HHC Blog

5 Things About Life that I’ve Learned Since Becoming a Therapist

Posted on May 15, 2024July 9, 2024 by hopehealchange

by Josh Jostock, Founder & Therapist I remember asking one of my mentors during graduate school, Judy, if being a therapist made life more difficult at times. I believe that to be aware is to often suffer. Hence, people latch on to their own truths and certainties because it turns unknowns into knowns. Judy responded, “Being a therapist has made my life so rich.” Oh how right she was. It’s not all peaches n’ cream, but being the keeper of stories and constantly learning through intimate therapeutic relationships has made my life incredibly rich and I can’t imagine myself doing anything else for a career. The learning just never stops. Coming up with the list below took time because I’ve learned a lot about life since being a therapist. So, these aren’t the only 5 things that I have learned. However, I think these 5 things will be most helpful for people reading that don’t work as a mental health therapist. None of this is ground-breaking or Read more [...]

The Do’s and Don’t’s of Supporting Your Child Through Their Therapeutic Process

Posted on March 7, 2024July 9, 2024 by hopehealchange

Providing therapy for kids and adolescents is something I look forward to everyday that I come into the office. Sadly, many therapists miss out on that opportunity. If many therapists are being open and honest, a part of the reason they turn away minors is because they don't want to have to manage the parent(s) on the side. However, I find that just about every parent is great at letting me do my job as long as we establish the boundaries and expectations of their child being in therapy with me. They are more concerned with supporting their child during therapy. Many parents ask me, "What should I ask after session?" or "Should I say anything at all about the therapy?" It can be a helpless position--Investing money into the process and then having to be a bit in the dark for a stretch of time. The good news--you'll eventually get feedback in regards to the case and we always begin the process with a parent meeting. But waiting for the feedback requires patience and trust. A parent needs Read more [...]

Being a Teen in 2024: How to Understand and Start Helping our Teens

Posted on January 11, 2024July 9, 2024 by hopehealchange

The young generation has it tough in a variety of ways. While I could spend the next 5,000 words explaining why, I’ll temper my explanation down to a small vent session. Then, I’ll provide some brief details on how we are helping teens and preteens at our practice before finally giving some communication tips and tricks for home. Helping Teens Then... It’s 1998. It’s not going well with your girlfriend. After school, the two of you meet by the bleachers and you make a really hard decision — “It’s not you, it’s me.” You break up, you cry, your parents hopefully rub your back that night and tell you it’s going to be okay. You dodge school for a day telling your mom that you have a horrible headache in the morning and maybe she lets you stay home or maybe you grew up in one of those households where you were going to school unless the spiritual leader was reading your last rites. Eventually, you face the awkwardness of having to still be in math class together. Read more [...]

Seven Strategies to a Successful Sober Holiday

Posted on November 21, 2023July 9, 2024 by hopehealchange

The smell of turkey in the oven and the roar of the football game on TV. The twinkly lights on the trees and the anticipation of grandparents coming to visit. Ah yes, the holiday season is arriving. For most it’s a time of joy, love, laughter, and the sharing of embarrassing family stories around the dinner table. However, for those in recovery, it’s possibly a time of anxiety, dread, fear, overthinking, isolation, and avoidance. Whether this is the first holiday in sobriety or the thirtieth, it's a time to be cautious. The holidays are the few months of the year where triggers, cravings, and relapse are at their highest. First, if you are clean and sober, I want to congratulate you! You are one of the few who has managed to overcome the cunning, baffling, and powerful disease of addiction. 1 day, 30 days, 1 year, or 40+ years - any amount of time is to be celebrated and acknowledged. Why is maintaining sobriety so challenging over the holidays and what are some strategies Read more [...]

Thoughts on Treating Trauma: Unpacking Self-Hatred

Posted on October 24, 2023July 9, 2024 by hopehealchange

I’m aware that there is no perfect way to write a short post on the topic of counseling trauma without evoking some big feelings. I also understand that as delicately as I might handle my words, not everyone will agree with my observations and reflections. The last thing I would want to do is make a person reading this feel small, de-valued, not seen or hurt. Trauma, and how it plays out in a person’s life, is very unique. Moreover, talking about the topic can be challenging and tender. As such, I approach my post today with love in my heart. I know that many of us are simply trying the very best that we can. If you are a victim or survivor of trauma, and you’re reading this, thank you. Thank you for continuing to fight in the face of immense adversity. The Body Keeps the Score So much has been written about Trauma. The landmark book in my mind is “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk; though, there are many great pieces of literature on the topic. In his Read more [...]