Behavioral Health Clinic

  A recent study completed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine revealed that 74% of Americans report sometimes, always, or often experiencing disrupted sleep due to stress and 68% report losing sleep due to anxiety. It’s no secret that today’s society is demanding. Everyone has responsibilities they strive to meet, and finding a way to balance them all can feel overwhelming. Often, this stress emerges just as we try to turn our brains off for the day, leading to restless nights. This can result in a frustrating pattern, leading to even more fatigue and burnout over time. The solution to this cycle may lie in what is called the “digital sunset”. The Digital Sunset We live in an age where technology continues to grow and become even more relevant in our daily lives. We use our devices to work, connect with loved ones, monitor our health, track our schedules, seek entertainment, and so much more. These tools all have their purpose, but after a full day of screens and the in...

 You don’t have to struggle with emotional health alone. Get Started . Get the Help you Deserve Coping with emotional health or learning issues is difficult for everyone and it is important to remember that you are not alone. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health issues, Behavioral Health Clinic is here for you. We have a number of experienced licensed psychologists and counselors ready to help you develop a get-well plan that works for you! Our mental health professionals each focus on different specialties so you can find the best fit to get the personalized care you deserve. Conditions we Address ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect attention, impulsivity, memory, and other cognitive functions. Many associate ADHD with kids, but adults are also affected. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder; as such, it is impossible to “grow out of” ADHD with age. Additionally, there are many adults who re...

  When facing the devastation of an infertility diagnosis, it is important to remember you are not alone. Often this can feel isolating, confusing, frustrating, and be anxiety provoking. Fears stretch wide around your purpose and meaning of life, family, and connection to others. Stages of this grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The hope is that as individuals and couples move through these stages, they will be able to be stronger and more resilient on the other side and find a new purpose for their lives. The first of the grief stages is denial, which often occurs after finding out from a medical provider that there is no viability for a pregnancy. This can set individuals and couples into shock and disbelief of this outcome. An example would be for someone to receive this diagnosis and say, “NO. This is not happening to me.” For most, denial is a stage that is shorter than other stages. The second stage is moving into feelings of anger. This occu...

  Crippling anxiety can be a life-altering experience. It can prevent you from doing things you love, make you feel like you’re stuck in a never-ending spiral, and convince you that there’s no way out. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are ways to cope with and manage your anxiety, which we will explore in this article. If anxiety is something you’re dealing with on a daily basis and you’re unsure how to cope, keep reading for some helpful tips from our experts. 5 Tips for Coping With Crippling Anxiety 1. Identify your triggers. One of the best ways to cope with crippling anxiety is to identify your triggers. What sets off your anxiety? Is it specific situations, people, or activities? Once you know what your triggers are, you can work to avoid them or prepare for them in advance. This may not be possible or practical for all triggers, but knowing what they are is a good start. If you’re struggling to identify your triggers, consider keeping a journal where you track your m...

This content uses identity-first language, which is preferred by many Autistic people. We have providers who have an awareness of the unique challenges Autistic individuals and their families are experiencing. Autistic children, adolescents, and adults can benefit from behavior therapies to address functioning and co-occurring mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and ADHD. We also provide services to family members (parents, siblings) to help address the unique stressors of loving Autistics. We consult with Pediatricians and other Primary Care Providers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, and your child’s school upon request to ensure comprehensive support. The Significance of Semantics: Person-First Language: Why It Matters Autistic Hoya by autistichoya Here more on sound cloud. Learn more today.

  The struggles of having an eating disorder, or a dysfunctional relationship with food is very real. In my therapeutic work with teens and adults, I have been an intimate observer, supporter, challenger, educator, advocate, and firm believer in the ability to regain a positive sense of self and true appreciation for the human body. I never cease to be excited (and relieved) when one of my clients reaches a point in their recovery when they “get and accept” themselves for who they are, as they are. When they embrace the understanding of food as fuel to sustain a healthy body, nourishment becomes an integral part of their everyday life. Certainly, in the beginning stage of recovery, it feels like a fleeting acceptance, but when nurtured, it grows into a lifestyle change. I have had the privilege of working with a wonderful young woman, Jennifer, for the past several months who wrote a beautiful story of her “Journey to Love My Body”. I have her permission to share some of what she h...

  When facing the devastation of an infertility diagnosis, it is important to remember you are not alone. Often this can feel isolating, confusing, frustrating, and be anxiety provoking. Fears stretch wide around your purpose and meaning of life, family, and connection to others. Stages of this grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The hope is that as individuals and couples move through these stages, they will be able to be stronger and more resilient on the other side and find a new purpose for their lives. The first of the grief stages is denial, which often occurs after finding out from a medical provider that there is no viability for a pregnancy. This can set individuals and couples into shock and disbelief of this outcome. An example would be for someone to receive this diagnosis and say, “NO. This is not happening to me.” For most, denial is a stage that is shorter than other stages. The second stage is moving into feelings of anger. This occu...

  There are many reasons that can help explain why someone of any age is forgetful. I wish I could pin point it exactly and say “this is why,” but the truth is it is a little different for each person. There are some common difficulties that can contribute to forgetting things. These include symptoms of ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma, bereavement… the list goes on. Working Memory is also known as short-term memory. These are things you hold in memory to complete a task. For example, you are packing up your child for school and need to send them with snowpants, boots, hat, gloves, and a lunch and mid-way through your list, your child reminds you that it is their snack day. They end up going to school with the snack, but you forgot to pack their gloves. Or you’re on the way out the door and you cannot recall where you left your keys. After all, they were right here, right? ADDitudemag.com says that research demonstrates that young children can only hold one or two items in memory....

  The transition to motherhood brings with it many changes. This can be a very difficult time for many. Mothers are expected to be happy. Joyful. Ecstatic. Immediately ready to be a mother and care for their child. When a mother does not feel this way, it can be scary and confusing. According to Babycenter.com, 40 to 80 percent of new mothers will experience what is called the “baby blues.” This is when during the first few days after delivery, a mother feels tearful, unhappy, is worried, experiences self-doubt, and is fatigued. This can be explained by many different factors; hormones, adjustment, lack of sleep, lack of self-care, and others. The “baby blues” will typically go away within a few weeks. When these blues persist, increase in severity, lead to feelings of despair or hopelessness, significant behavioral changes, intense worry, feelings of inadequacy, and/or thoughts of harming oneself and/or the infant, it indicates that the mother may be experiencing Postpartum Depres...

  WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) — After a perfect behavior day at school, your kids return home and let their walls down. That’s when the meltdown comes. What some parents may not know is that this is completely normal and common. “Parents are not alone, a lot of kids go home and they are acting out more there,” said Luke Severt, licensed counselor at Behavioral Health Clinic of Wausau. Learn more at https://wibehavioralhealth.com

  The struggles of having an eating disorder, or a dysfunctional relationship with food is very real. In my therapeutic work with teens and adults, I have been an intimate observer, supporter, challenger, educator, advocate, and firm believer in the ability to regain a positive sense of self and true appreciation for the human body. I never cease to be excited (and relieved) when one of my clients reaches a point in their recovery when they “get and accept” themselves for who they are, as they are. When they embrace the understanding of food as fuel to sustain a healthy body, nourishment becomes an integral part of their everyday life. Certainly, in the beginning stage of recovery, it feels like a fleeting acceptance, but when nurtured, it grows into a lifestyle change. I have had the privilege of working with a wonderful young woman, Jennifer, for the past several months who wrote a beautiful story of her “Journey to Love My Body”. I have her permission to share some of what she h...

  As school begins, daylight lessens, and the weather changes, we encourage you to fall back into activities you enjoy this season. The goal is to do something enjoyable either by yourself or with your favorite humans, while enhancing your mental health. This is a challenge to you to engage in various activities that promote your wellness, especially as we begin preparing for the winter months ahead. Let’s discuss what this might look like for you. Physical wellness is focusing on your body’s wellbeing and health. This is beneficial for your mental health and helps keep you feeling well. Engaging in a physical exercise daily or at least 3–4 times per week can improve your overall mood. Be sure to choose something you enjoy. For those who love to run or go to the gym, think about switching up your routine to include things you haven’t tried yet. For those who like nature, take a walk outside, prep your garden for the winter, or rake some leaves. Try a new recipe with a fall theme in...

  Everyone can agree that we’re not in tip-top shape without a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, it’s on trend for our population to miss out on the amount of sleep we really need to be able to function effectively during the day. It can also be difficult to differentiate these symptoms from mental health disorders in diagnostic testing. According to the CDC, approximately 35 in every 100 people in the United States report having a short-sleep duration (less than 7 hours of sleep per 24-hour period.) Additionally, those who reported sleeping less were more likely to report substance abuse and chronic health conditions-including depression, heart attack, and stroke. For mental health, there are prevalent complications that come with a lack of sleep, as well as a consistent connection between those who have mental health disorders and significant sleep disturbances. Americans in general are sleep-deprived, but chronic sleep problems affect 50–80% of patients in a typical psychiatric...

  WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) — Instagram implemented a “Take a break” feature on Tuesday. When scrolling too long, a break reminder pops up. “Too much of anything can be a bad thing,” said Luke Severt, licensed professional counselor at Behavioral Health Clinic in Wausau   . Severt said something many people find themselves guilty of with social media is procrastination. “You’re there all day and then suddenly you’re feeling bad because you didn’t accomplish anything,” said Severt. That’s what the new “Take a break” feature on Instagram aims to diminish. Unlike Tik Tok, which automatically gives these reminders to viewers, Instagrams’ has to be set up. Here is how to set it up. Go to your profile. Click on the three horizontal lines on the top right of the screen. Then click “your activity” and finally “set reminder to take breaks.” It will give an option of 10, 20 or 30 minutes. When you hit the scrolling limit you’ve set, a reminder that will pop up that suggests taking some deep ...

  I have worked with many individuals with chronic pain in clinics and in research studies. My father also lived with chronic pain. From my experiences with these individuals and communities and also based on what we know from the documentation in research is that a large percentage of people with chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia or low back pain, experience mental health concerns such as depression. This means that the two conditions can co-occur, but we are not certain about which condition is more likely to occur first. Regardless, research has shown that the way people think and feel about chronic pain can negatively impact their emotions and stress. Conversely, being more mindful on a regular basis may help people to enjoy and live their lives well in spite of chronic pain. You might be thinking: what does being mindful on a regular basis mean exactly? Everyday mindfulness is described as a tendency to frequently focus on the present moment and to be open, curious...

  Judy Lemke, MS, LPC, LCSW Judy Lemke is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a wide variety of experience in Mental Health and Substance Abuse issues. She completed her Master’s Degree in Counseling at the University of Wisconsin –Stout and her Bachelor’s Degree in Comprehensive Social Work from the University of Wisconsin — Eau Claire. Clients who counsel with Judy will find her to be engaging, patient, thorough, and genuinely interested in them as individuals with unique strengths and abilities. She has extensive experience in assisting individuals with co-occurring disorders, relationship issues, mood disorders, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, change of life events, trauma, self-esteem issues, and post-divorce co-parenting struggles. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, person-centered and solution-focused interventions are an integral part of her approach in encouraging her clients to become confident in their creation of achievable goals...

  Everyone can agree that we’re not in tip-top shape without a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, it’s on-trend for our population to miss out on the amount of sleep we really need to be able to function effectively during the day. It can also be difficult to differentiate these symptoms from mental health disorders in diagnostic testing. According to the CDC, approximately 35 in every 100 people in the United States report having a short-sleep duration (less than 7 hours of sleep per 24-hour period.) Additionally, those who reported sleeping less were more likely to report substance abuse and chronic health conditions — including depression, heart attack, and stroke. For mental health, there are prevalent complications that come with a lack of sleep, as well as a consistent connection between those who have mental health disorders and significant sleep disturbances. Americans in general are sleep-deprived, but chronic sleep problems affect 50–80% of patients in a typical psychiatr...