Cooper Counseling Center

Check out our blog to learn how perfectionism can be linked to past trauma, is trying to protect you, and how it ultimately leads to feelings of shame.

https://www.coopercounselingcenter.com/blog/perfectionism

Are you ready to have support in working through your perfectionism? Use this link to schedule your complimentary phone consultation to see how we can help: https://www.coopercounselingcenter.com/contact

Hi Ahwatukee 411!

At Cooper Counseling Center, we have three therapists. Today, I’d like to introduce Marisa. She is a compassionate and down-to-earth therapist. She is an avid hiker, powerlifter, bookworm, and animal lover! Marisa specializes in helping individuals overcome anxiety, depression, and trauma using parts work (IFS).

Parts work has a profound shift on how you view yourself and day-to-day behaviors. Want to know more about parts work? Check out these related posts.

How is your inner critic trying to protect you?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7_NU7gAcuW/

Your inner critic
https://www.coopercounselingcenter.com/blog/inner-critic

Are you ready to start your journey to healing and growth? Schedule your complimentary phone consultation using this link. https://www.coopercounselingcenter.com/contact

“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others.” -Brene Brown
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Setting boundaries around time, personal space, and the requests of others can help create balance in our life and proper self-care.
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Check out our blog to learn more about the importance of having the courage to love yourself by saying “no”. A link to our blog is in our bio.

Understanding your autonomic nervous system (ANS) and how it is working to protect you is so valuable when healing from trauma. At Cooper Counseling Center, we help you understand trauma responses in our individual sessions. Check out our blog to learn more about your ANS and ways to regulate your nervous system.

Emotions are information that invite us to check-in with ourselves, much like a check-engine light in a car. Emotions are neither good nor bad. The judgement of emotion is a social construct usually learned in childhood.

Part of healing is learning to notice and check in with your emotions to inform your behavior. Part of growth is acknowledging your emotions without treating them as instructions or allowing them to run your behavior.

Next time you feel an emotion, pause and name the emotion. “I am feeling disappointed”. As you check-in with yourself, get curious and ask what is leading to this emotion? What is this emotion trying to tell me? “I am disappointed because my plans got cancelled and I was really looking forward to getting out of the house.” “My disappointment is telling me that it would be beneficial for me to connect with friends or loved ones”. The disappointment is not an instruction to lash out on the friend that cancelled. Instead, the disappointment is information to tell you that you are looking for human connection or something fun to do. Lastly, create a plan. “I am going to call a different friend or make plans for tomorrow night.''

1. Pause and name the emotion
2. Check-in and get curious
3. Create a plan
Please see our disclaimer in the highlights. This post and account are not counseling nor a substitute for professional counseling.