Better Mental Health: Princeton Counseling Service

Professional, caring counselors for the challenging times in your life.

Building a Healthier Relationship With Couples Therapy… Even If Things Are “Fine”!

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Too many people think couples therapy is only for relationships in crisis. In reality, working with a couples therapist provides benefits for relationships at any stage, such as strengthening communication, learning how to address conflicts, and deepening emotional intimacy. If you’ve ever considered speaking to a couples therapist, let this be your sign that it’s time to give it a try and see what counseling can do for you and your relationship! 

The Many Wonderful Benefits of Couples Counseling

Couples counseling exists not just to help you and your partner through a rough patch, but to build a foundation for lasting love. What does this mean for you? No matter where you are in your relationship—dating, newlyweds, married 10+ years—a couples therapist will be able to provide you with valuable advice. In sessions, you will: 

  • Develop healthier communication patterns 

  • Learn important conflict resolution strategies 

  • Reignite emotional and physical intimacy (if it was ever lost!) 

  • Dive deep into important milestones, general values, and your future plans to make sure you’re both on the same page 

Couples therapy isn’t just a solution; it’s also a form of prevention. By addressing minor issues early, even if things seem “fine,” couples strengthen trust and avoid problems later. 

Getting Started at Our Practice 

Whether your relationship feels rocky or strong, couples therapy at our practice can help you grow together. Get in touch with our team today to learn how you can invest in your relationship. Have specific concerns? Ask if any of our providers have that specialty! 

Filed Under: relationship problems

Individual Therapy: How One-on-One Counseling Supports Healing

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Have you thought about attending therapy, but were worried about being judged? Maybe you’re picturing a group setting with everyone taking turns, like you’ve seen in movies. It doesn’t have to be that way! Individual therapy allows people to explore emotions, behaviors, and thought patterns in private. Working one-on-one with a personal therapist creates opportunities for deep self-discovery and healing, and you’ll be able to target your specific concerns without worrying about taking too much time or boring an audience. 

The Therapeutic Relationship

The bond between client and therapist is often central to progress. Individual therapy provides a safe, confidential space to explore yourself without judgment. You can go at your own pace, exploring past traumas and/or current challenges one by one. Mental health professionals are bound by ethical and legal obligations to keep your information private, so you don’t have to worry about your therapist spilling your deepest secrets. 

What Individual Therapy Can Help With 

The beautiful thing about individual therapy is the flexibility. Because you’re the only focus of each session, you can address just about anything. People might come to therapy for: 

  • Managing anxiety and depression 

  • Working through grief and trauma 

  • Developing coping strategies for stress 

  • Building healthier self-esteem and confidence 

Whatever your reason, healing can only begin when you take the first step. Our therapists are ready to walk beside you on this journey to a happier, healthier version of yourself. Reach out today to schedule your first individual therapy session with a member of our team. We can’t wait to meet you! 

Filed Under: therapy

Addressing Infidelity and Finding Hope Again Through Couples Therapy

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Infidelity can cause immense pain in a relationship. The feelings of betrayal, confusion, anger, and sadness are all-consuming in the moment. For many couples, discovering or admitting infidelity shakes the very core of their relationship and may be the end of many happy (or not-so-happy) years together. However, couples therapy can offer a constructive path forward for those who want to work through this rough patch and come out the other side. With compassionate support, it’s possible to understand the reasons behind infidelity, rebuild broken trust, and decide together what the future holds. 

How Couples Therapy Helps Heal Infidelity Issues 

Couples therapy provides a neutral, guided space to talk through painful emotions. A trained couples therapist will ensure both partners feel heard and validated while steering the conversation toward healing and resolution. Therapy can help couples: 

  • Rebuild emotional safety and communication 

  • Explore what led to the breach of trust 

  • Learn conflict resolution tools and emotional regulation 

  • Create new relational boundaries and agreements 

  • Decide whether they want to move forward together and how 

Recovery from infidelity is never instant, and it may not follow a linear path. Some couples find renewed connection and clarity right away; others find peace in deciding to part ways. Regardless of the outcome, therapy will provide insight, healing, and empowerment. 

Reconnecting and Rebuilding Together 

Whether you’re seeking reconciliation or closure, professional guidance can lead you toward healing. Working with a couples therapist who specializes in infidelity issues allows you to process pain and rebuild connection in a structured, supportive setting. Ready to start healing? Contact us today to schedule your first couples therapy session and take the first step toward gaining trust and hope once more. 

Filed Under: relationships

What Is High-Functioning Anxiety? Signs, Symptoms, and How to Cope

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High-functioning anxiety can be difficult to recognize, even for those living with it. On the outside, a person may appear driven, punctual, organized, and calm under pressure. Internally, though, they are battling constant self-doubt, chronic stress, and a mind that never shuts off. Because their achievements mask the distress, many people with high-functioning anxiety go undiagnosed and untreated. 

Common Signs of High-Functioning Anxiety 

Signs of high-functioning anxiety may include: 

  • Overthinking and over-preparing for every situation 

  • A persistent fear of failure despite accomplishments 

  • Difficulty relaxing or feeling guilt when not being productive 

  • Perfectionism and the need to always “do more” 

  • Irritability or internal restlessness 

Many people with high-functioning anxiety are successful students, professionals, or caregivers. Their anxiety fuels achievement, but at a high cost. 

How Anxiety Therapy Can Help 

Anxiety therapy can be a powerful resource for managing this condition. A licensed therapist can help you identify negative thought patterns and build healthier ways to respond to stress. Therapists can also help you set boundaries, process underlying trauma, and reconnect with your values beyond productivity. Evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) are especially effective. These methods focus on building awareness of anxiety triggers, developing coping strategies, and reframing internal narratives. 

You Deserve to Be More Than Just “Functioning” 

High-functioning anxiety is a real thing, but you don’t have to live in this constant state of mental overdrive. Reach out today to speak with a therapist who specializes in anxiety therapy and discover what life feels like when peace becomes part of your success story. 

Filed Under: high functioning-anxiety

Therapy for Men: Breaking the Stigma and Finding the Right Therapeutic Fit

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proach. They may be seeking strategies to tackle relationship issues or stress in the workplace. They may simply want a judgment-free space to safely process anger, vulnerability, or past trauma. Whether you’re facing a specific issue or simply feeling “off,” therapy with a men’s issues therapist can help you reconnect with your values, improve emotional regulation, and build healthier relationships. 

Take the First Step Toward Real Change 

There’s nothing unmanly about wanting to feel better, communicate more clearly, or live more fully. Contact us today to connect with a men’s issues therapist who will hear you out and help you walk a path that honors both your mental health and your masculinity. 

Filed Under: therapy

Addressing Addiction Alongside Your Loved Ones Through Family Counseling

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Substance use doesn’t just impact the person struggling with addiction—it affects everyone in their immediate circle. This is why families in cities across the country are turning to therapy to rebuild trust, communicate openly, and support recovery together. Family counseling creates a structured environment where each member can express their experiences, understand the nature of addiction, and find common ground. 

The Effect of Addiction on Family

When substance abuse is involved, family dynamics can shift in unhealthy ways. Codependency, blame, and emotional distance are common. Counseling addresses these patterns by focusing on healthy communication and conflict resolution. It also empowers families to become a more unified support system for their loved one’s healing journey. 

Family counseling in the context of substance abuse may include topics like:

  • Exploring each person’s role in the recovery process 

  • Educating families about addiction as a disease 

  • Building tools to navigate setbacks and relapse risks 

  • Improving communication to reduce shame and defensiveness 

  • Learning healthy boundaries and emotional regulation 

Addiction recovery is not a solo journey, and you don’t have to walk it alone. Our providers are compassionate mental health professionals who understand the complexities of addiction within the family unit. Through tailored therapy approaches, the families we serve move from conflict to collaboration, offering support that uplifts rather than divides. Reach out today to schedule your first appointment! Family counseling for addiction at our practice gives each member of the family the opportunity to heal in their own way, building a stronger foundation for lifelong recovery. 

Filed Under: family

3 Types of Boundaries

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You may have heard about the benefits of setting boundaries with family, friends, and coworkers—by communicating your needs and wants, you can boost your self-esteem, prioritize your mental and emotional health, and improve your overall well-being. In the long run, boundaries can also enhance the relationships you have with those around you since they can help you feel respected instead of resentful. But did you know that there are numerous types of boundaries? Here are three of the most common:

  1. Physical boundaries – You communicate how you want to be touched and how much personal space you need. For example, you can let a colleague know that you’d rather shake hands instead of hugging or kissing. This doesn’t just apply to your body, either—you can also let your in-laws know that you don’t feel comfortable having them enter your bedroom while they’re babysitting.
  2. Material boundaries – You communicate when you’re willing to lend out money and possessions and how you want them to be treated. For instance, you can let a friend know that you can’t afford to lend them more than $100. Or, you can tell your son that he can only borrow your car if he returns it with a full tank of gas.
  3. Time boundaries – You communicate how you want to use your time. For example, you can tell your boss that you can’t stay past the end of your scheduled workday. Or, you can ask your spouse to refrain from calling and texting while you’re having dinner with friends except in case of an emergency.

Start Setting Boundaries in Your Life

If you need help implementing any of the boundaries described above, contact us today and ask to schedule a consultation with one of the skilled therapists on our team. We understand the many benefits that healthy boundaries can offer, and we’ll work with you to identify the steps you’ll need to take to set them in your life.

Filed Under: boundaries

The Many Forms of Anxiety and What to Do About It

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Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges, but it doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people experience racing thoughts before a presentation. Others feel panicked at the idea of leaving home. Anxiety shows up in many forms, and understanding your specific experience is the first step toward managing it with anxiety therapy. 

When Does General Anxiety Become an Anxiety Disorder?

While having occasional anxiety is a normal part of life, persistent and overwhelming fear can signal a disorder. These conditions disrupt daily routines, strain relationships, and make even simple tasks feel daunting. Types of anxiety disorders include: 

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), marked by constant worry about daily events 

  • Social Anxiety Disorder, involving intense fear of judgment or embarrassment 

  • Panic Disorder, with sudden, repeated panic attacks 

  • Phobias, which are strong fears of specific objects or situations 

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which share features with anxiety disorders 

Anxiety can also overlap with depression, trauma, or burnout, making professional support especially valuable. Fortunately, anxiety is highly treatable, and help is available in many different forms. An anxiety therapist can help you identify triggers, develop coping strategies, and challenge unhelpful thought patterns. In some cases, medication may also be recommended to provide symptom relief. 

Anxiety Therapy Can Change Your Life

Whether your anxiety feels like constant tension or unpredictable panic, there are tools and techniques that can help you feel grounded and in control again. Our providers work with clients to build personalized anxiety therapy plans that empower them to heal at their own pace. Reach out to our team today to get started!

Filed Under: mental health

Managing Stress: 5 Effective Strategies

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Did you know that chronic stress can have serious consequences on your health? It’s true—stress can make it difficult to sleep, weaken your immune system, and lead to other problems like heart attacks, strokes, anxiety, and depression. Plus, stress can cause irritability, lack of motivation, and difficulty concentrating, thereby negatively impacting your work and personal relationships.

If you’re feeling stressed, one of the best things you can do is speak to a therapist who can recommend stress relief techniques that are tailored to your specific circumstances. But in the meantime, we’ve compiled the following five strategies for stress management.

1. Eat a Nutritious Diet

It’s very common for stressed individuals to turn to comfort foods, which are typically high in fat and sugar. But it’s important to stick to a balanced diet, even in times of stress. Research shows that certain foods can impact stress levels—for example, lean proteins and herbal teas can help reduce stress, while refined carbohydrates and caffeine can make you feel more stressed.

2. Exercise

Stress often causes chronic fatigue, and if that’s the case for you, you may have a hard time summoning the motivation to work out. But it’s important that you find a way to incorporate some type of physical activity into your daily routine. Exercising can stimulate the body to produce endorphins and reduce its levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

3. Establish Boundaries

Do you often feel stressed because you’re being pulled in too many directions at once? Setting healthy boundaries may help. For example, at work, this may involve shutting down your computer at a certain time each day, speaking up when you have too much on your plate, and avoiding office gossip.

4. Make Time to Relax

When work, school, and family obligations become overwhelming, you may feel like you don’t have any time left over to focus on yourself, but it’s important to carve out time for self-care and relaxation. Think about what brings you peace—whether that’s going to the movies, getting a pedicure, or working on a jigsaw puzzle—and set aside time to do that on a regular basis.

5. Meditate

Research shows that focusing on what’s going on around you and letting go of any intrusive thoughts and feelings can greatly reduce stress levels. One of the best things about meditation is that it can be done almost anywhere, so you can employ this technique whenever you start to feel stressed throughout the day.

Need Help Coping With Stress?

If you’re looking to improve your stress management skills, we can help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Filed Under: stress

10 Affirmations to Add to Your Daily Routine

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Words have power, and the way we talk to and about ourselves can have a significant impact on our thoughts and behaviors. That’s where affirmations come in—repeating certain phrases to yourself can boost your self-esteem, reduce your stress, create a more positive mindset, motivate you to take certain actions, and improve your overall well-being.

So, how can you start taking advantage of all the benefits that affirmations can offer? Begin by choosing the phrases that will best serve your needs. Here are 10 ideas:

  1. I deserve to be happy.
  2. I’m strong enough to get through this.
  3. My body is beautiful.
  4. I trust myself.
  5. I’m going to be alright.
  6. I can do whatever I put my mind to.
  7. I’m proud of myself.
  8. Today is going to be a great day.
  9. I’m worthy of love.
  10. I’m at peace with the things I can’t control.

Once you’ve selected the affirmations you want to use, decide how you want to incorporate them into your routine—maybe you can say them as you’re getting ready in the morning, commuting to work, or winding down before bed. Many people find it helpful to recite their affirmations out loud, but you can also say them to yourself, if preferred. No matter what, it’s important that you repeat them daily, since doing so makes it easier for your brain to adapt and create new thinking habits.

Ready to Start Incorporating Affirmations Into Your Life?

If you’d like to learn more about affirmations and the effect they can have on your well-being, contact us today and request an initial consultation. Our therapists believe in the power of affirmations and can recommend some options that will serve your specific needs.

Filed Under: daily routine