A teenager I used to mentor, who for privacy purposes will be referred to as Jason, was at the time a seventeen-year-old male in a transitional stage of life. He was in the process of earning both a high school diploma and an associate's degree when I met him, which ...

Individuals have many needs- both physical, emotional, and spiritual. The focus of this series will take a quick dive into the nine different emotional needs. When someone is suffering, we can often take a glance at their emotional needs, and work toward fulfilling those that might not be satisfied. Thankfully ...

Reflective intelligence sharpens your perceptions and responses to any event or any issue.  You can discover and examine complex patterns of thinking that could derail your resilience and rewire them if you wish to. You can teach yourself to pause and become present. At that moment, notice, accept, and observe ...

What kind of relationship do you have with your body? How do you speak to yourself? How do you nourish and rest? Set intentions with movement It's important to set intentions over goals in order to reduce negativity. A goal can come with failure and negative emotions. When it comes ...

The Cruel Truth About Mental Health Stigma I remember the first time I encountered it. I was young, maybe 8 or 9, and it happened shortly after an uncle of mine had a sudden explosive outburst during a family get-together. I remember hearing shouting and the sound of dishes shattering ...

What does "lazy" mean to you? I had a professor challenge me on saying the word "lazy" when I talked about my form of self-care. She reflected back to me that we all have different needs and it doesn't make us lazy. It made me pause and think about how ...

Human connection is an energy exchange between people who are paying attention to one another. Connecting with others is more important than you think. Social connection can lower your anxiety and depression, help us regulate our emotions, lead to higher self-esteem and empathy. It can also improve your immune system. ...

Let's be real.  How many of us actually accomplish our New Year's Resolutions? (I typically forget what they are by April).  Typically this happens by summer: "I've back-slided. I can't do this. I've failed already. I give up! I'll try again next year." Next year comes along. "I'm going to ...

It is a new year but not much else is new in the world. Mask wearing is a mandated norm. Additional new norms include routine sanitizing your groceries and doorknobs as well as the strategic placement of hand sanitizers throughout your most frequented hotspots. Though some parts of the country ...

The therapeutic process can seem a bit intimidating and even mystifying. As a therapist, I often encounter some inaccurate depictions of what others think therapy entails. Pop culture more often than not, depicts the therapeutic process incorrectly. I want to take this opportunity to share some perspectives about therapy. My ...