I specialize in working with members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I understand the unique challenges faced by the community.  We have had to work hard to figure out our identity, and how this sits with society's perception.  And it has sometimes been hard to trust people, especially when their religious or cultural views do not coincide with our identity.

I have worked for several years helping people to make sense of a wide range of issues including discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity, depression, relationship difficulties, shame, loneliness, family conflict, anxiety, anger management, and substance abuse. 
 
I will provide a safe and supportive space for you to explore your experiences, and help you to make the changes that you need.

Get in contact today. You can send an email, telephone, or use the online booking system.

Email - chris@exploretransform.com
Telephone - (201) 779-6917
https://www.exploretransform.com/
Online booking https://www.therapyportal.com/p/cwarrendickins/ 

Chris Warren-Dickins LPC , Licensed Professional Counselor with an office at 162 E Ridgewood Ave, Ste 4B, Ridgewood, New Jersey. Sessions are also available online 
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#ridgewood #depression #anxiety #angermanagement #trauma #relationships #stress #counseling #bergencounty #newjersey #therapy #Support #psychotherapy
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Top tips to drain anxiety from your world

To find out more how you can manage anxiety, book a consultation with Chris Warren-Dickins LPC by telephoning (201) 779-6917, sending an email to chris@exploretransform , or clicking here to book a consultation online

Ever wondered about the intersection between sexuality and religion?  I will be on a panel of experts at an event hosted by the author Justin Lee.  Add to your diary 4pm March 17th, Westside Presbyterian Church. 

​Should be a great event!
http://www.westside.org/event/1289582-2019-03-17-talk-and-qa-with-justin-lee/

3 quick tips to remove stress from your life

To find out more, book a consultation with Chris Warren-Dickins LPC by sending an email to chris@exploretransform.com

​This is a really important issue. Too many times people claim that boys and men just don't get sexually abused, or that it is too rare to really be considered an issue.  Just because it is not reported, does not mean it does not happen. 

In this article it is mentioned that "only 22 per cent" of people using mental health services "were ever asked by staff about previous experiences of abuse. Of that rather pathetically small percentage, women patients were far more likely to be asked than men". 

We need to stop abandoning our boys and men, in the mistaken belief that they are somehow less vulnerable than girls and women. Without equipping them with emotional resilience, we will continue to see boys and men deal with their emotional distress through suicide, violence, anger, substance misuse, and other harmful means.

Allow the dialogue, be open to hear what you might not want to hear, and be alert to signs of discontent

https://www.psychotherapyexcellence.com/Blog/2019/February/Holding-Male-Survivors-of-Sexual-Abuse-in-Mind

All of us struggle at times.  Whether it is anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, or problems at work, sometimes we need a little help.  Here are five tips to help you to manage the difficulties that we all have to face, and to help you to regain control of your life -
1.  Free yourself from a prison of rules – We all live by ‘rules’ about how we (and others) should be.  In some ways, we hold onto these rules because they help us make sense of the world around us.  But we can hold onto some too tightly.  When this happens, we can feel anxious or depressed when the rules are broken.  Have a look at the following rules, and assess whether these are helping you to live to your full potential, or trapping you in misery  -

1. If I make a mistake, that means I am a failure
2. If I do not succeed at a task, there is no point in trying
3. I must be liked by everyone at all times
4. Because it is pleasurable to be wealthy, it is painful to have little or no wealth
5. My value depends on how others view me
6. Disagreement means conflict, which is to be avoided
7. To be loved, I must fulfil certain conditions

2.  Avoid avoidance – Anxiety can leave us feeling fearful of certain situations  We make assumptions about how things might turn out, usually for the worst, and so we avoid that situation.  The trouble is that avoidance only makes things worse.  We learn nothing about the situation, and how we might have handled the situation, and so we end up living a more limited life.  Meet your full potential by exposing yourself, gently (perhaps with the help of a therapist), to the situations that you fear.  If there is no real dangers to fear, then eventually the anxiety will subside.  Avoid avoidance.  

3.  De-triangulate your relationships – ‘Our capacity to destroy one another is matched by our capacity to heal one another. Restoring relationships and community is central to restoring well-being’ (The Body Keeps the Score, Dr Bessel Van Der Kolk). An essential part of this restoration involves awareness.  Without awareness in our relationships with one another, we are flailing blindly, and prone to hurt ourselves and each other.  In our relationships, we can sometimes adopt a position in what is called Karpman’s drama triangle:  One party is perceived as the Persecutor, another party is the Victim, and someone else is recruited as the Rescuer. If we are aware of this tendency, we can ensure that we react to the reality of what is happening in the relationship, rather than the unconscious dynamics that might be played out.

4.  The double-blind of depression - Depression commonly catches us in a double-bind:  We mistakenly believe that there will be a negative outcome to most situations, and we mistakenly believe that we will be the cause of that negative outcome (because we are inadequate or deficient).  To avoid falling into this trap, challenge the assumptions that you make.  This will take practice, and you may need help, but a useful first step is to adopt a kinder internal voice. Instead of being a harsh critic, direct inwards the kindness you would reserve for a child.

5. Break free of the depression cycle – All too easily we can become trapped in a cycle of depression:  Our thoughts are negative, so we feel bad, which leads to us engaging in less and less activity.  It is hard to quickly change or thinking patterns, but we can engage in more activities.  Physical activity can quickly make us feel a little better, helping to break the cycle of negative thoughts and feelings. ‘We have the ability to regulate our own physiology, including some of the so-called involuntary functions of the body and brain, through such basic activities as breathing, moving, and touching’ (The Body Keeps the Score, Dr Bessel Van Der Kolk). Even if you are taking a brisk walk for ten minutes each day, it is better than nothing.  
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Chris Warren-Dickins LLB MA LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Ridgewood, Bergen County, NJ 07450
Schedule a free phone consultation today
Call – 201-779-6917
Email – chris@exploretransform.com
Book online - https://www.therapyportal.com/p/cwarrendickins/
www.exploretransform.com
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If you need to speak to a skilled and experienced mental health counselor, you can contact me using the phone, email, or online booking details set out below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Chris Warren-Dickins LLB MA LPC
T: (201) 779-6917
E:  chris@exploretransform.com
B:  https://www.therapyportal.com/p/cwarrendickins/
W:  ​http://exploretransform.com/

The Four Elements of Stress Reduction, by Elan Shapiro. This is a quick exercise to help you manage stress and anxiety.  I have recorded an audio version so you can save it to your phone, and use it as and when you need.  I hope you find it useful.  https://youtu.be/4StCjYm8nuo
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​Mindfulness encourages a state of awareness of whatever is prominent.  We simply need to notice our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, without having to change anything.  This can be a useful tool with work stress, so I have recorded a mindfulness exercise to help you with that.  I hope you find it useful