A good night’s sleep is crucial to our mental, physical, and emotional health. However, many people find themselves tossing and turning at night with thoughts racing through their heads, unable to get to sleep. Good sleep hygiene is just as important to our overall health as getting exercise, eating well, and staying hydrated. So, here are some tips on how...[ read more ]
Self-Care Isn’t Selfish. Self-care has become a sort of a buzzword lately. We hear it all the time, and many of us likely have some specific images in mind when we think about self-care. When you hear the word self-care, do you think about bubble baths, fancy coffee drinks, and binging your favorite show? Or, when you hear the word...[ read more ]
“Shopping” for a Therapist When you meet a therapist for the first time, you might feel a lot of different things. You could feel excited, nervous, or completely unsure of what to expect. Finding a therapist that works well for you is the first step on your journey toward improved mental health and functioning. So, where do you even begin?...[ read more ]
The ending of a relationship is difficult to navigate in almost any situation, but having children together complicates it even further. Ideally, barring serious issues like substance abuse or domestic violence, both parents play an active role in their children’s lives. Research indicates that the quality of the relationship between parents, whether together or divorced, has a strong influence on...[ read more ]
Fathers Struggle, too When we think of parental support, our mind most often goes to caring for new mothers and alleviating mom guilt. Many forget that fathers face their unique challenges in trying to raise children. I interviewed several fathers, and they all shared similar concerns and pressures. Fathers are expected to be providers, and if they cannot they are...[ read more ]
It is Suicide Prevention Month, and it is a great time to talk to your child or teen about mental health issues. This isn't an easy conversation to have with an adult, much less your child, when there might be a lot of emotion or fear involved on your part. Here are a few tips that, hopefully, help ease some...[ read more ]
From the moment a woman decides to have a child, a million decisions come her way. Epidural vs. unmedicated. Open adoption vs. closed. Breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding. Homeschool vs. public school. And, often, it seems like no matter what she chooses, someone will have something negative to say about it. Enter the dreaded mom guilt. As mothers, it sometimes feels...[ read more ]
We have all experienced having a song stuck in our head – singing and humming the melody completely unconsciously, annoying everyone around us, and ourselves. But what do we do when our thoughts get stuck in our heads? And better yet, what do we do when those thoughts feel upsetting or even frightening? One technique I suggest to my clients...[ read more ]
Let's be honest- sometimes it's hard to shake the funk. We get stuck in these ruts and it feels like no matter what we do, we're spinning the tires and getting no where. Faking it "til you make it" gets exhausting and burnout quickly approaches. We talk to our friends and family and often we're reminded that "you'll get past...[ read more ]
We often allow our judgments or preconceived notions to be a major factor in making decisions. Sometimes, this is OK and completely appropriate. For instance, if I'm standing on the side of a busy road and see a car speeding towards me, that judgment telling me that I'm in danger would save my life- by allowing me to make the...[ read more ]