If you notice yourself experiencing the signs and symptoms of anxiety listed below, our expert therapists can help you fell better. Signs of anxiety (The Mayo Clinic) include:

-Feeling nervous, restless or tense

-Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom

-Having an increased heart rate

-Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)

-Sweating

-Trembling

-Feeling weak or tired

-Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry

-Having trouble sleeping

-Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems

-Having difficulty controlling worry

-Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

Worried you are experiencing OCD? OCD is a form of anxiety. You can read more about it here.

Body image issues can have many signs and symptoms. For some it might result in reducing the amount of time you spend with others, being hyper aware of the clothing you wear, and feeling badly about your body most of the time. For others, it might result in eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Contact us today if you would like support in managing the symptoms of body image issues and improve the way you in which you relate with your body.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, having a chronic illness such as cancer, heart disease diabetes, or chronic pain can increase the likelihood that a person develops depression, anxiety, or experiences trauma.

If you’re struggling with chronic illness, you might also be feeling:

• sad

• hopeless

• frustrated

• worried about the future

• afraid

• grief

All of these feelings make complete sense when facing something like a chronic illness. Our medical therapists are trained to understand not only the impact of issues like anxiety and depression but also how those issues might show up specifically for someone struggling with a medical diagnosis. To learn more about our medical therapists contact our office.

Signs and symptoms of depression include (American Psychiatric Association):

Feeling sad or having a depressed mood

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed

Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting

Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

Loss of energy or increased fatigue

Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)

Feeling worthless or guilty

Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions

Thoughts of death or suicide

Grief is a normal response to loss. Struggling with grief does not mean something is wrong with you. However, we can help you learn to navigate your feelings of grief and honor your loss.

When you are grieving, it is common to experience:

Feelings of anger

Frequent sadness and tearfulness, it might come out of “nowhere”.

Confusion

Lethargy and exhaustion

Loneliness

You can read more or grief therapy here.

Over 39% of the LGBTQ+ community reports struggling with their mental health. This can be due to specific challenges that members of the community face within the world.

LGBTQ+ people report that discrimination, feelings of loneliness, shame, and isolation greatly impact their mental health. They also report high incidence of traumatic experiences, often directly related to being LGBTQ+.

At our office, we want members of the LGBTQ+ community to know they are safe here. Our therapists are both members of the community and allies. Many of our therapists have advanced and specific training in LGBTQ affirmative therapies.

If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you are safe here.

Men are less likely to seek therapy than women, yet over 30% of men experience depression, anxiety, or emotional distress. At A Better Life Therapy in Philadelphia, we provide a supportive space for men to navigate stress, relationships, self-doubt, and personal growth. Our therapists help men develop emotional resilience, improve communication, and build fulfilling lives. Whether you're facing career pressure, anger, or relationship challenges, we offer real solutions for real change

To read more about therapy for men’s issues click here.

Transitions in life are inherently stressful - whether they are welcomed changes or upsetting changes.

If you’re graduating from school, getting married, making a big move, starting a new job, or getting ready to welcome a baby you might feel overwhelmed, worried, unsure, stressed, or confused. Therapy can help you navigate your changes so that you can thrive.

Parenting is hard and it can cause individual and relational stressors. Whether you are struggling to adjust to a new baby together, going through a difficult transitional stage with your child, or trying to figure out a coparenting relationship, we can support you individually or within the parenting relationship to move forward.

If you would like parenting support, make sure to mention that when scheduling so we can connect you with one of our specialists.

Pregnancy and birth impact every aspect of human life - the emotional, physical, spiritual and social.

We support people who have experienced pregnancy loss, are struggling with their pregnancy, are experiencing postpartum anxiety or depression as well as those experiencing baby blues.

Our practice has trained several of our therapists through Postpartum Support International. This means they have expert and specific training to not only help you with your mental health but to understand pertinatal/ postpartum specific issues.

Our therapists are also trained in relationship health and because of this they can help you navigate the stressors you might be experiencing with the people you are in relationships with during this challenging period of time (your partner, family, friends, etc).

Read more about pregnancy and postpartum

Read more about perinatal mental health.

Read more about pregnancy and postpartum.

You might notice that you are struggling in one or more of your relationships. Perhaps you have conflict with friends, feel angry with a family member, or rejected by a romantic partner. Maybe you need to figure out whether or not to stay or leave a relationship.

At a Better Life Therapy we specialize in relationships. All of our therapists are trained to think through a relational lens and many of our therapist specialize specifically in relationship work.

Working with a therapist can help you learn to communicate better, make sense of the types of relationships you are in, understand patterns, and create change in your relational life so that you can actually enjoy your connections.

If substances are impacting your health, your goals, and your relationships we can help. We have several therapists available to you with extensive backgrounds in substance use treatment alongside other specialities like trauma or relationships.

Read more about substance use and misuse.

According to The Mayo Clinic,” Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD”.

Even if you don’t have PTSD you might also be struggling with th impact of trauma. Our trauma therapists can help. We are trained in TF-CBT, EMDR, and other trauma focused therapies to help you work through the traumatic experience you’ve had.

Read more about our trauma therapists and trauma therapy.

Read more about EMDR therapy.