Laura - Laura Giles, LCSW

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Author:Laura

How to Make the Most Out of Therapy

Posted on September 9, 2022

in problem solving

by Laura

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People go to therapy because they have a problem. They are in pain, and want relief fast! Therapy is an investment. It takes time and money, so naturally you want to make the most out of therapy. Here are some tips to help you do just that! Get Clear on Why You're There It's hard to solve your problems if you aren't sure what they are. What's more, if you don't have a well defined goal, it will be very hard to hit it. So come with an overall goal for therapy. This will also help you to know when you're done. Pay Attention In Between Sessions I typically start session with a check in. "How's it going?" and "How are you?" aren't social greetings or niceties. They are check in questions. I want...

How to Be Unmanipulatable

Posted on August 25, 2022

in coping, problem solving, relationship

by Laura

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Okay, first off, let me tell you that there is no way to be 100% unmanipulatable. However, there are ways to reduce your vulnerability, and this article will look at those. Ready? Forget About Stereotypes The first thing you need to do to reduce your vulnerability to manipulation is to forget about stereotypes. Manipulative people don't always look or talk like thugs. They aren't always mean or pushy. The scary thing about monsters is that they look like people. They look like your parents, the guy next door, your teacher, the preacher, and you. If you think you can avoid them by staying away from people who (fill in the blank), you're wrong. They aren't wearing signs that say, "I manipulate people." Grow Yourself People allow themselves to be manipulated. Manipulative people search...

How Resilient Are You?

Posted on August 20, 2022

in coping, problem solving

by Laura

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The man asked an Arab sheik what kind of car he drives, and he replied, "A Mercedes." He then asked what kind of car his son drives, he said, "A Land Rover." When he asked what type of car his grandson would drive, he said, "A camel. Soft times create soft people. Hard times create strong people." If you have ever struggled with a cashier who can't make change, a customer service agent who can't answer your question, or a supervisor who can't write with correct grammar and punctuation, you can see the results of soft times and abundance on our society. Maybe you are even one of the people who have become soft as a result of having too much given to you. Maybe you're not very resilient. How does this happen? Well, we...

Disillusionment Is the Beginning of Love

Posted on January 1, 2022

in relationship

by Laura

1 Comment

Aren't fairy tale romances so sweet! Who doesn't want to be love bombed, struck with the certainty that this is "the one" and live happily ever after? Unfortunately, that's not how life works. And when we use that as our template for what a fulfilling relationship looks like, when the disillusionment hits, that's when the relationship tends to end. Don't give up before success happens! Disillusionment is the beginning of love. Say what? Yes. Think about the word. Disillusion means to free from illusion. That space after the honeymoon phase is real life. It's what you really look like when you have bills to pay, obligations to meet, and aren't in Prince Charming mode. Prince Charming is not sustainable and not real. It's easy to love that guy, but what about...

How Nice is “Too Nice?”

Posted on December 31, 2021

in problem solving, relationship

by Laura

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Most of us were brought up to be nice. It makes relationships easier and living more hospitable, but where do you draw the line? How nice is too nice? What's "Nice?" Before we talk about how nice is too nice, let's define what it means to be nice. Nice is being pleasing, agreeable, friendly, polite, and kind. These are all things that we want, right? What could be bad about that? When we are too nice, it comes at a cost to ourselves. We teach people how to treat us, and when we put ourselves last, we show others that that is where we stand. That's where we are most comfortable. So we get more of that and don't get our own needs met. What "Too Nice" Looks Like: You over give of your...

Are you a Bystander or Participant in Your Life?

Posted on December 24, 2021

in coping, relationship

by Laura

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Some people observe life. Some live life as an object and let life act upon them. Others participate. If you want to live fully, be a participant in your life. Observers Observing is a great skill! It helps you to take in data so that you know what's going on around you so you can act effectively. However, if you never get in the game, you're not living. You're watching life happen around you. Everything is vicarious. This can keep you safe because you never get your feelings hurt, and you get to sit back and talk about what could have, should have, would have. This is not a substitute for experience. Life is meant to be experienced. A life without experience is no life at all. You might as well watch a...

It’s a Wonderful (Codependent) Life

Posted on December 12, 2021

in coping, problem solving, relationship

by Laura

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Who doesn't love movie therapy? It's the Christmas season. It's a Wonderful Life is one of my favorite movies. It gets me all teary eyed every time I watch it. AND it's a great illustration of what codependency looks like. Want to learn? Come on! If you're not familiar with the story, our hero is George Bailey, a stand-up, down to earth guy who wants to be an explorer. He does all the right things in life, but ends up in a situation where he's contemplating suicide. In order for his guardian angel to get his wings, he has to do a good deed. So he goes to earth to persuade George to change his mind by showing him that he actually has had a great life. Got it? Okay, now...

Do This if You Want To Get Out of a Rut

Posted on November 2, 2021

in coping

by Laura

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A really great way to get to know yourself, get out of a rut, or increase low self esteem is to practice expanding experiences. Expanding experiences is just what it sounds like. It's about trying new things mindfully to see what you like and what you don't like. It's to test your limits and then go beyond them. It's a way to grow. Here's how it helps. Let's say that your way of expanding experiences is to do one new thing each month that is way outside of your comfort zone. So in the next six months you do an escape room with strangers, go to a rave, attend a church service in a religion that you know nothing about, read a novel in a genre that you haven't explored yet,...

What You Need to Know About Gaslighting

Posted on October 30, 2021

in relationship

by Laura

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Social media is fabulous for getting the word out about anything. I'm so happy to see people openly talking about mental health and things like gaslighting. Unfortunately, the downside is that the information isn't always accurate. So, let's talk about what is gaslighting. Gaslighting is not simply lying. Lying is confusing and destroys trust. Lying is a part of gaslighting, but it doesn't tell the whole story. Gaslighting is also not saying no. People are allowed to disagree and set boundaries. Gaslighting usually includes disagreeing with you, but again, it's more than that. Gaslighting is the intentional manipulation of reality to make the receiver of that information doubt him or herself, question her sanity, or stay off balance. The term comes from the 1940's movie, Gaslight, In the movie, the husband raises and...

Are You Withholding Love?

Posted on September 29, 2021

in coping, relationship

by Laura

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Withholding love is a common relationship tactic that many people use to avoid being hurt, deal with their emotions, or control their partner. There are many ways that it can show up. Perhaps you are withholding love and don't even know it. Let's explore this and see. The Silent Treatment or Shutting Someone Down Sometimes we all need some space to figure out our thoughts and feelings, and it's better to take a break to get clear. If you state that that's what's going on, that's not the silent treatment. The silent treatment is a deliberate refusal to speak with someone or acknowledge their existence. It's designed to punish the other person, show displeasure, or sometimes avoid conflict. Shutting someone down is not allowing them to speak. Withholding conversation is a form of...