Love Positive Counseling - Blog

Meet your neighbors! Networking event for N Fulton area therapists February 21

1/9/2020

Living or working in North Fulton (Roswell, Alpharetta) area? You’re invited to a networking event for local counselors, therapists, and social workers. This event will be a casual environment to meet your neighbors in the business to “talk shop,” build referral networks, and support each other in our important work.

Light refreshments will be provided. Please bring business cards to trade with colleagues who seem interesting to you.

Details:
Friday February 21, 2020 at 11:00am – 1:00pm
Wellspring Counseling Center
700 Old Roswell Lakes Pkwy Suite 300
Roswell, GA 30076

About us:
We are a group therapy practice that values diversity, authenticity, and safe space. We provide individual, relationship, and family therapy for adolescents and adults. Our therapists each specialize in different therapy modalities, psychological and developmental concerns, and relationship styles but one thing unites us: a positive and accepting attitude towards sexuality and gender. We most commonly support clients struggling with mood, depression, anxiety, trauma, self-harming behaviors, family-of-origin issues, and/or life transitions.
http://www.wellspringlife.com/

Community Resource: Savoring

12/17/2019

Today I want to share a community resource that a friend and colleague is offering because in both my personal and professional life, learning how to savor the pleasure in every day life experiences has been the key to unlocking greater happiness and satisfaction.

Savoring: The Golden Hours by Orion Crook, The Practice

If we understand that evolution has set us up to be savoring machines when negative shit is happening, then we may begin to question what to do in order to outweigh the biological reactive response we have to negative cues.

This Gabshop is a way deeper look at how to develop a skill set that uses enjoyable chemicals and experiences to re-traumatize ourselves with the good. There will be a mix of learning, sharing, and experiential expressive activity to offer a well-rounded glimpse into the possibilities of savoring.

Learning Objectives
1. Detail the 3 states that a client may be into beginning practicing savoring.
2. Identify how awareness is the first step towards a savoring practice
3. Explore the potential effects of how savoring can modify emotions, thoughts, and life direction.
4. List examples of ways one might be blocked psychologically from practicing savoring.
5. Develop a Practice that through time leads one to gain awareness, acceptance, all while we collecting savorable data for our psyche to store more deeply and be more attuned to noticing.

This Gabshop is Orion's desire to help bring what they feel is so critical to developing mental health out into the community. It's also a process put in place to help them dive in, grasp on, and surface with articulation.

Learn more about this gabshop and how to join in on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/savoring-the-golden-hours-tickets-65865340005

Transmasculine Lower Surgery Support Group

11/14/2019

I'm really glad to see another support group resource for transmasculine folks in the Atlanta area. So glad to spread the word to everybody who may need to know about this! Note: This group is in no way hosted/facilitated/sponsored by Anna Baxter, LPC or Love Positive Counseling - Please do not contact me regarding participation.

Are you post-op phalloplasty or metoidioplasty?
Are you actively seeking one of these surgeries?

Join us for Atlanta’s only peer-led support group for transmasculine folks going through lower surgery. Our first meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 4th, 2019. Refreshments will be provided.

Please send an email to carepackagetransmasc@gmail.com for time and location information.
Please note that this group is only open to people on the transmasculine spectrum who are having or have had gender-affirming lower surgery.

Research study on intersection of LGBTQ and Consensual Non-monogamy

10/7/2019

I certainly have personal and professional experience with the intersection of being LGBTQ and polyamorous. I'm thrilled to share that scholars in APA's Consensual Non-Monogamy Task Force are conducting a study to better understand the lived experiences of people who's identity and relationships reflect this intersection. There's not enough research completed or in process regarding CNM, so any research on the topic is thrilling to see. If you're LGBTQ and identify as CNM or have multiple sexual or romantic relationships, please considering adding your voice to this important study.

To participate in the study, please complete this online survey

Free Class: Introduction to Holistic Living

10/3/2019

My friend and colleague, Courtney Geter, LMFT, is hosting a free class that could be extremely helpful and valuable for many of you. Regardless of what you're struggling with, the skills and knowledge in this class will apply to your mental and physical well-being.

From the Eventbrite event:

Introduction to Holistic Living

by Papaya Wellness Company and Atlanta Therapeutic Collective

Date And Time: Sat, October 19, 2019 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM EDT

An intro to holistic healing and living practices including meditation, intuitive eating, acupuncture, and relationship therapy. Papaya Wellness Company and Atlanta Therpeutic Collective are hosting an introduction to holsitic healing and living practices. If you've ever wondered about acupuncture, meditation, intuitive eating, and relationship therapy, then join us to learn more about these practices and ask questions of local, Atlanta area practitioners. Our morning will begin with a sample meditation or breath work course followed by a brief discussion about the benefits of meditation and breath work in your daily life. Next, we will learn about the benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture including the connection to our emotions. We will end the morning with light snacks and conversation about Intuitive Eating habits . Throughout the morning, you'll learn the connection of these practices to the relationship with the self and others.

Register on Eventbrite

Now Accepting New Clients

7/1/2019

After an exceedingly busy June full of professional and personal growth, my work schedule has opened up. I am again able and willing to accept new clients. If you, or someone you love, has been wanting, wishing, hoping to see me as a counselor now is your/their time.

I would much prefer that new clients are ideal clients - working through self acceptance and relational trauma while being polyamorous, kinky or transgender. If this is you, I invite you to put in an appointment request and let's begin your journey to healing and authenticity.

Survey for LGBTQGE+ in the South

8/8/2018

The Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) reached out to me as a practitioner with LGBTQGE people to let me know about a survey about being LGBTQGE in the South. I'm a huge advocate for research and often feel frustrated when I can't find adequate research on topics important to me and my work as a counselor. Please consider spending a few minutes sharing your experience because you could inform future work in healthcare for LGBTQGE people in the South.

(From CSE):

As you know, there is very little data about LGBTQ people who live in the South. Our goal with this survey is to hear from as many LGBTQ individuals as possible about their health care experiences. The results of this survey will be used to help increase access to LGBTQ-friendly health care in the South and will inform our new Southern LGBTQ Health Initiative. The survey is offered in English and Spanish

The survey is for LGBTQ people who live in the South and are 18 years or older; it takes less than 15 minutes to complete and is available at:

English: www.surveymonkey.com/r/southernlgbtqhealthsurvey

Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EncuestadeSaludLGBTQdelSur

New Therapy Group for Polyamorous People

3/26/2018

Announcing a new therapy group (yes, it's different from a support group) especially for polyamorous people. To my knowledge, this does not yet exist anywhere and it certainly is a new offering in the Atlanta area.

For all of the information about the group, click over here.

New Transmasculine Support Group

10/9/2017

I'm excited to share that my colleague at Wellspring Counseling Center, Wyatt George is starting a new support group on Tuesdays, especially for transmasculine adults. He's modeling the group after our existing and highly successful North Fulton Transgender Youth Support Group (and adult group). Just in case this group would be helpful for you or someone you love, here's the details you'll need to attend:

This group will be devoted to providing a safe space for transmasculine people to share personal experiences and support among their peers. Open to all individuals, regardless of specific gender identity, though there will be a focus on the experiences of transmasculine individuals.

Every two weeks on Tuesdays starting October 10th (6:30-8pm)

Wellspring Counseling Center
700 Old Roswell Lakes Pkwy, Suite 300
Roswell, GA 30076

No need to RSVP or consult with a facilitator before the event, but if you have questions and would like to speak with Wyatt beforehand, contact him at WyattGeorgeCounseling@Gmail.com

Why I work with LGBTQAI2S Youth

4/25/2017

As a LGBTQAI2S person who struggled through my adolescence, I know personally the pain of seeking understanding, belonging, acceptance from my family, peers, and most importantly myself. Hearing horror stories of the supposed mental health treatment that so many LGBTQAI2S youth endure, I vowed to myself to be a safe place where youth can feel free to explore, express, and assert themselves for at least the time they spend in my office.

The pain of confusion, rejection, and shame LGBTQAI2S youth face as they're determining who they are and who they will be is life-threatening for many. It can be totally unbearable, leading youth to at least seriously considering suicide, and many attempting (or worse, succeeding) suicide. I found this infographic that helps explain why it's so important for mental health providers and family members to contribute to the empowerment and acceptance of LGBTQAI2S people, including youth.

(Click Read More to see the full image)