Congratulations to Thriveworks Psychologist Joy Harden-Bradford, who was married this month!

A rеcеnt BBC ѕurvey undertaken for the рrogrammе Thе Hаpрinеss Formula fоund that thе numbеr оf рeорlе who say they'rе 'very haрpу' has fallеn frоm 52% іn 1957 to јust 36% tоdаy.

Losing your Mojo

Some believe that over time, people in society are losing their Mojo. But whаt does thiѕ wоrd aсtually mеаn? Wеll manу peоplе think the term came frоm thе movie Auѕtin Pоwers. In thе fіlm ,thе сhаraсtеr Austіn haѕ hіs ѕexuаl рrоweѕs, his Mојo, stolеn bу an antagonist in the movie. Thiѕ loss of mojo rеndеred hіm іmpotent. Howеvеr, thanks to thе chаrасtеr Feliсity Shagwell'ѕ encоurаgеmеnt, Auѕtin rеalіzed he had thе mojо іnside of him аll аlоng.

This word actually originated from ѕevеral of the 450 Bantu lаnguageѕ of Afrіcа. It саrrіed quіcklу tо thе lаnguаgе of Afrісаn Amerісan ѕlаves and was oftеn аpрliеd tо charms, mаgіcal ѕреllѕ, or smаll bаgs cаrrіed for pеrѕonal рrоteсtion as рart оf thе hoodоо bеlief systеm that еvоlved during slаverу.

In іtѕ mоѕt рrесiѕе dеfіnіtіоn, peoplе might саrrу оr wеar а mojо, a ѕmall fаbrіc bаg. The moјo cоuld carry numerouѕ thingѕ such as herbs, smаll сarvеd ѕуmbоlѕ, оr pаperѕ on which рraуers or рetіtіonѕ wеrе wrіtten. Usually mojo іs not diѕрlауеd and іs hіdden undеr clothing.

 

What Mojo means Today

In the past, mojos were highly important because they were used to carry essential things. Now, having a mojo translates to carrying characteristics of motivation, optimism, and confidence.

Onе thing that еaсh of us have in commоn, regаrdleѕs of our backgrоund, culture or gеndеr, iѕ problems in everyday life. Evеrуone faсеѕ сhаllengеs аnd has thіngѕ theу wаnt to сhangе, but ѕоmе peорlе deаl wіth thingѕ more quіcklу аnd еаѕily thаn оthers. The people that face life’s problems with ease are the people that have mojo, because it’s their confidence and motives that get them through obstacles.

Life іѕ not easу and it'ѕ no ѕurрrisе that manу of uѕ have loѕt оur mojo, оur ѕpark, оur enthuѕiаѕm, our passion, to live lіfе to the fullest. If you find yourself struggling through life, make sure to get your mojo back. There are plenty of ways to get your confidence and motivation back. Always hold your goals dear to you and work hard to be the best you could possibly be without dwelling on your mistakes. That mindset is what mojo truly is. This article was written by Thriveworks Sandy Springs non-clinical staff writer. To reach our clinical team, call us at 404-719-4233.

 

 

1)   Use Words of Love – The power of language is definitely something that no one should ever take for granted. When concerning love, you should always make sure to compliment your partner and let them know how much you love them. You don’t have to time these affectionate compliments or phrases; just saying “I love you” randomly will put the biggest smile on your partner’s face. Besides stating these three words, make sure to notice when your partner changes their physical appearance (haircut, makeup, new clothes, etc). When people change their physical appearance, their goal is to look more attractive, so don’t take this attraction for granted.

 

2)   Spend Time with your Partner – Everyone has a busy schedule, but never put your partner on hold. Don’t let work get in the way of you loving your partner. Money comes and goes, but true love only comes once. Have dinner with your partner, watch television together, play a board game together, it doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it’s together.

 

3)   Exchange Gifts – True love isn’t based off materialism or objects in this world. Although you are not forced to give your partner gifts, do your best to give them some from time to time. When someone gives another person a gift, it is meaningless, unless some sort of feeling backs it. When someone gives someone they truly love a gift, the gift has meaning. Although gifts aren’t necessary in relationships, it is completely healthy to give your partner a thoughtful gift that sparks their feelings.

 

4)   Actions Speak just as Loud as Words – Although words serve a powerful role in any loving relationship, actions are just as powerful. Almost any action can be interpreted in any way. For instance, if your partner makes breakfast for you every morning, take one morning to make breakfast for them; this action alone screams “I love you”. Do some chores around the house to let your partner know that you two are a team.

 

5)   Get Physical – People tend to connect “getting physical” with sexual intercourse. However, there’s more to it than that. A hug could be just as good as a kiss and a kiss could be just as good as sex. When you combine physical touch with an emotional connection, you and your partner will feel closer together.

 

Always remember that love consists of physical, emotional, verbal, and ethical connections. If you want to live a happy, loving life with your partner, then make sure to follow the five “languages of love” above; you will be amazed to see how much your relationship has evolved over time.  Contact Thriveworks Sandy Springs Therapy Center at 404-719-4233.

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is not something to be taken lightly. ADHD can affect both your personal and professional life in that it leads one to be disorganized, forgetful, overwhelmed, and much more. There’s a misconception that ADHD could only be found in children; this is not true. ADHD can stem from your childhood and be extremely detrimental throughout adulthood. The only problem with ADHD is the fact that it is a hidden disorder; a disorder that is unnoticeable. If you’re wondering whether or not you have ADHD, take a look at these signs and symptoms. Note: This article was composed by our Atlanta Therapy Non-clinical Staff writer. To speak directly with a licensed mental health professional, call our office anytime at 404-682-1923.

 

-       You tend to get distracted in the middle of a conversation with someone.

-       You have trouble paying attention and focusing on tasks.

-       You tend to overthink things to the point you make mistakes.

-       You are a poor listener and have a hard time following directions.

-       You are unorganized.

-       You have a bad habit of procrastinating.

-       You have a tendency of misplacing objects such as your cellphone, wallet, keys, etc.

-       You have poor self-control.

-       You frequently interrupt others.

 

If you went through this list of ADHD symptoms and you feel that you might be a victim of this disorder, don’t freak out. There are ways to beat this disorder, all you have to do is be committed and follow the steps listed below.

 

1)   Eat healthy and get plenty of exercise – When one combines eating healthy with exercising, their body begins to calm down and stress is automatically alleviated. Eat your fruits and vegetables and stay away from unhealthy saturated fat and such; doing so will get rid of your mood swings.

 

2)   Set Reminders – If you have a tendency to lose track of time, don’t be afraid to set reminders for even the smallest tasks. The more you avoid procrastinating, the more relaxed your body will feel. Hang a calendar in your room or office and write down every single task you need to accomplish. You will then start to get into the habit of remembering these tasks without having to write them down.

 

3)   Get a good night’s sleep – When you’re tired, you can’t concentrate; simple as that. Make sure to get about 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night in order to avoid being stressed out.

 

4)   Seek Help – Go to a doctor and let them know your symptoms. Your doctor will make sure to apply the best judgment and let you know how to relieve these symptoms. Your doctor might recommend a Psychiatrist for you or even prescribe you medication. However, don’t take any medication without a doctor’s recommendation.

 

If you think you have ADHD, know that your life is not at all in danger. If you want to help relieve the symptoms of ADHD, make sure to eat healthy and exercise, set reminders, get a good night’s sleep, and seek help (if needed). The quicker you relieve these symptoms, the quicker you are able to go back to living a normal professional and personal life. To learn more about psychological testing, or therapy treatment for ADHD, call us at 404-682-1923.

 

 

Every couple has their rough patches. In order to attain true love, it takes two to work together. Don’t be discouraged if you and your soul mate experienced your first fight; there are plenty of ways to preserve your loving relationship. Couples Therapy increases the success rate of any couple, since this counseling emphasizes healthy communication with one another. In this article, I will go over 4 important couples counseling tips that will help you and the person you love live a life of constant happiness in each other’s arms. (Written by Non-clinical Staff Writer)

 

1)   Always open up – The best relationship has no secrets or hidden feelings. Make sure to open up to your loved one about anything that bothers you, as soon as it bothers you. The more you let your loved one know how you feel, the closer they will feel to your heart. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your loved one if anything has been on their mind lately. Always assure your partner that they can come to you for anything, this connection is essential in any relationship.

 

2)    Spend quality time together – This may seem like a no brainer, but people tend to lose sight of this. The whole point of being in a couple is to do things together frequently. The more time you spend together as a couple, the closer you feel to one another. If you find yourself busy with your job and other things, make sure to have a schedule that sets aside things you and your partner can do together. Don’t ever leave your partner out in the dark, remember that there is no one else in the world like them.

 

3)   Avoid Abuse – Abuse does not only consist of physical tactics. There are such things as verbal and mental abuse. Remember to never shout or swear at your partner, although this may seem trivial to you, it can be extremely hurtful to them. Also, don’t let problems at work affect you and your partner’s relationship at home. If something your boss told you ticks you off, don’t take it out on your partner; your partner is there to comfort you, not serve as your punching bag.

 

4)   Compliment your Partner – When it comes to your partner’s beauty, always take it seriously. There is a reason why you are with this person and no one else. NEVER EVER forget to compliment your partner’s physical and emotional beauties. Always notice when your partner gets a haircut, has new attire, etc. The reason why people go the extra mile to look good is to impress someone; don’t take your partner’s efforts for granted.

 

Every relationship has the opportunity to thrive, however, it is up to you and your partner to make this happen. When with your partner, always remember to open up to them, spend quality time with them, avoid abusing them, and compliment them. These 4 tips make up the heart of a healthy relationship, so if you really love your partner, do them a favor and follow these tips to help ensure a happy life for the both of you.

 

 

Here is a short picture and video documentary of Thriveworks’ opening of our third therapy location; this one in Sandy Springs, GA (basically, North Atlanta). 

The amount of planning that goes into opening a new office is enormous. Picking a location in Atlanta alone was a challenge. Atlanta in an interesting city in that, it is hugely spread out--is extremely congested in terms of traffic, and has a very limited mas transit system, called Marta, that no one seems to use. 

South Atlanta is an area called Peachtree City. The people of Peachtree City tend to stay in Peachtree City (so I'm told). Then, as one heads north they reach Downtown, and then Modtown Atlanta. We definitely thought about opening a location in Midtown, but it is a very difficult place for people to find parking. And as I mentioned earlier, in Atlanta EVERYONE drives. Keep heading north and you'll reach Buckhead.

Buckhead seemed like a perfect neighborhood for Thriveworks. It was a nice area, and many people who live in the suburbs--we were told--would be willing to make the trip south. Also, we thought we would attract midtowners, as it's just a few miles north of Modtown, and parking wasn't quite as bad. 

We actually had a place picked out in Buckhead, but it fell through as we realized our clients would not be able to get into the building easily on weekends (deal breaker!). We were also realizing that while people were calling us from all over Atlanta, it was people from Dunwoody, Roswell, Alpharetta, and even Marietta who were doing the most business with us.

So, in the end we landed in Sandy Springs. It's North of Buckhead, and just a hair south of Roswell (Our address is 8800 Roswell Rd., that should tell you how on the border we are). 

So, without further adue, I present to you our Picture and Video documentary! Opening a Therapy Office in Atlanta

Dear Thrivers,

I have a big announcement today!

After several months of looking for the perfect location for our new Atlanta therapy office, we have found an excellent space for counseling in Sandy Springs!

Atlanta is an interesting place to have a business! That is, unlike our offices in Boston and Philadelphia, to serve the good people of the greater Atlanta area, it’s definitely necessary to have a several counseling office locations (our friends in PeachTree City don’t want to drive to Roswell!). 

We feel this location will be a good counseling office / life coaching office for clients in Roswell, Dunwoody, Buckhead, Alpharetta, some parts of Marietta, and even perhaps Midtowners!

I can’t publish the exact office address yet, but we hope to sign the lease this week or next. I also can’t wait to introduce to the world two new therapists who will be joining the Thriveworks team at this location!

-Dr. Anthony

P.S. While I can't show you the property yet, I CAN show you these preview images :-)

A very nice walking path on the property.