Do you go through your day and feel like you are all over the map and accomplishing nothing?  Do you feel like your life has control over you instead of you having control over it?

A Psychologist can be a valuable tool in your arsenal. This trained professional can help you harness your talent and your efforts in the right place, build meaningful relationships, and put your life back into balance.  Or, you may already have a good handle on your life and you want to keep it that way.  A Psychologist can help you preserve what you’ve already created for yourself.

If you live in the Philadelphia area and need someone in your corner, give us a call.

Put It All In Check

A professional Psychologist can help you find balance in your life, something that is talked about often but can be very difficult to attain.  A Psychologist can help you direct your time and energy in the right direction so you don’t waste your hours and resources on things that won’t benefit you.  In other words, your coach will help you keep all things in check where they belong!

In addition, we can help you identify which relationships in your life are beneficial to you, and those which may be hindering you in your personal growth.

Call Today To Start Getting Back on Track!

Don’t wait another day to build the life that you want for yourself.  Thriveworks Philadelphia professionals are waiting to help.  Call today for an appointment and you’ll be seen within 24 hours, possibly even the same day that we hear from you.

We’re ready for the game and up for the challenge!  Let us help!

Control freaks can exist in numerous relationships, whether it be marital, plutonic, or in terms of boyfriend and girlfriend. Although the idea of control freaks may be represented as something that’s hilarious on television shows or movies, they can possibly lead to serious levels of discomfort in real life. There are various ways to deal with control freaks, but I’m going to focus on the most effective ways. However, before I proceed, ask yourself the questions below in order to identify whether or not you have a control freak in your hands (written by Philadelphia Therapy Staff Writer).

 

1)   Does this person constantly think they know what’s best for you?

 

2)   Do you feel like this person dominates every aspect of your life?

 

3)   Do you feel helpless when around this person?

 

4)   If this is a person you are in a personal relationship with, do you feel that you aren’t able to do things you were able to do before the relationship, such as hang out with your friends?

 

5)   Do you feel freer when you’re not around this person?

 

If you answered yes to some of the questions listed above, then chances are you are dealing with a control freak. However, there are ways to combat the way control freaks make you feel, just take heed to these 3 things:

 

1)   You’re in Control – No matter whom you are and no matter what type of control freak you’re dealing with, always remember that you are the one in control. The problem with people who claim to have control freaks in their lives is the fact that they surrender their lives to the control freaks. If someone constantly tells you they know what’s best for you, let them know that you’re the one in control of your life and that you know what you want more than they do. Of course, the first time you say this, they’re not going to really care. The trick is to constantly tell them that you are the one in control of your life and slowly they will back off.

 

2)   Evasion is Key – Another common problem with people subjected to control freaks is the fact that they purposely surround themselves with them. If you are in a relationship with a control freak, and you are fed up with them, then cut them off; this may sound harsh, but remember you sometimes have to put yourself before others. Some people just don’t change, so if you constantly try to talk some sense into a control freak and you go nowhere, then end it right there.

 

3)   Never give in – The power of a control freak lies in your hands. If you let the control freak control you, then it is just as much your fault as it is there’s. Control freaks may try to convince you that what they’re doing is right, but never listen to this. Only you truly know what’s best for you.

 

In order to deal with control freaks, you must always remember: you’re in control, evasion is key, and to never give in. You are the one in control of your life, so why let someone else control it? Also, don’t feel obligated to be around a control freak; if someone makes you uncomfortable in general, don’t hang around him or her. Lastly, no matter what a control freak says, never ever give in. They will do whatever it takes to convince you that you need them; never listen to them when they attempt to do so. Control freaks can make you physically and mentally uncomfortable, so if you feel you are currently encountering one, then follow the 3 tips I listed and you will go back to living an independent life in no time.  

Brainwashing is a topic that has been talked about for years and years--and many people have different opinions about what brainwashing is. For instance, some people think brainwashing is when someone doesn’t make contact with anyone else, for instance, someone who gets sucked into videogames and does not communicate with others while they’re playing. Others, however, feel that brainwashing concerns someone controlling the mind of someone else. The majority of the population feels that the latter opinion is brainwashing (article written by non-clinical Philadelphia Therapy Staff Writer).

 

Brainwashing has been spotted around the world and continues to be reported. For instance, imprisoned nationalistic American soldiers during the Korean War were reported to having pledged allegiance to the concept of communism. Also, after those imprisoned American soldiers were set free, they refused to return to the US (Layton). In psychology, brainwashing is viewed as “thought reform”, which has to do with changing someone’s original thoughts. The key to successfully brainwashing someone is persuasion, but the problem with persuasion is the fact that everyone has their own concrete, unchangeable beliefs. It takes a lot of persuasion to alter someone’s core beliefs. These American soldiers in the Korean War, for example, were once proud Americans. What changed them? How did the Koreans change their core beliefs of being American?

 

When brainwashing someone, you are imposing ideas that they usually disagree with. You are imposing  ideas that concern religion, politics, etc.  However, controlling someone’s thoughts can also happen on a small-scale. Brainwashing is practically persuasion to the extreme. How do you tell someone to do something they originally did not want to do? You state various reasons of why they should do it and how they would benefit from doing it. For those of you who have younger siblings,  you may have brainwashed them at some point to do something for you. You might have told your younger siblings to get you something, make you something, clean something for you, etc.

 

The interesting thing about brainwashing is that it can be caused by the conscious and the subconscious. When telling someone to do something or believe something, you can do so by using verbal techniques that appeal to their emotions, or you can solely use your facial expressions. The reason why brainwashing exists is because humans are more driven by emotion rather than logic. When persuading someone, it is best to aim at their emotions rather than their brain; this is because the mind and body are different.

 

When one is subjected to brainwashing, they tend to do things they do not originally intend to do such as change their beliefs regarding religion or politics. When one is a victim of being brainwashed, they don’t turn into zombies, rather they let the brainwasher alter their original thoughts. Brainwashing is a topic that is uncertain since everyone has an independent mind. However, with the right persuasion and patience, altering one’s behavior is possible; it is just a matter of whether or not the victim is consciously and subconsciously vulnerable. For more information, contacts Thriveworks Philadelphia Therapy Center at 1-855-2-THRIVE.

Narcissist – Someone who is excessively in love with themselves.

There is a major difference between being a narcissist, and having a healthy amount of self-confidence. Someone who is narcissistic tends to be hated by many. A narcissist is someone who is extremely self-centered and tends to care more about themselves than others. People who are narcissistic, in the long run, live depressing lives. Keep in mind that no narcissist ever chose to become a narcissist. Narcissism can develop through influence one receives from their parents or friends. Sometimes, narcissism can even come from being too confident in one’s self (too much of a good thing can be bad). If you don’t know whether or not you’re a narcissist, ask yourself the questions below. (Written by non-clinical Philadelphia Therapy Staff Writer)

 

1)   When I accomplish something, do I tend to brag nonstop about this accomplishment when it is both relevant and irrelevant? Basically, when you accomplish something, do you tend to constantly bring it up in a conversation?

 

2)   Do I hold myself to such high standards that when I don’t get what I want I get extremely upset?

 

3)   Do I not care about how others feel? Do I not feel empathy?

 

4)   Do I constantly try to compete with others whether it be good grades in school, having a better car, having a better job, etc.?

 

5)   Do I tend to be arrogant about lots of things?

 

6)   Do I have an obsession with how I look? For instance, if someone checks how their hair looks every 20 minutes even when they’re outside the house, then they might have a little narcissism in them.

 

7)   Do I like to appear better than my friends?

 

8)   Do I expect everyone to do exactly as I say?

 

9)   Am I a controlling person? Do I try to manipulate others to do what I want?

 

10)                  Do I tend to not care about the consequences of my actions?

 

If you answered yes to the majority of these questions, then chances are you are  a narcissist. Do not worry though, narcissism can stem from several things. If you want to get rid of your narcissism and live a happier life, then follow these 4 steps.

 

1)   Have Empathy. Try putting yourself in other people’s shoes. Take a look at the real world and realize that other people have it worse than you, don’t always focus on yourself and your problems, and help out others that need it more.

 

2)   Be open to Criticism. If someone gives you their opinion about something and you disagree with it, just politely let the other person know that. Don’t be closed-minded or rude about someone’s opinions or criticisms.

 

3)   Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. If you don’t live up to your own expectations, don’t beat yourself up. If something goes wrong, remember that you aren’t perfect and you never were. Everyone makes mistakes, so if you did something that embarrassed you, for instance, if you stuttered when making a speech, just laugh at yourself and know that life goes on.

 

4)   Life isn’t always a competition. Don’t brag about absolutely everything you do or have accomplished. It’s ok to be happy about something but when expressing this happiness, do so in a modest way.

 

Being narcissistic is a horrible thing but there are ways to break this habit. If you answered yes to the questions in this article, then immediately follow the 4 steps above and you will replace your narcissistic traits with a healthy amount of confidence. Having a certain amount of self-confidence, not narcissism, is the key to living a happy life.