With Thanksgiving on the way, it seemed an appropriate time to talk about gratitude. There are so many opportunities and social media campaigns around gratitude this time of year. But, practicing gratitude only in November won’t give you the results you need to think gratefully regularly. Gratitude must be “practiced” to become a habit. Why […]
Years ago, I had a friend who was facing a very difficult time. Her marriage was struggling, and she was also having some challenges at work. As we sat together, she would share a bit of what was bothering her, stop, apologize, say something like, “But other people have it so much worse than I […]
At the end of October, with all the spooky themes and Halloween fun, it seemed like a good time to talk about dreams, nightmares, and how sleep plays into our mental health. It is generally recommended that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep a night. During the time we are asleep, our […]
I don’t know who determined that self-care awareness month would be September, but it was a great call. September is when we go back to school. September is when we are in transition between summer and school schedules. September is when we face whether we are adjusting well to the change in busyness, focus, and […]
As hot as it may be right now, before we know it the leaves will be turning, the air will be crisp, and we will be walking around our campuses with all the hope (and nerves!) that a new semester brings. One of the ways we develop hope and combat our nerves for any type […]
As we head into summer, vacation planning, and all the fun this season can bring, I wanted to introduce you to one of my favorite concepts. Its name is “the Moment Fairy” and I admit, it has spoiled more than one of my best laid plans over the years. It is my hope that if […]
You know, I thought this was going to be an easy post to write. May was mental health awareness month, I am a therapist, and I just wanted to wrap up that time in a way that honored people. But, as soon as my fingers hit the keyboard, the feelings started. I’m going to try […]
One of the more difficult influences of the pandemic is how it pushed people away from healthy coping mechanisms/practices and toward unhealthy ones. This is not because we wanted to be less healthy, but rather, our usual coping mechanisms were not available. As examples, let’s consider how some common health or support practices may have […]
As spring warms the air, many of us will begin thinking about summer plans, summer adventures, and — summer clothes. For those who struggle with negative body image, this spring may be an especially difficult time. Not only are we beginning to reengage with one another more in person but, we are also doing so […]
Feelings of loneliness and the experience of isolation is not a new phenomenon during the holidays. Even in previous years when you may have been surrounded by people at a gathering, it is possible to feel alone in a crowd. Loneliness and isolation are as much an internal experience as an external one. But, the […]