Kaileen McMickle, MS, LPC

You are dealing with a lot of emotions about your relationship and it must be really difficult to be doing that without support.What brings you to believe it's specifically separation anxiety? Did you feel the same way when he'd leave before the new job? I'm not saying it isn't, but it sparks my... more

Absolutely! Exposure techniques in counseling have shown to be extremely effective for working through compulsions. First thing I would say is to make sure you feel a good connection with your counselor and you feel it's a good fit. It's hard to get through that anxiety already, but having a... more

That's a giant task to have to do all on your own. It's hard to watch someone you care about feel depressed and I'm guessing it brings you down, too. Change is tricky. Most people need to hit a "rock bottom" before they can transform their lives. Rock bottom is a moving target though--meaning... more

No wonder you are scared to sleep if this is what you are going through.My first thought is that it's possible your dreams are your brain's way of trying to process something that scares you or has scared you. There's not a lot of research on the purpose of dreams, but one theory is that stuff you... more

A pedophile by definition is anyone who is sexually attracted to children. This is applicable to children to are pre-pubescent. So I'm repeating others here, but you are not a pedophile!The fact that you worry about this means that you wouldn't be OK with being a pedophile. Sounds like you have a... more

There's so many treatments for PTSD and trauma-related issues. Your path might look different than what someone else's path looks like, though most people benefit from learning emotional awareness and regulation, increasing tolerance for talking about traumatic situations, and a deep understanding... more

Your apartment manager is legally required under federal law to allow the ESA to live with you if you have provided documentation from a licensed therapist. It does not matter if they have a no-pet policy if you have met these qualifications.You do not need a trained service animal nor do you need... more

I used to do sessions in the middle school where I live and it's an epidemic. Many schools struggle to address these problems and leave people like you feeling alone and lost. I'm so sorry you have to go through that.Do they physically hurt you? Not that emotional pain isn't just as worse, but... more

It's so great that you are reaching out when you feel depressed!If you have insurance, you can call them up and find out who would be in network for you. That means they can tell you what providers or clinics they cover, and if there is a copay or deductible and how much. You can find the number... more

Those are really heavy feelings to have, even if you don't meet the cookie-cutter criteria of depression.It seems like you are still pretty young and maybe have recently graduated? It's normal in the late-teen development phase to have a lot of self-doubt about who you are and what you want in life... more

The first thing I usually recommend to clients that are coming in for these issues in addition to stress management is visiting their doctor. We really don't know if it's something psychological that's influencing your symptoms, or if there's other issues happening within the body. Pancreas or... more

I'm so sorry you lost your mom. Grief is a tough process. Usually the pain from loss doesn't go away, but changes in ways that are manageable for your life. When most people lose someone, others offer a lot of support. After a while that support tapers off even though your need for support doesn... more

It's very common to lose the ability to experience empathy when you are overwhelmed, burned out, and/or exhausted. Empathy is about accessing your own emotions in a way to understand someone else's experience or circumstance. If there's something in you (emotionally) that you may be trying to... more

Has something scary ever happened when you were carrying your baby before you had panic attacks? Could have to do with fear of incompetence as a parent, but may be something unrelated.For example, if you got some really bad news when you were carrying your child, your brain may pair those two... more

That really sucks to go through. There are tons of ways to work with anxiety, both directly and indirectly that can help with what you are dealing with.Do you think you may be experiencing a panic attack? Sounds like you are feeling some dread about what will happen to you and physical symptoms... more