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Why Am I So Defensive? Defensiveness as Self Advocacy?

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghMarch 17, 2025 defend, defensive, defensiveness, gottman method, invalidating, invalidation, self advocacy, self efficacy, self empowerment, self protection, why am i so defensive0 comments

Why Am I So Defensive? Exploring Defensiveness as Self Advocacy You sit down to dinner with your partner and they make a comment about having pasta again this week. You feel a rush of heat, and before you know it, you’re becoming defensive, overexplaining yourself about how busy your week has been, how you didn’t have time, and so what if it’s pasta again....

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Therapy Speak: When Language Gets Misused and Weaponized

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghMarch 5, 2025 boundaries, gas lighting, gaslighting, manipulation, narcissist, narcissistic personality disorder, psychological jargon, therapy speak, trauma dumping, ultimatums, weaponizing therapy speak0 comments

Therapy Speak: When Language Gets Misused and Weaponized In recent years, therapy speak—the casual and often incorrect use of psychological jargon—has made its way into everyday conversations. Social media, podcasts, and influencers have played a significant role in popularizing terms like “narcissist,” “gaslighting,” “boundaries,” and “trauma dumping.” While...

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Debunking RFK Jr. Myths About Antidepressants

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghFebruary 27, 2025 addiction, antidepressant myths, Antidepressants, antidepressants list, medication management, psychiatrist, RFK, RFK Jr, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors, SNRIs, ssri drugs, SSRIs, wellness farms0 comments

Debunking RFK Jr. Myths About Antidepressants Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), has recently made headlines by raising concerns about the safety and efficacy of antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). During public appearances and interviews, he has suggested that these...

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Conversion Therapy Harm & Finding LGBTQIA Affirming Therapy

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghFebruary 13, 2025 conversion therapy, gender identity, LBGTQ, LGBTQIA, reparative therapy0 comments

Conversion Therapy Harm & Finding LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy Just like everyone else, LGBTQIA+ folks grow up in an environment full of subtle messages about “how we’re supposed to act.” As people born with marginalized identities, we often don’t see ourselves represented in the same spaces where others are socialized, and when we do, it’s rarely in...

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Why Is It Female Rage, Not Simply Anger in Women?

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghJanuary 28, 2025 anger, anger in women, anger issues, anger management, angry woman, angry women, female rage, feminine rage, gender roles, gender stereotypes, rage, women's mental health0 comments

Why Is It Female Rage, Not Simply Anger in Women? Anger is a universal emotion, yet for women, it’s often misinterpreted, stigmatized, and renamed. It’s rarely seen as just “anger.” Instead, society frames it as “female rage” or the dramatized “angry woman.” Even in our online search behaviors, this pattern emerges: while “anger in women” averages only 20 monthly...

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Psychiatrist vs Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghJanuary 22, 2025 PMHNP, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse practitioner, psychiatric services, psychiatrist, psychiatrist near me, psychiatrist vs psychologist, psychiatry, psychologist vs psychiatrist0 comments

Psychiatrist vs Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Navigating the world of mental health care can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re seeking medication to help with something like ADHD or depression. You know something needs to change, but when you start researching, you’re faced with a variety of options. Psychologist vs psychiatrist? Then, there’s a...

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Anti Inflammatory Diet: Key Foods for Fighting Inflammation

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghJanuary 20, 2025 anti inflammation diet, anti inflammatory diet, anti inflammatory diet food list, anti-inflammatory diet, dietician, dietitian, dietitian nutritionist, dietitian nutritionist near me, healthy eating, healthy food, inflammation, nutrition, Nutrition Counseling, Nutritionist, registered dietician, registered dietitian, registered licensed dietitian0 comments

Anti Inflammatory Diet: Key Foods for Fighting Inflammation Have you ever scrolled through your newsfeed and felt overwhelmed by all the talk about inflammation and the anti inflammatory diet? With endless posts, videos, and articles, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of conflicting information. Many of the tips shared today are rooted in diet culture, promoting...

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Toxic Masculinity and Its Role in Men’s Mental Health

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghDecember 20, 2024 gender roles, men's mental health, men's mental health awareness, men's mental health statistics, men's mental health stigma, mens mental health, toxic masculinity0 comments

Toxic Masculinity and Its Role in Men’s Mental Health Why do so many men feel like they have to “man up” and keep their feelings locked inside? For generations, boys have been told to be tough, never cry, and always stay in control. But what happens when this pressure becomes too much? The answer lies in a concept called toxic masculinity — a set of...

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No Contact vs. The Silent Treatment

No Contact vs. The Silent Treatment In relationships, communication is key. Two common strategies used to withdraw emotionally are the No Contact rule and the Silent Treatment. While they may appear similar, these two approaches differ significantly in their intent, duration, and emotional impact. Understanding the distinction between these strategies is essential...

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Understanding the Freeze Response and Dorsal Vagal Shutdown

Understanding the Freeze Response and Dorsal Vagal Shutdown Have you ever felt frozen in the face of stress—unable to act or make a decision? This experience, often described as “freezing,” is a common yet misunderstood survival response. While many people refer to all forms of immobility as “freeze,” there are important distinctions within...

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Choice Theory: Can Our Choices Shape Our Well-Being?

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghNovember 14, 2024 accountability, basic needs, belonging, choice theory, choices, decision making, decisions, Emotional Health, emotional intelligence, emotional iq, emotional resilience, empowerment, personal power, personal responsibility, resilience, responsibility0 comments

Choice Theory: Can Our Choices Shape Our Well-Being? In a world overflowing with daily choices—where to focus our time, how to handle stress, who to trust, and how to build fulfilling relationships—understanding Choice Theory can be a powerful tool for navigating life’s complexities. Developed by psychiatrist Dr. William Glasser, Choice Theory suggests that our...

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Pet Loss: Validating Grief Often Overlooked by Society

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghOctober 25, 2024 death of a pet, death of pet, disenfranchised grief, grief, grief counseling, grieving process, mourning, pet loss, types of grief0 comments

Pet Loss: Validating Grief Often Overlooked by Society The loss of a pet can be one of the most heart-wrenching experiences many of us face. Pets are more than just animals; they are family members, companions, and sources of unconditional love. The bond we share with them often transcends words, making their loss profoundly felt. In the UK, the charity...

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How Feeling Left Out Affects Mental Health

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghOctober 22, 2024 belonging, complex post traumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, cptsd, feeling left out, hopelessness, invalidation, isolation, lack of belonging, loneliness, low self esteem, self compassion, social isolation, support system, toxic family, toxic relationships, trauma0 comments

How Feeling Left Out Affects Mental Health Feeling left out from friends and family can be one of the most challenging and isolating experiences in life, where feelings of loneliness, rejection, and despair become a constant companion. It’s a deeply alienating experience, leaving you questioning your worth and place in the world and longing for a sense of...

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What is a Trauma Bond and How to Break Free

What is a Trauma Bond and How to Break Free A trauma bond is a complex psychological and emotional attachment that forms in an abusive or toxic relationship. These bonds differ from healthy attachments, as they are built through cycles of intense emotional experiences, often involving pain, manipulation, and abuse. Trauma bonds can be difficult to recognize and...

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Bed Rotting: Self Care or Slippery Slope to Depression?

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghAugust 29, 2024 bed rotting, bed rotting trend, depression, depression counseling, Depression in Men, depression therapy, depressive episode, gen z, generation z, major depressive disorder, managing depression, self care, tik tok, what is bed rotting, worsening depression0 comments

Bed Rotting: Self Care or Slippery Slope to Depression? In the digital age, trends and terminologies often originate from social media, shaping how we view various aspects of life. One such trend that has gained traction among Gen Z is “bed rotting.” Popularized on platforms like TikTok, the bed rotting trend is embraced by many as a form of self-care...

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Suicide Prevention: What to Say and What Not to Say

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghAugust 26, 2024 suicide, suicide awareness, suicide awareness month, suicide prevention, suicide prevention month, suicide warning signs, what not to say to someone who is suicidal, what to say to someone who is suicidal0 comments

Suicide Prevention: What to Say and What Not to Say September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, provide resources, and offer support to those who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts. It’s a month that underscores the importance of compassion, understanding, and connection in preventing suicide. The purpose of Suicide Prevention Month is...

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Emotional Invalidation, cPTSD, and Its Lasting Impact

by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghAugust 21, 2024 ACEs, adult children of emotionally immature parents, Adverse Childhood Experiences, childhood trauma, complex post traumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, cptsd, effects of emotional invalidation, emotional invalidation, emotional invalidation examples, invalidating, validation0 comments

Emotional Invalidation, cPTSD, and Its Lasting Impact Emotional validation is crucial for healthy human development, especially within the parent-child relationship. When parents fail to validate their children’s emotions, dismissing or minimizing their feelings, it can lead to profound and long-lasting consequences. In this blog post, we’ll explore...

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Depression Medication and Antidepressants

Depression Medication and Antidepressants Living with depression can be challenging, emphasizing the need to identify effective treatments. Collaborating with an educated psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner is crucial for informed guidance. At the Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh, we prioritize your mental health, offering the expertise of...

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