September marks Suicide Awareness Month across the globe. This is an especially important and vulnerable topic to address because the effects of suicide are far reaching. It touches many lives. I would like to take this time to highlight a segment of suicide awareness: Maternal Suicide. The organization, 2020 Mom, sponsors an annual Maternal Suicide […]

World Suicide Prevention Day is held on September 10, 2019 to create worldwide awareness with a focus on raising commitment and action to prevent suicide.  According to WHO, approximately one million people commit suicide each year worldwide, that is about one death every 40 seconds or 3,000 per day. For each individual who takes his/her own life, at least 20 […]

You Are Not Alone September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Initially, you may appreciate the statistics and the acknowledgment. When the month ends, though, you may feel complete invalidation. No amount of awareness can ever yield justice for who you were robbed of. Nothing can keep the endless, ignorant suicide comments at bay. You likely […]

Your alarm clock goes off in the morning after a night of restless tossing and turning. You slowly get out of bed and feel “off”. Showering is exhausting, and getting dressed takes so much energy that you’re ready to crawl right back into bed. You think to yourself – “why bother? Nobody is going to […]

As devastating and serious as suicide is, it’s a topic that people hide away from. Because of this, many people are left to suffer in silence. Their closest loved ones are left oblivious to their pain. Or, their loved ones may suspect something is wrong but don’t know how to bring it up, so they […]

Sand tray therapy is a treatment modality that is used concurrently with most kinds of therapies. It is most beneficial when working with children, couples, and individuals that have experienced trauma. The elements of the sand tray process are therapeutic because they promote communication, play, and  relationship. The Elements of Sand Tray There are seven […]

Do’s and Don’ts of Supporting Someone with Depression Depression is not easy. It is complicated and different for each person who struggles with it. Sometimes, I wonder if people really understand how debilitating it can be. Depression is not just being sad or down in the dumps. It is typically a long term struggle with […]

Understanding 3 common symptoms of PTSD We often associate PTSD with war and soldiers in today’s society. However, anyone who has experience trauma in their life can have PTSD. What is PTSD? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after someone goes through, or witnesses, a traumatic event. A traumatic event is defined as a deeply […]

PSA:  It is PAST time to be having conversations about suicide with our children!  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, we are seeing higher levels of children (ages 5-17) visiting children’s hospitals for suicidal thoughts or attempts. Do I have your attention yet? Contrary to popular belief, talking about teen suicide will not push […]