Surviving trauma is one thing. Learning to thrive beyond it is another. Healing from trauma is a complex process that is not always as straightforward as we hope, but recovery is possible with the right help. Some of the signs of trauma include: Emotional Impacts: This can be anxiety, depression,…

In my counseling practice, I often connect with people who have no experience with getting help.  Many times, when I answer a phone call, the person on the other end is reaching out for the first time in their life.  It’s a big moment. When we struggle with mental health…

Journaling is a time-honored approach to therapy and provides a way for us to process, plan and express ourselves in the times between seeing our therapist. There are many different types of journaling, and, in this issue, I wanted to share some with you with the hopes of inspiring you…

Have you ever felt like your mind was racing so fast that your body couldn’t keep up?  We usually call this feeling “anxiety”.  We feel disconnected and untethered.  The good news is that we can use simple grounding techniques to return us to our present moment. “Grounding” is a set…

Have you ever noticed how great it can feel when we help others?  It turns out that even small acts of service to others can also help us by boosting our own mental health.  This article will lay out the science, simplicity and the payoff from helping those around us.…

What exactly do people mean when they talk about the power of “letting go”?  As a therapist, I often see people who are holding on to things that no longer serve them.  They hold on to negative emotions, unhealthy attachments and, worst of all, past grievances.  What if true and…

Picture this: You are out with friends at a restaurant.  The meal was amazing.  The company was even better, and the waitress comes by and asks a seemingly simple question: Would anyone like dessert?  Well, yah, of course, right?  I mean, you saw that picture of the cake with the…

We all want to stay close to the people we care about…but our calendars and energy levels can say otherwise. Why does socializing matter so much to us? Healthy, uplifting, social connections support our mental health by reducing feelings of isolation, and our connections to our community can increase our…

Daylight Savings is upon us.  The clocks have fallen back, and the sunlight we rely on for our mental well-being is largely gone. Living around the 45th Parallel, like living anywhere, has its advantages and its disadvantages.  We all know the advantages like amazing weather even in the summer, not…

There are times when life can feel overwhelming.  Our emotions can sometimes get the best of us, and at times we don’t even know why.  To manage our stress, it is helpful to actually take a moment to name the emotions we are feeling that led us to being overwhelmed. …