Behavioral Health Clinic

  Autistic Burnout and the benefits of receiving a diagnosis in adulthood.  Early autism research aimed at finding the root causes and a cure for autism, however, in recent years there has been a shift from that line of research to trying to find ways to support autistic individuals in their everyday life. This movement appears to have taken place as a result of emerging autistic voices. For neurotypical individuals, the term “burnout” is commonly understood as a combination of symptoms of work/school exhaustion associated with the demands within these settings. However, for autistic adults this term might have less to do with the expected fatigue related to the high stress that comes with particularly demanding careers and more to do with the expectations for them to function within neurotypical environments. A study found that “ autistic adults described the primary characteristics of autistic burnout as chronic exhaustion, loss of skills, and reduced tolerance to stimulus. ...

  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

  WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) — The United States withdrawal from Afghanistan may bring back past trauma for some veterans. That’s why a local licensed counselor, Luke Severt, wanted to tell them about an option for dealing with it. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR, is a form of therapy that may be a good fit for veterans rehashing memories. If you’re interested in learning more about EMDR or scheduling an appointment contact Behavioral Health Clinic in Wausau   . Learn more at https://wibehavioralhealth.com  

  Where in the world have the past few months gone? Summer came and went before we knew it and Fall is ahead of us. Fall is my favorite time of year, not to hot and not to cold. The leaves change colors and everything pumpkin comes out. Yes, I am that girl, Pumpkin Spice Latte’s and let’s just be honest, anything pumpkin goes. This time of year, a lot changes, some good, some challenging. School is back in session, parents are running their kids from here to there and back again, attending sporting events and trying to keep up with the household chores. All on top of working, maintaining relationships, and trying to find time to make dinner and get enough sleep. Does this sound like you? Stress can create several changes to our personalities including irritability, lack of interest in taking care of our needs or appearances, social withdrawal and isolation, and procrastination or reduced work productivity. Stress can also create changes to our cognitive functioning including diffic...

  A bi-annual tradition since 1966 when the Uniform Time Act was enacted is happening this month whether we enjoy its benefits or not, changing our clocks to daylight saving time. The ritual when going to daylight saving time causes us to lose an hour of sleep, as our day will only be 23 hours long. That one hour we will lose will shift from morning to evening when daylight saving time begins. In 2007, our federal government specified that daylight saving time would apply from 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March until 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November. Those dates this year will be March 13th and November 6th. So how do our bodies cope with the changes in daylight saving time? Daylight saving time can affect many people, especially those who battle depression and anxiety. Other health effects from daylight saving time could even include heart attacks and increased headaches. With light changes throughout seasonal changes people have to try and adapt their schedules accordingl...

  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...

  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 are  LGBTQ+   friendly and recognize the individuality of those we provide services to. 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. Autism providers :  Dr. Stacy (assessment and counseling), Dr. Meggers-Wright (assessment), Emily L (counseling), Erinn M (counseling), and Judy L (counseling). If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment or you’d like more information, please  con...

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 are LGBTQ+ friendly and recognize the individuality of those we provide services to. 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. Autism providers:  Dr. Stacy (assessment and counseling), Dr. Meggers-Wright (assessment), Emily L (counseling), Erinn M (counseling), and Judy L (counseling). Click here   to learn more.

Finding a Counselor It can be difficult to find a counselor who not only understands Autism but can also engage in perspective-taking to understand the individual experience of Autism. Autism, as Autistics and those who are passionate about neurodiversity know, is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis. There are many individual differences, contexts, and various factors that influence how one experiences Autism. This, combined with society’s emphasis on making Autistics “look” neurotypical and lack of awareness and knowledge can make Autistics hesitant or even avoidant of counseling. Yet, counseling can be beneficial with the right therapist and therapy can be successful. Counseling and therapy in a broader sense are similar and essentially equivalent terms for talk and play therapy. I am writing today to share some benefits of therapy for Autistic people. Benefits of counseling for Autistic People: Once a relationship of trust has been established, and even prior to the first appointment,...