Feb 27, 2025
WRITTEN BY: BRITNEY VINCENT, LPC- Sometimes, it’s hard to know your self-worth. Yes, everyone has unique strengths, experiences, and qualities that make them valuable. But why do we compare ourselves to others, doubt our abilities, or feel like we’re not good enough? Understanding your worth can help you feel more confident and create a life that reflects your true self. Here’s how you can start embracing your worth and understanding your own value.
Why Your Self-Worth Matters
To know your self-worth affects every part of your life—from relationships and life choices to self-esteem and personal growth. When you understand your value, you are more likely to:
- Set and maintain healthy boundaries.
- Go after opportunities that match your strengths.
- Feel confident in yourself and your abilities.
- Build stronger, healthier relationships.
When you recognize your worth, you’re able to recognize things that are important to you and start making choices that reflect those values.
How to Recognize Your Self-Worth
We all have different values and strengths—these unique traits shape who we are. Learning what yours are helps you create clear goals on how to reflect them in your daily life.
Here are a few key steps to help you start exploring your values:
1. Identify Your Strengths
Think about what you’re good at—whether it’s being a great listener, problem-solving, or being creative. Write down your strengths to remind yourself of the value you bring.
2. Challenge Negative Self-Talk
Your thoughts shape how you see yourself. If you catch yourself thinking, I’m not good enough or I don’t deserve this, push back. Replace those thoughts with, I have a lot to offer or This is important to me.
3. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
In today’s world, it’s easy to compare ourselves to others, but your journey is unique to you. Focus on what is important to you and your own growth instead of measuring yourself against someone else.
4. Surround Yourself with Supportive People
The people around you influence how you feel about yourself. Stay close to those who encourage and uplift you. A strong support system can help you see the value you bring and remind you of your worth when you struggle to see it yourself.
Build Confidence in Your Self- Worth
Understanding your worth is the first step—believing in it takes confidence. Here’s how to build it:
- Celebrate your wins: Acknowledge and be proud of your achievements, big or small.
- Take care of yourself: Make time for things that support your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
- Set boundaries: Recognize areas of your life that aren’t supporting your value and set boundaries. Knowing when to say no or take a step back keeps you on track.
- Keep learning and growing: Growth is a lifelong journey. Working on yourself and seeing the progress you make helps reinforce your belief in your abilities.
Your value doesn’t depend on how much you have done or other people’s opinions. Your worth is yours to own—it’s not something you have to prove. By recognizing your strengths, challenging self-doubt, and surrounding yourself with a strong support system, you can strengthen your confidence and embrace your self-worth.
If you’re struggling to recognize and truly know your self-worth and value, counseling can help you explore your strengths and build confidence. At La Luz Counseling, we’re here to help you see and embrace your true value..
Psalm 139:14:
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Feb 4, 2025
WRITTEN BY: SARAH RIVERA, LPC-S Not all teenage relationships are filled with love and happiness, and uncommon red flags in teen relationships that parents shouldn’t ignore can sometimes be hidden beneath the surface. For many parents, watching their teenager engage in a relationship can be overwhelming. However, concern and worry can quickly arise when you notice subtle warning signs that suggest emotional or psychological harm.
While extreme warning signs like physical abuse or stalking are easier to recognize, some subtle but serious red flags can go unnoticed. This blog highlights uncommon teen relationship warning signs that parents should be aware of.
Extreme Mood Swings After Interactions with Their Partner
Teen moodiness is normal, but sudden, unexplained emotional shifts after talking to their partner may signal an issue. If your teen goes from extremely happy to sad, anxious, or withdrawn right after a call or text, it may indicate emotional manipulation or toxicity in the relationship.
Possessive Jealousy Disguised as “Caring”
Many teens mistake jealousy for love. If your teen’s partner is overly jealous—getting upset when they spend time with friends, demanding constant attention, or pressuring them to cut ties with others—it may be a sign of controlling behavior.
Social Media as a Source of Control
Unhealthy relationships often involve social media conflicts, such as:
- Demanding access to passwords or accounts
- Controlling who they can follow or friend
- Using fake accounts to monitor their partner’s online activity
- Blocking/unblocking as a form of punishment
If your teen’s relationship involves these behaviors, it could indicate a lack of trust and emotional manipulation.
Verbal Insults and Demeaning Comments
Another type of uncommon red flags in teen relationships is the use of negative and hurtful remarks. While outright name-calling is an obvious red flag, subtler verbal insults can be just as damaging. If your teen’s partner frequently makes sarcastic, belittling, or critical remarks that hurt their self-esteem, it could escalate into emotional abuse over time.
Isolation from Family and Friends
A controlling partner may pressure your teen to spend all their time together, discouraging them from seeing family or friends. Signs of unhealthy isolation include:
- Missing out on family events due to relationship pressure
- Being guilt-tripped into spending all their free time with their partner
- Their partner reacting angrily when they socialize with others
Rough Play That Crosses the Line
While playful teasing is normal, roughhousing that leads to bruises or injuries is not. If your teen’s partner consistently uses physical force in a joking way, it could be an early sign of physical boundary violations that may escalate.
Invasion of Privacy and Constant Surveillance
A relationship should have healthy boundaries, but demanding 24/7 access to your teen’s location, phone, or messages is a red flag. Signs of invasive behavior include:
- Expecting constant text replies or FaceTime check-ins
- Getting angry if they don’t respond immediately
- Pressuring them to share passwords or prove their whereabouts
What Parents Can Do
If you notice any of these uncommon red flags in your teens relationship, start a conversation with your teen. Ask open-ended questions and express your concerns without judgment. If needed, seek guidance from a counselor or professional.
By staying alert to unhealthy relationship patterns, you can help your teen recognize the difference between love and control—and guide them toward healthy, respectful connections.
For more resources on recognizing and addressing unhealthy teen relationships, visit Love Is Respect, a national resource dedicated to teen dating violence awareness and prevention.
Jan 29, 2025
WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER PATRICK, LMSW – When you’ve been through tough significant life events, setting mental health goals you can stick to can feel overwhelming. But goals can also be a powerful way to take back control of your life, one step at a time.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
This reminder of God’s care can offer hope as you set goals for healing and emotional well-being.
Why Setting Mental Health Goals Matter
If you’ve experienced mental health challenges, it’s easy to feel stuck or unsure of where to start. Mental health goals give you structure and hope, breaking overwhelming challenges into small, manageable steps.
Instead of vague goals like “I want to feel better”, focus on specific, actionable steps—like journaling for 10 minutes a day or attending a weekly therapy session. These small, meaningful changes add up over time.
How to Set Mental Health Goals That Work
Healing isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey, but using the SMART method can help you set goals that are both achievable and sustainable:
✅ Specific: Define your goal clearly. Instead of “I want to feel less anxious,” say “I will practice deep breathing for five minutes each morning.”
✅ Measurable: Track your progress with a journal, checklist, or app to stay motivated.
✅ Achievable: Keep it realistic. If you’re struggling, start small—even one minute of mindfulness is progress.
✅ Relevant: Choose goals that align with your healing journey. If you’re working on self-esteem, try writing one positive affirmation daily.
✅ Time-bound: Set a deadline. Instead of “I’ll start meditating,” say “I’ll do a five-minute meditation three times this week.”
What to Do When It Feels Hard
Sticking to mental health goals isn’t always easy, and that’s okay. If you feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or discouraged, keep in mind:
- Adjusting your goals—scale them down if needed. Healing is about progress, not perfection
- Practicing self-compassion—be kind to yourself, especially on tough days.
- Seeking support—a therapist can help you set realistic goals and provide encouragement when you need it.
You’re Not Alone
Healing takes time, but every small step counts. Whether you’re seeking therapy, prioritizing self-care, or simply learning to be kind to yourself, you are making progress. Setting mental health goals you can stick to is something you can begin to do today.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your healing journey, La Luz Counseling is here to help. Contact us today to start setting goals that support your mental health and well-being.
Jan 20, 2025
WRITTEN BY: Britney Vincent, LPC
As we start a new year, it’s a great time to think about what we want to change in our lives. Achieve Your New Year’s Goals and Improve Your Mental Health by recognizing that how we feel and think plays a big role in making those changes happen. Counseling is a helpful tool that can help you achieve your New Year’s goals. At La Luz Counseling, we’re here to support you every step of the way and help you achieve your goals this year. Here are a few things to consider when setting your goals this year.
Why Your New Year’s Goals Matter in the New Year
Including mental health in your New Year’s resolutions is an important tool to set yourself up for success. Goals like reducing stress, building stronger relationships, or boosting confidence can make a big difference in your daily life.
Taking care of your mental health helps you be on the right track. When we’re in the right headspace, we feel more capable of taking steps toward other goals, like improving our physical health, career, or personal relationships.
Counseling and Your New Year’s Goals
Counseling is a great way to work on your goals. A counselor can offer support, help you problem-solve, and provide tools to handle challenges.
Counselors can:
- Break big goals into smaller, manageable steps.
- Help you understand what’s really causing your struggles.
- Teach you ways to adapt and handle tough situations.
- Help keep you on track to achieve your goals
How Counseling Can Help You Improve Your Mental Health
Counseling is a powerful tool to help you work through common mental health challenges. Here are some ways it can help:
- Managing anxiety: A counselor can teach you techniques to calm your mind, reduce stress, and regain focus.
- Improving mood: If you’re feeling down or overwhelmed, counseling can help you explore your emotions and find positive ways to cope.
- Building self-esteem: Counseling helps you recognize your strengths and develop a more positive view of yourself.
- Strengthening relationships: Learn communication and conflict-resolution skills to improve your connections with others.
Tips to Start Counseling This Year
Starting counseling might seem scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are three tips to help you get started:
- Look for the right counselor: Find someone who understands your needs and makes you feel comfortable. Don’t be afraid to “shop around”—the relationship you build with your counselor is an important part of the process.
- Be patient with yourself: Change takes time, and small improvements can lead to big results. Your counselor can help you recognize the small victories along the way, and find ways to adapt when things aren’t working
- Explore your goals: Work with your counselor to create a plan for what you want to work on. Share your worries, past experiences, or specific areas you want to improve, like managing stress, building confidence, or strengthening relationships.
The new year is a chance to take care of yourself and focus on what really matters to you. Counseling can give you the tools and support to reach your goals and feel your best. At La Luz Counseling, we make starting counseling easy and welcoming. Whether it’s your first time or you’ve tried counseling before, we’re here to help you shine and live your best life.
If you’re ready to start, we’re ready to help. Let’s make this year your best one yet!
Jan 6, 2025
WRITTEN BY: Sarah Rivera, LPC-S
“Happy Holidays,” “Merry Christmas,” “Happy New Year.” The season was filled with joy, cheer, and celebrations—or so it seems for everyone but you. What happens when the season leaves you with post-holiday blues? When the holidays that are supposed to feel magical leaves you feeling empty, sad, or even resentful? What happens when the season fills you with posts-holiday blues and sadness? This article will review post-holiday sadness and how to recover from post-holiday blues. Here are three common reasons why the post-holiday blues may creep in—and how to recover from holiday sadness.
1. Feeling Sadness After the Holidays
The holidays highlight the value of togetherness, but they can also magnify feelings of isolation and sadness. Whether you’re physically separated from loved ones, experiencing strained relationships, or lacking connection, loneliness can hit hard after celebrations end.
How to Recover:
- Volunteer your time: Many organizations need help year-round, not just during the holidays. Whether it’s assisting at a food bank, mentoring, or offering administrative support, volunteering can bring a sense of purpose and connection.
- Join a community group: Look for local meetups or interest-based groups to connect with others who share similar hobbies or goals.
2. Overcoming Family Conflict During the Holidays
Family gatherings often bring stress, tension, and unresolved conflict, especially during the holidays. This time tends to highlight even the smallest cracks in family relationships. When gaping holes exist in family systems, the strain becomes unavoidable, making it hard to find joy. Emotional reactivity, past trauma, and dysfunction often resurface, leaving lasting effects on relationships and mental health. It’s especially difficult when everyone gathers, and the emotional distance becomes impossible to ignore.
How to Recover:
- Reflect on boundaries: Consider what changes you can make next year to protect your peace. For example, limit the time you spend at family events or plan to have an independent celebration.
- Practice self-care: After an emotionally charged holiday season, focus on activities that help you recharge, such as journaling, exercising, or talking to a therapist.
3. Coping with Grief and Loss After the Holidays
The holidays can intensify feelings of grief and loss, whether you’re missing a loved one, mourning a relationship, or grieving an unfulfilled hope. Watching commercials and hearing songs about families enjoying their time reconnecting and reuniting can feel so bitter when your heart is missing a loved one. Seeing others celebrate milestones or spend time with family can make your loss feel even more profound.
How to Recover:
- Find a way to Memorialize: Honor the memory of your loved one by lighting a candle, displaying a special photo, or sharing their stories with others.
- Seek support: Connect with grief support groups or a therapist to process your feelings and find comfort in knowing you’re not alone.
Here are a few tips that you can try today. But if you’re feeling like you need a few more, take a read HERE. There are tons of supportive articles out there, so don’t go at this alone. Your feelings are warranted and valid. When in doubt, talk it out.
Dec 14, 2024
WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER STOUTE
Trauma and stress have a way of embedding themselves into our bodies and minds, influencing how we think, feel, and respond to the world. These unresolved experiences can affect our physical health, mental well-being, and even our daily choices. The good news is that healing from trauma and creating healthy habits is possible—starting with small, intentional steps and the right support. Whether it’s through therapy, movement, better relationships, or leaning on faith, healing from trauma and creating healthy habits can happen for you too. With the right tools and a commitment to change, you can overcome the patterns that keep you stuck and start building a more balanced, peaceful life.
How Trauma Can Show Up in Your Body
When something overwhelming happens in your life, your body instinctively kicks into survival mode—fight, flight, or freeze. While this response protects us in the moment, unresolved trauma can leave our bodies stuck in that heightened state, even long after the event has passed.
Maybe you’ve noticed it:
- Tight shoulders that never seem to loosen up
- A racing mind when you try to relax
- Feeling “on edge” for no clear reason
- Breathing is off
These are just a few ways trauma can get “trapped” in the body. And when we don’t address it, we often turn to unhealthy habits—like avoiding exercise, overeating, isolating ourselves, or numbing out with Netflix or social media—to cope.
But those habits, while comforting in the short term, can keep us stuck in the long run. Healing begins when we recognize these patterns and start creating space for new ones.
Healing Starts with the Right Tools
Therapy is one of the most effective ways to process trauma and start creating healthier habits. At La Luz Counseling, we use approaches like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to help work through traumatic experiences. Here are some other extra tips that could help. We also offer Christian and biblical support during sessions, incorporating faith-based practices like prayer or scripture, but only if this aligns with your personal goals. Here are some other extra tips that could help. Therapy is powerful, but healing doesn’t stop there.
Healthy Habits for Healing
Changing your daily habits can help your mind and body work together toward recovery. Here are some small steps that can make a big difference:
- Get Moving: Exercise doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym every day. It can be as simple as walking your dog, dancing in your kitchen, or stretching before bed. Movement helps release stress and boosts your mood.
- Spend Time OutsideSunshine and fresh air can do wonders for your mental health. Even a few minutes outside each day can help you feel calmer and more grounded.
- Eat to Feel Good Food fuels not just your body but your brain. Eating more whole foods—like fruits, veggies, and lean proteins—can help stabilize your mood and energy.
- Build Your Support System We weren’t made to do life alone. Surround yourself with people who encourage you and remind you of your worth. And don’t be afraid to let others in when you’re struggling—there’s strength in asking for help.
- Find Moments of Stillness Life can feel overwhelming, but making time for quiet—whether it’s through prayer, journaling, or simply sitting outside—can help you reconnect with yourself and God.
Healing from trauma and creating healthy habits is possible, and it starts with small, intentional steps. Whether you’re ready to explore therapy or simply want to begin with a healthier habit, we’re here to support you.
At La Luz Counseling, our mission is to walk alongside you as you move toward the light—toward healing, growth, and the life you were created to live. You don’t have to stay stuck. Reach out today, and let’s start this journey together.
You are loved, seen, and capable of change. Don’t wait—take the first step.
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