Mental Health Blog

Advanced Counseling of Bozeman believes you are your own best healing resource — and you don’t have to do it alone.

Explore our blog for perspectives and tools to support your journey toward better mental health and lasting wellbeing. We believe in using evidence-based, heart-centered methods and trusted, effective modalities to achieve the peaceful, purposeful, and fulfilled life that you deserve.

Acquaint yourself with the work of our experienced clinicians and see if their work speaks to you.

Overcoming the Stigma of STIs
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Overcoming the Stigma of STIs

Today, conversations about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) often evoke discomfort, shame, and fear. Despite the prevalence of STIs and the advancements in medical treatments, stigma continues to overshadow these discussions hindering education, prevention, and support for those affected.

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Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome can inhibit someone from reaching their goals and potential by preventing them from seeking new opportunities for growth in jobs, relationships, and even their hobbies.

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Shifting Our Approach to Addiction
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Shifting Our Approach to Addiction

In some way, most of us have been impacted by substance use and abuse. The extent and degree may vary but there is a resounding concern for how communities can effectively treat and support those who abuse these substances.

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Screen Time and Mental Health for Our Children
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Screen Time and Mental Health for Our Children

As parents we have a never-ending list of choices to make, factors to consider, and tasks to accomplish.  Adding in screen time for ourselves and our children and how family systems address this issue is another thing on that list. 

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Lost in the Labyrinth: Navigating Neurodivergent Clutter
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Lost in the Labyrinth: Navigating Neurodivergent Clutter

Whereas a neurotypical person might adopt the “tidy as you go” attitude towards managing clutter, to the neurodivergent person the sentiment is likely much easier said than done. As we go about daily life clutter tends to emerge, sometimes as a literal labyrinth we must navigate.

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Exercise and Mental Health
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Exercise and Mental Health

Regular exercise and going to the gym have numerous benefits for mental health. Physical activity has been proven to reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, leading to improved overall mental well-being.

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Supporting Your Child/Teen Experiencing Dissociation
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Supporting Your Child/Teen Experiencing Dissociation

“Dissociation” may seem like an intimidating word to many people who hear it. This is due to media portrayal in the form of extremes such as DID (dissociative identity disorder). In reality these portrayals represent a small percentage of individuals who experience dissociation.

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Healthy Conflict
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Healthy Conflict

Conflict is inevitable. Period. In any relationship, intimate, friendship, work, or family, you will be at odds with someone at one point or another. It is not about avoiding conflict, but it is how we move through it that really matters.  

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ADHD and Autism: A Paradoxical Experience
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

ADHD and Autism: A Paradoxical Experience

Colloquially, individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have begun to affectionately call this experience “AuDHD”.

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Couples Seeking Growth and Connection
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Couples Seeking Growth and Connection

By supporting the journey of couples, we can create a path to a stronger, healthier relationship. Here are some steps to support a couple seeking connection and growth.

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Navigating Life with Level 1 Autism
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Navigating Life with Level 1 Autism

Living with Level 1 Autism, (also known as high-functioning autism or formerly diagnosed as Asperger's syndrome,) presents unique challenges, especially for those whose traits may not be immediately apparent to others.

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Understanding Glimmers
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Understanding Glimmers

What are glimmers and how can they benefit us? Deb Dana, a licensed clinical social worker and author of “Polyvagal Theory in Therapy”, describes them as “small moments when our biology is in a place of connection or regulation, which cues our nervous system to feel safe or calm” (Jelenjev, 2023).

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Making Mindfulness Manageable
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

Making Mindfulness Manageable

Many of us have heard of the benefits of meditation and mindfulness yet still struggle to incorporate this healthy practice into our daily lives.

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ADHD and Shame
Ashlee Owens Ashlee Owens

ADHD and Shame

There is a recognized link between ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and shame. Individuals with ADHD may experience shame due to inability to manage symptoms, consequences of the inability to manage, and the nature of societal expectations.

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