective, and braving the idea of knowing- the more you understand your authentic self, the more acceptance you become capable of, and the more joy flows abundantly in your life, relationships, and efforts.

As a LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) in Brentwood, CA- I work with children, teens, parents, adults of all ages. I can verify that ther is a moment that happens when I can see when "it clicks" in my clients- they feels that I am listening to them completely- and instantaneously they open up! They take a moment of courgae to face a fear, or voice a doubt, or let an emotion out in a place where they feel safe and not judged.

Therapeutic listening is essential for conversations that build trust. Building trust between client and therapist is essential for exploring the emotional history and layers within therapy sessions. The truth is in many people lives, there just aren't too many places left where you can reveal your true thoughts and feelings to a real person who isn't going to abandon you. Instead, this person- your counselor- is just there to listen, to help you become stronger and healthier on your journey into joyful living ahead.

I truly believe finding a great counselor who you feel truly listens to you- and making that a set time in your schedule, can be the difference in looking everywhere else for joyful living rather than seeing that is inside already. Counselors are professional tools that can bring you through the working journey of self-awareness, leading to self-acceptance, leading to living a life that fulfills your every hope, desire, and satisfaction. Whether you need a counselor might hinge on your answer: When was the last time I truly felt listened to?