Dr. Lena Agree, JD, PsyD – Licensed Psychologist and AssociatesDr. Lena Agree, JD, PsyD – Licensed Psychologist and Associates

therapy

Healing Trauma with EMDR Therapy: Effective PTSD Treatment and Trauma Recovery

Healing Trauma with EMDR Therapy: Effective PTSD Treatment and Trauma Recovery

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they become less distressing and more adaptive. This article explains what EMDR therapy is, how bilateral stimulation and the adaptive information processing model work, and why EMDR is a leading option for PTSD and many trauma-related conditions. Readers will learn the neuroscience behind EMDR, the practical eight-phase session structure, the clinical benefits across diagnoses, and how to find qualified EMDR providers in the Birmingham, MI area. Throughout, the guide compares EMDR to traditional talk therapy, outlines typical outcomes and logistics, and offers actionable steps for deciding whether EMDR is a good fit. By the end you will understand both the…

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Schedule Your Appointment Today

Schedule Your Appointment Today

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Schedule Your Therapy Appointment Today in Birmingham MI for Personalized Mental Health Care Finding and scheduling the right therapy appointment can be overwhelming, but clear steps and practical expectations make the process far easier. This article explains how to schedule your therapy appointment in Birmingham MI, what to expect at your first session, which services you can book, and how costs and insurance typically factor into planning care. You will learn step-by-step booking instructions, a brief tour of common service types like individual and couples therapy, preparation guidance for intake, and how confidentiality and personalized treatment planning work. The guidance emphasizes practical outcomes—how therapy helps improve relationships, emotional regulation, and daily functioning—while pointing toward local options for personalized care. Read…

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The Difference Between Coping and Healing – and Why it Matters

The Difference Between Coping and Healing – and Why it Matters

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Many people come to therapy believing that if they can just cope better, they’ll feel better. But coping and healing are not the same. Coping helps you survive, but healing helps you change. Coping manages the symptoms of pain, while healing transforms the source of it. Both are valuable, but they function differently. In this post, we’ll explore the crucial difference between coping and healing, why it matters for your emotional growth, and how therapy can help you move beyond survival toward genuine, lasting well-being. What Is Coping? Coping strategies are the things we do to manage distress in the moment. They don’t necessarily change the root cause of our pain, but they make it more bearable and keep us afloat when…

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The Negative Effects of Technology on Teens – and How to Help

The Negative Effects of Technology on Teens – and How to Help

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Written by Aleena Hellebyuck, MA, CAADC-DP Learn how social media, screen time, and online culture are shaping your teen’s emotional health and what you can do to help them build balance, resilience, and self-esteem in a digital world. The Digital World Teens Are Growing Up In Technology is woven into nearly every aspect of modern teenage life. From smartphones and social media to gaming and streaming platforms, adolescents are living in a world that’s always online. While digital tools provide connection and creativity, they can also contribute to anxiety, comparison, and overstimulation,  all of which affect emotional well-being and development. As a therapist, I often hear parents say, “I don’t even recognize my child anymore — they seem anxious, withdrawn, or distracted…

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How to Change into the Person You Wish You Were

How to Change into the Person You Wish You Were

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Written by Jodi Leib Coden, MA When you envision your life five, 10, or even 25 years into the future – who’s standing there waiting for you? Most of us immediately picture others: a loving partner, playful children, colleagues and friends, and maybe even a loyal pet. You may imagine achievements such as winning an award, having a happy and healthy marriage, or building your dream house. But the most powerful aspect of that vision isn’t what’s around you – it’s who you’re becoming. Not just a richer or more successful you, but a wiser, more grounded, more fully embodied version of yourself. The you who’s walked through the chaos of today and emerged on the other side – radiant,…

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How to Overcome Inner Chaos with Embodied Intelligence

How to Overcome Inner Chaos with Embodied Intelligence

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Written by Jodi Leib Coden, MA Have you ever wished your emotions came with a user manual? Welcome to the world of Drama Therapy and the Emotional Navigation System (ENS) — a powerful, embodied approach to emotional regulation, intuitive decision-making, and inner guidance. We all possess an internal compass — an innate system of emotional signals embedded in the architecture of our nervous system. Some people, however, have become disconnected from this guidance. In emotionally difficult moments, instead of tuning in, we tune out, reaching for external sources of clarity: friends, family, experts, even Google. But what if the most trustworthy wisdom was already inside you? Understanding Your ENS: A Psychophysiological Perspective Your Emotional Navigation System is not metaphorical; it’s…

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How Your Attachment Patterns Sabotage Your Happiness (and How to Break Free)

How Your Attachment Patterns Sabotage Your Happiness (and How to Break Free)

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If you struggle with feelings of depression, flatness, anxiety, anger, or other unpleasant symptoms, you have your attachment system to blame. Attachment is an innate, unconscious system that tells you from infancy, that you must stay close to your your parents because you need them to protect you from physical danger, illness and overwhelming emotional distress (Bowlby 1988). This is what makes little kids cling to their moms in public places. They just know, “Mom keeps me alive.” This isn’t learned behavior; it’s more like an instinct. It gets “turned on” in response to real or perceived threats to your survival and well-being, such as when you’re tired, hungry, or frightened, or separated from your parents.  The problem is, it…

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How a Diagnosis Can Prevent You from Getting Better

How a Diagnosis Can Prevent You from Getting Better

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If you’ve been struggling with symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns, you may have tried to diagnose yourself in an effort to understand what’s going on. This can be helpful, but it doesn’t help you understand why you feel this way. In the realm of mental health, a diagnosis fails to provide enough information and can even be misleading. Psychiatric diagnoses are labels determined by a list of symptoms that are mostly behavioral, meaning, they describe things you’re doing or not doing (like sleeping, or eating). Most diagnoses require a threshold number of symptoms, such as four out of nine. This means a single diagnosis can encompass many – even dozens – of different experiences (American Psychiatric…

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