Mindful Living

What a year it has been at Kettle Moraine Counseling!  It's been a good year for us, and we had some challenges along the way, but we continue to grow and try and meet the needs of our communities. The biggest news is that we opened a 3rd location in Oak Creek, an area that is really under served for counseling/mental health services.  We have only been open a short time but it is already getting quite busy. We added new therapists in 2017: Caitlin Yogerst, LaQuita Jones, and Michael Shreiner.   Rebekah Wolff and Lisa Oliver were with us in 2016, but have greatly expanded their case loads in 2017.  Michelle Bingen decided to go out on her own in 2017 and we continue to wish her the best. I was elected to the board of directors for the Youth and Family Project in September and I look forward to helping them to grow and help those who need services.  It's a good organization, one I used to volunteer at years ago and am happy to get reacquainted with.. For administra

Being human is difficult.  We all have our challenges and difficulties, even those who look like they have perfect lives.  We all want to feel loved an accepted for who we are, and that is is in short supply for many of us.  So often we think that others have it easier or better than us, when the truth is that we all part of the human experience which includes praise and blame, recognition and disregard, gain and loss, pleasure and pain.   How others see us, usually has little to do with whom we actually are, and more to do with their experiences and wounds.  For example, a few years ago, I had a coworker that I idolized, I thought he knew everything and was so smart.  I defended him to others even when he was not very kind to them.    Then a few years later, I thought the same person was terrible; and I  thought he was not good at his job and was mean to others.  I discounted what he said, and rejected most of his knowledge, even if it was helpful.    In both cases, it was my wo

Ian has experience in treating adults and teens with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, personality, LGBT, and dual-diagnosis matters.  As well, he has experience utilizing play therapy techniques with children. Ian has 5 years of clinical experience while working in telephonic, hospital, vocational rehabilitation, and private practice settings. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in interpersonal and organizational communication form Western Illinois University and his Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Concordia University. Ian’s approach clinical approach is strength, cognitive, and resiliency based. Ian’s areas of interest are: Dual Diagnosis (Addiction and Mental Health) Depression Anxiety LGBT Vocational and work matters Ian@kettlemorainecounseling

Many of us were not raised in an environment where we got securely attached to our caregivers, and felt loved and supported.  When we become securely attached to our caregivers, we know that our needs will be met and we can count on our caregiver to be there for us.  If we were not raised in such an environment, our brains become wired in looking for whether we are loved and cared for or not; and if we find evidence to the contrary (often read into situations) we become very anxious and often "act out" our anxiety over the potential loss of love (often imagined).  For example, adults with insecure attachment styles will look for perceived threats, and often will overreact to them.  Your boyfriend doesn't call or text you as much, you perceive this as rejection, and you get angry and lash out.  Because anger is a much easier emotion for most of us to feel and also express, it tends to be the emotion that we rely on the most, although behind that emotion is hurt and anx