The holiday season ushers in a time of gratitude and giving. We reflect on what we’re thankful for, what the year has held, and what’s coming in the near and distant future. This practice of gratitude is timely and seasonal – but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few reasons why we should consider extending this season of gratefulness year-round, and three ways you can start today.
In our busy lives, we all have moments where we feel like our mental health might be suffering. Especially given the ongoing experience with pandemic living, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we wish to remind you of 5 manageable ways to boost your mental health.
By its very definition, vulnerability is uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. Even when we try to control every aspect of our every day, we will be met with unexpected situations that require us to respond – with no script and no guarantee of perfection. We can try to avoid being vulnerable, or we can choose to face the uncertainties of life head-on, knowing that vulnerability often leads to greater intimacy, self-worth, and compassion for ourselves and others.
Parents have unquestionably been hit hard by the pandemic. Between school closures and virtual learning, many parents have assumed the role of teacher on top of their usual household obligations and adjusting to working from home. And on top of that, parents are helping their children navigate their fear, anxiety, and depression around COVID and tumultuous societal events.
Mindfulness is an ancient practice that encourages us to be engaged with ourselves and the world around us without judgement. Many of us are stuck thinking about the past or worrying about the future that we don’t spend much time in the present moment at all. Getting started with a mindfulness practice doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are four brief exercises you can try at any time, in any place.
If you’re like most people and are unable to stick with your New Year’s resolutions, we offer some ways you can stay true to them. Also, consider seeking help from a trained therapist. Mental health professionals can offer powerful tools that can help you uncover obstacles, where they came from, and tools to help you overcome them.
If you’re like most people, you plan to ring in the new year with a list of resolutions. Whether that is through eating right, working out, learning a new language or decluttering your home office, resolutions are made to help us live our best lives. In all of these instances, mental health therapy can help.
Going through a divorce is often an overwhelming, scary, and lonely experience. The process of divorce is different for everyone – from circumstances that contributed to the marriage starting to dissolve, to whether you are the leaver, the one who was left, or if divorce was a mutually agreed on decision. Regardless, divorce causes a relational rupture between two people who once committed to each other for life, which requires substantial emotional repair and self-care.
By Amy Clay, LPC, co-owner of Sunstone Counseling* Humans have long used seasonal changes to mark life’s transitions and often view them as a time to start fresh. In fact, the “fresh start effect” is a recognized phenomenon that suggests that people are more likely to focus on important goals following “temporal landmarks,” such as… Read more »
BY: Natalie Jensen, MSW As we are walking through the beginning of 2020, we find ourselves in the unknown. Literally, we are living in the ambiguous world of global pandemic meets human experience. We know first hand that there are numerous options for thoughts, feelings, emotions, and actions (or inaction). Many of us are finding it incredibly… Read more »
By: MJ Harford, MA Counselor in Residence Acceptance is a key skill in managing and reducing anxiety. Acceptance doesn’t have to look deep or complicated, it can be as simple as identifying what is and what isn’t within our control. The COVID19 virus has changed all of our lives; things may be more difficult and more… Read more »
This week is National Screen Free Week! It’s an invitation to put down your phone or tablet, turn off the computer and TV, and enjoy life beyond the screen. Off-screen time encourages connection with others and creativity. It can be an intentional time to connect with your kids, your family, and your community. Taking a… Read more »
