Fall Newsletter

The leaves are falling and it's getting cooler out.  I love this season, but am not looking forward to the lessening sunlight.   I have started back at the gym regularly and that is helping my mood stay stable with the season change.  Exercise is proven to help with depression and also seasonal depression.  Many people are starting to experience a decreased mood and exercise will help; proven as effective as medication with no side effects (as long as you don't overdue it).  We not only moved offices this year, my family moved out of our home of 18 years also.  So it's been a year of changes.  The new office space is much larger, we have a parking lot, and are on the Milwaukee River.  Although I miss the downtown, Barton has been welcoming to us and it's a great spot for us to practice.   We like the new office space and have added some practitioners.  Michelle Bingen LCSW joins us and sees children, adults and families.  She comes with many years of experience serving our community with integrity and skill.  Elizabeth Johnson LCSW had practiced in West Bend before moving north to have a horse farm.  She is now back and is seeing children, adults and families.  Lynn Gillian-Nowak MS TLPC has many years of experience in the substance abuse and mental health fields.  She is seeing teenagers and adults in West Bend and Cedarburg.  We have also added a nurse prescriber whom has been a wonderful fit for our agency.
Til next time, be gentle with yourself and others,  Devona Marshall MS LPC

We have openings for new clients, and you are welcome to contact the therapist directly or by calling the general number, we can get you to the right person.   262.334.4340 ext 1
info@kettlemorainecounseling.com

Kettle Moraine Counseling has recently been accepted into the Aurora network; we are also on most other insurance panels, including many Badgercare HMO's.

Question and Answer. I feel so stressed out and irritable all the time! What are some ways I can get a handle of this?

First off, good job recognizing that something needs to change! There are many reasons why we feel a lot of stress and many ways to make changes in our stress level. First off, try and identify which areas of your life cause the most stress (work, family, finances, physical health, etc) and then deal with each area individually. For example, if getting the kids off to school is a very difficult part of your day, there are organizational things you can do to make it easier, the same with supper time, or with taking better care of yourself. Getting more organized will help enormously on your stress level.

Next, there are some general stress reduction tips that work for many of us. How we label an event or situation greatly contributes to how we feel about it- so putting things in a more positive light helps us to feel better about it (reframing). Get support- our relationships are important, and nourishing those relationships is a huge stress reducer (as long as the relationships are conflict ridden). Physical activity is important for reducing stress so make time to take a walk, ride a bike, or do yoga. Particularly doing an activity in nature is even more healing. Touching is a big stress reducer for me- hugging or holding hands with my husband almost always brings my stress down a few notches. Reduce your internet and TV time- these can be huge time wasters. Don’t cut them out because a certain level is fun and stress reducing, but watching/surfing too much causes our stress to rise. And finally, don’t beat yourself up! Be gentle and encouraging with yourself and you will find that will translate to other relationships also.

Personal Bio for Lynn Gillian-Nowak

Lynn is a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor and Licensed Professional in Training. She enjoys working with adults and teens who are struggling with symptoms of anxiety, depression, grief, relationships, stress, and substance abuse. Through therapy, individuals receive support from a licensed professional, who helps them work to resolve conflicts within themselves and with others, understand feelings related to their struggles and try out new solutions to problems.

Lynn has over 10 years of experience in working with teens struggling with life issues, including substance abuse and relationships. She also has over 10 years of experience working with people who have had trouble with the law related to substance abuse. Lynn also enjoys working with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, and other life struggles. She looks forward to working with people guiding them down the path of wellness and recovery.  lynn@kettlemorainecounseling.com