How to combat Zoom fatigue symptoms: Learn to improve your body language and nonverbal communication skills by Jason Crosby | Oct 28, 2021 | Communication, Mental Health Topics, Work & Careers Platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and even FaceTime have streamlined our ability to communicate both personally and professionally. However, the best virtual meetings always seem to be short, sweet, and efficient. In these dream scenarios, everyone wins: There are no awkward pauses, people talking over one another or trying to…
Online Counseling Question: How can I be more assertive without being rude? (Video) by Taylor Bennett | Apr 30, 2020 | Communication, Mental Health Topics Click here to schedule online counseling at Thriveworks. Hi, my name is Rebecca Toulson and I’m a Licensed Mental Health Therapist with Thriveworks Counseling in Greenville, South Carolina. The online counseling question I’ve been asked is, “How can I be more assertive without being rude?” I love to get this…
8 tips for getting good at small talk: Ask questions, avoid sensitive topics, and more by Taylor Bennett | Oct 1, 2019 | Communication, Mental Health Topics Small talk can exacerbate social anxiety or simply make us feel uncomfortable; however, doing it well can aid success in our personal and professional lives. Get good at small talk by first asking questions; have a few generic questions handy to ask new friends or colleagues and tune in to…
Sharing opinions with others: When is it worth speaking up and when should I just stay quiet? by Edie Weinstein, LSW | Sep 20, 2019 | Communication, Mental Health Topics We all have our own (often strong) opinions on politics, religion, relationships, and so on. Offhand conversations no longer circle with ease around the water cooler at work. We take part in conversations about more serious issues and subject matters. Additionally, thanks to social media, sharing those beliefs is easier…
How to communicate more effectively with your partner: 3 tips (Video) by Taylor Bennett | Sep 13, 2019 | Communication, Mental Health Topics, Relationships Imagine this: you get home from work, and your spouse looks up at you from the kitchen table, clearly concerned. You demand simultaneously, “Where are the kids?” You both thought it was the other person’s turn to pick the kids up from soccer practice, which has the potential to spark…
Assertive vs. aggressive: What’s the difference? by Taylor Bennett | Mar 19, 2019 | Anger Management, Communication, Mental Health Topics, Psychology Assertive and aggressive behavior are two totally different approaches to communication and, often, confrontation. But one often reaps better benefits — learn about the difference between the two and which you should turn to. What Is the Difference Between Assertive and Aggressive? In my junior year of college, I spent…
Who do liars target? Am I an easy target? These 3 personality types are deceived more easily by Taylor Bennett | Feb 22, 2019 | Communication, Mental Health Topics, Personality The unfortunate truth is that many people lie, and it isn’t always easy to tell when we’re being deceived. And while we all are at risk of being lied to on any given day, some are particularly vulnerable to deception such as those who lead with empathy, passiveness, or optimism….
Why do we lie? What started as a means of survival now has the potential to cripple us in modern-day life if we aren’t careful by Taylor Bennett | Feb 21, 2019 | Behavioral Issues, Communication, Mental Health Topics Have you lied yet today? Maybe you took a sick day at work when really you’re feeling fine; maybe you said sorry to your significant other when you didn’t truly mean it; or, maybe you told your server that your chicken tasted great when it was just subpar. The thing…
Does lying doom relationships? Can I come back from betraying my partner’s trust? by Angie Sumrall | Feb 20, 2019 | Communication, Mental Health Topics, Relationships Trust is essential to a healthy, happy relationship—therefore, when trust is lost or broken, one’s relationship can suffer significantly. The good news is that trust can be restored, so long as both partners are willing to confront open wounds and work on rebuilding. If you’ve damaged your partner’s trust, start…
How can I catch a liar in the act? Here are 5 foolproof ways to tell if someone’s lying by Taylor Bennett | Feb 19, 2019 | Communication, Mental Health Topics, Psychology We all lie—we say we’re younger than we really are, we claim to be okay when we’re not, and we tell our friends they look great when they don’t. I stand by the argument that lying is okay in certain instances, such as these, when the effects are virtually harmless….
Common Breakup Lines and What They Really Mean by Taylor Bennett | Apr 19, 2018 | Communication, Mental Health Topics, Relationships Relationship experts recommend being honest, kind, and direct in the delivery of a breakup. They say to use “I” statements, be considerate of the other individual’s feelings, and most importantly, make your reasoning crystal clear. But that’s not usually how a breakup unfolds, is it? Instead, we use cliché breakup…
How to Break Up With Someone You Love by Taylor Bennett | Apr 17, 2018 | Communication, Mental Health Topics, Relationships Breakups suck. I don’t care if you’re the dumper or the dumpee—regardless, you’re in a sucky position. However, there is one key difference between the two: as the dumper, you decide how this breakup unfolds. Or at least how this breakup begins to unfold. While there is no textbook equation…