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Proactive Counseling for Blended Families

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blended families

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. About Blended Families. A blended family, also known as a stepfamily, develops when you and your partner make a life together with the children from one or both of your previous relationships; this can simultaneously be a challenging and rewarding experience as you and your family find a new equilibrium. According to the Step Family Foundation, nearly 1,300 new stepfamilies form each day and over 50% of families in the United States are recoupled (2023).  Blended Family Challenges. When families are blended, challenges can arise as differences in parenting, lifestyle, or discipline become apparent, at times becoming a source of frustration for children in the family system. The following are difficulties that many blended families face: Parental inexperience may pose an issue, as one stepparent may have never been a parent before. Therefore, these parents may have little to no experience supporting children through the various …

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Clinician Spotlight 4: Hannah Bystritsky Johnson, LCSW

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Hannah Bystritsky, LCSW

Clinician Spotlight In today’s clinician spotlight we highlight Hannah Bystritsky Johnson, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker. Hannah has a passion for helping her clients reach their goals, enhance well-being, and maximize their strengths. Hannah received her Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science from University of California, Berkeley, and her Master of Social Work from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Hannah supports clients in facilitating personal growth, insight, and expanding their healing capacity. About Hannah Bystritsky Johnson, LCSW During graduate school, Hannah trained at the Harbor-UCLA Dual-Diagnosis Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic where she treated adults and adolescents in individual and group psychotherapy. Hannah previously worked at the Department of Mental Health, Edelman. Her clinical work has focused on treating co-occurring psychiatric, medical, and addictive disorders. Hannah is intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). She is …

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6 Ways to Help a Loved One with Hoarding Disorder

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blended families

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. What is hoarding disorder? Hoarding disorder (HD) is a mental health disorder where an individual collects a large amount of possessions and experiences difficulty parting with possessions to the point where parting with possessions prompts profound emotional distress. Approximately 2% to 6% of people in the United States have hoarding disorder (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).  The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) previously classified hoarding disorder as a subtype of OCD, “however, healthcare providers were encountering people with hoarding behaviors who didn’t have any other mental health conditions. After more research, hoarding disorder was included as an isolated condition, in the OCD spectrum, in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), which is the most recent edition” (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).  Similar to many of us, people with hoarding disorder keep objects due to their sentimentality, aesthetics, and usefulness. These …

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Clinician Spotlight 3: Nathaniel Flatt, LMFT

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blended families

Clinician Spotlight In today’s clinician spotlight we highlight Nathaniel Flatt, LMFT. Nathaniel Flatt is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). We are honored to be working with such an experienced and compassionate therapist. About Nathaniel Flatt, LMFT Nathaniel strives to braid the evidenced-based practices of Western psychotherapy with the wisdom and compassion of Eastern psychology. With an open-hearted, client-centered, and collaborative approach, he meets the client where they are in the treatment process.  Nathaniel supports clients in developing their own inner healing capacity, providing them with resources that they can utilize and integrate into the therapeutic process. This leads clients down the road of psychological and spiritual wellness. Nathaniel Flatt, LMFT, earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. He is also certified by The California Institute of Integral Studies in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He is an integrative …

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Clinician Spotlight 2: Michael Peterson, LCSW

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blended families

Clinician Spotlight In today’s clinician spotlight we highlight Michael Peterson, LCSW. Michael Peterson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). We are honored to be working with such a competent, compassionate therapist. About Michael Peterson, LCSW Michael Peterson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with many years of experience working within world-renowned health care organizations. He was a clinical supervisor in the Department of Psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for almost 20 years. Michael specializes in providing group and individual psychotherapies which teach individuals new skills to more effectively manage their emotions and cope with stressors. Michael completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was the recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health traineeship awarded to prepare clinicians for leadership in the field of mental health. In addition to his clinical work, Michael is active in the mental health community.  …

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