Outlaw Therapy

Please meet our new Outlaw therapist, Guthrie Strozier! Born and raised in Madison, Guthrie is a proud University of Georgia Double Dawg, earning an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Community Counseling with a specialist certificate in Gerontology. Guthrie will see clients both virtually and in-person. She brings with her the honorable experience of counseling individuals and groups at the Athens VA Clinic working through a variety of concerns, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and grief. This work coupled with her specialist education in Gerontology has prepared her to assist all ages as they move through life's many transitions. She is currently accepting new clients with immediate availability week day evenings and Saturdays. Please visit our website (www.outlawtherapy.com), email us ([email protected] or [email protected]) or call us at 706-342-6233 for more information or to schedule an appointment. We feel so lucky to have Guthrie join us and can’t wait for you to meet her, too!

Bottling your emotions means you prevent or suppress your feelings rather than express them. This may be happening without you even being aware of it. Often this is a habit formed by a belief that emotional expression is a sign of weakness, that we can avoid difficult emotions if we put them off long enough, or we've been misguided to believe we must be or project happiness and optimism all the time. Research has shown that bottling difficult emotions can actually make them more powerful (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110323105202.htm). Let's not fight nature here, emotions exist for a reason and are signs that can be used to help you identify when changes need to be made.

Some signs you might be bottling:
1. Rarely express emotions but find yourself erupting over small issues;
2. You distract yourself when you feel uneasy (think escape or avoid);
3. You feel different around others than you do by yourself;
4. You feel uncomfortable or don't know how to respond around emotional people;
5. You feel distant around others, maybe even like you are observing rather than engaging; or
6. You avoid confrontation, even with your own emotions.

Here are a few quick pointers to get your own emotional rescue jump started:
1. Name your emotions (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4721564/);
2. Write them down (https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journaling/);
3. Talk to someone (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/talk-therapy-off-couch-into-lab/);
4. Take a brisk walk...5 minutes will do (https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/12/exercise);
5. Identify the cause (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/art-and-science/201801/identifying-your-feelings).

Man's Search for Meaning is a 1946 book written by Viktor E. Frankl in which he chronicles his experience with suffering while a prisoner in N**i concentration camps during WWII. It is a favorite of mine and I encourage you to read it if you're looking for perspective on purpose and meaning. None of us are free from suffering and it is often through the most unimaginable circumstances that we are brought closer to meaning and purpose. While it may not always be possible (or even suggested) to ignore external stressors, I offer that our internal experience is always within our reach and may create a greater positive impact on our overall experience than we ever realized.

Check out my website www.outlawtherapy.com for more info! You can also follow me on Instagram.

Therapist |Counseling | Madison| Georgia | Outlaw Therapy Individual & Couples Therapist (Vanessa E. Outlaw, LPC) providing in-person counseling services in Madison, Georgia and vitual sessions for clients in all of Georgia. Specializing in Anxiety & Depression, Relationships, Grief & Loss, Young Adults, Trauma, and Identity & Meaning. Outlaw Therapy, LLC