Elevate Counseling

11/01/2026

🐍 Is this picture moving?

Nope.

“Rotating Snakes,” created by psychology professor Akiyoshi Kitaoka, is completely still—even though your brain may be insisting otherwise.

Try staring directly at the center of one of the circles. You may notice that particular “snake” slows down or stops moving.

Optical illusions are a fun reminder that our brains are constantly interpreting information rather than simply recording what's in front of us.

Which means occasionally questioning something your brain is VERY confident about isn't such a bad idea. 😉

10/31/2026

Are you and your teen ready to “break up” with some of the stress and anxiety you may be experiencing?

You may not be able to change the circumstances causing the stress, but you can have a plan in place to help manage—and hopefully reduce—the anxiety that comes with it.

Learn how parents can help their teens recognize triggers, develop healthy coping strategies, and practice those skills before anxiety strikes.

Is your teen struggling to manage their emotions? Use the Coping Skills Alphabet to identify and practice coping skills to reduce anxiety.

10/29/2026

10/28/2026

If we don't have moments of failure, we don't have opportunities to learn and grow.

10/26/2026

Confession: I used to think “mindfulness” was mostly for yogis on mountaintops.

Then I started noticing how often I was doing three or four things at once—and how difficult it could be to actually slow my brain down when I wanted to.

Our brains are constantly taking in information, juggling responsibilities, and preparing for whatever comes next. Mindfulness gives us an opportunity to interrupt some of that noise, reconnect with the present moment, and respond a little more intentionally.

Here are 5 simple steps to help give your brain a reboot.

Try five mindfulness steps to slow racing thoughts, reconnect with the present, and give your overloaded brain a practical reboot.

10/25/2026

👀 Quick! Which orange circle is bigger?

They're actually the SAME size.

The circles surrounding them change how we perceive their size—which is a pretty great reminder of how much context can influence what we see.

The same thing can happen outside of optical illusions. A problem can feel enormous or manageable depending on what else is happening around us. We can compare ourselves to the people around us and suddenly feel very differently about where we stand.

Our first perception can feel completely accurate...and still be worth a second look. 😉

10/24/2026

Most parents don’t expect dating violence to become part of their teen’s relationship. And unhealthy patterns aren’t always easy to recognize—especially when jealousy looks like attention, constant texting looks like connection, or controlling behavior develops gradually.

Talking about healthy relationships before there’s a problem can make it easier for teens to recognize red flags—and more likely that they’ll come to you when something doesn’t feel right.

What every parent should know about teen dating violence:

Worried about teen dating violence? Learn warning signs, how to talk with your teen about healthy relationships, & when to get outside help.

10/22/2026

✨ Meet Lauren Adams, MC, LAC

Lauren works with teens and adults individually, as well as with couples.

As a gifted individual herself, Lauren has a particular interest in supporting gifted and twice-exceptional teens as they navigate expectations, relationships, emotional regulation, anxiety, and the process of figuring out who they are.

She takes a validating, strengths-based approach and also uses Gottman principles when helping couples strengthen communication and navigate relationship challenges.

Learn more about Lauren on our website.
https://elevatecounselingaz.com/lauren-adams-glendale-az/?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com

10/21/2026

You walk into a room and smell freshly baked cookies! 🍪 Yum! ⁣⁣
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But wait! You're trying to eat healthier and want to pass up that plate. ⁣⁣
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😫 WHY IS IT SO HARD TO NOT EAT THOSE COOKIES? 😫⁣⁣
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This is called the "Present Bias." Our emotional brain has a hard time imagining the future so it wants to go for the immediate reward. This is why it's so important to find in-the-moment benefits for positive habits. ⁣⁣
With the food example: Try focusing on the way your body feels when you choose healthy foods rather than waiting for a payoff on the scale.⁣⁣
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Think about your long-term goals and why you want to follow through with them today⁣.⁣
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10/19/2026

Let’s be honest: most of us Google people before trusting them with something important. Why would choosing a therapist be any different?

Doing a little research can help you understand a therapist’s experience, specialties, approach, and whether they might be a good fit. But there’s also a point where learning more about your therapist’s personal life may actually complicate the relationship.

So—should you Google your therapist (and are they allowed to Google you)?

Should you Google your therapist—and can therapists Google clients? How online searches, reviews, privacy, and boundaries work in therapy.