Weight gain is not always about eating, it is about eating to feel better.  Fitness coaches work on what to eat, what exercises to do and what foods to avoid.  However, knowledge alone doesn’t help food addictions.  Physical discipline won’t help these emotional issues.  Emotional eating can sabotage your weight loss efforts.  Relying on self-control to make needed eating changes is not the answer. Do you ever eat without realizing you’re doing...

Setting career goals can sometimes backfire. Studies have shown that people perform best when they set precise goals for themselves. People do not do very well with vague goals or aims like “do your best.” Bruce Stafford can help you to identify and strive for concrete goals for greater motivation, higher performance and more creativity.  Setting goals that encourage excessive risk-taking and unethical behavior can be harmful to your career.  Bruce can help you to...

Classic symptoms of addiction include lack of control and continued use of a substance despite consequences. Addiction is also characterized by preoccupation with the substance and a need for immediate gratification despite the potential for harm to self or others. Do you feel a lack of control over the addiction? Do you change your schedule so that you can more easily access your addiction? Does your use cause financial, physical, emotional or spiritual problems...

Physical, emotional or sexual abuse leaves emotional and sometimes physical scars.  An adult with a  history of  abuse can have lowered self-esteem, increased anxiety, or significant depression. Victims of childhood abuse can also suffer from different types of physical health problems later in life.  Bruce Stafford specializes in removing traumatic memories generated from childhood abuse and can help you let go of your painful past.

PTSD occurs when an individual experiences a traumatic event that may be life-threatening. PTSD can also occur when an individual witnesses the trauma of another. Or it can occur when a person has repeated childhood trauma such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse. These events can invoke chronic fear or anxiety. Bruce Stafford specializes in the treatment of PTSD.

Anger is a completely normal human emotion. However, when it gets out of hand it can be very harmful to relationships and one’s sense of self.  If your anger feels out of control, Bruce Stafford offers counseling to give you the tools to control your temper.

Shame is an internalized feeling of being humiliated or exposed.  This can create a sense of feeling that you are bad or “tainted.” Guilt is an inability to accept or forgive past behavior. Guilt is designed to change the past, which cannot be changed. Shame and guilt can result in internalized anger and lead to depression. Bruce Stafford can help you identify and heal shame and guilt so that you can see yourself in a more positive...

When bereaved individuals are told that they must get over their loss, they may react by freezing their feelings. This is known as frozen grief.  This results in the inability to let go of a past loved one and can cause chronic sadness. Frozen grief can be treated so that the individual feels more at peace. Contact Bruce Stafford for help with this issue.

A panic attack is the sudden onset of intense fear that can trigger hyperventilation, dizziness and increased heart rate. These attacks are often triggered by something in the environment or by the person’s thoughts; their thinking may trigger unresolved memories or trauma. This process is often unconscious and therefore can catch the person totally by surprise. Hence, many people have mistaken panic attacks for heart attacks or physical problems. Sometimes...

An estimated 19 million American adults are living with major depression. Many more Americans suffer from mild to moderate depression. Those with depression may experience a lack of pleasure or interest in daily activities.  They may also gain or lose weight or have trouble sleeping.  Low levels of energy and poor concentration may also be symptoms. Depression is often caused by internalized anger or self-criticism, as this is like having someone yell at you...

Anxiety is the distressful feeling of fear or excessive concern. It creates a sense of worry, discomfort and can cause a sense of impending doom. Anxiety can be a normal reaction to stress or stressful events. However, if anxiety becomes chronic or is significantly out of proportion to events in your life, professional help may be beneficial. It is important to reduce anxiety as it can have a negative impact on your health as well as your sense of well-being. Call...

When an individual has low self-esteem they may not like themselves or they may feel chronically inadequate. This problem can occur even when the person is admired and loved by those around them. This is because low self-esteem is often a result of a difficult childhood, and not a reflection of the person’s ability or qualities. When a parent is critical or harsh, or emotionally unavailable, low self-esteem can be common. In other cases, chronic teasing from...