Understanding Anxiety: What Does It Feel Like?

June is Pride month, an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the lives and contributions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community. While the dancing and colorful festivities are a wonderful way to celebrate, it’s also an opportunity to shine a light on the unique challenges members of this community face, particularly when it comes to their mental health and well-being.

Empowering Your Child’s Journey: The Transformative Power of Therapy Outside of School

As parents, we want nothing more than to see our children thrive, both academically and emotionally. However, the challenges they face can sometimes be overwhelming, affecting their well-being and academic success. In such moments, therapy outside of the school setting emerges as a powerful ally, offering transformative support that can unlock your child’s full potential. Discover how Sunstone Counseling can empower your child’s journey and provide the essential tools for growth.

Shining a Light on LGBTQIA+ Mental Health

person celebrating lgbtq community in parade, holding a pride flag and a drawing

June is Pride month, an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the lives and contributions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community. While the dancing and colorful festivities are a wonderful way to celebrate, it’s also an opportunity to shine a light on the unique challenges members of this community face, particularly when it comes to their mental health and well-being.

Highlighting Mental Health Awareness Year-Round

While we talk about the importance of prioritizing mental health year-round, Sunstone Counseling celebrates the dedication of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. We envision a world where seeing a therapist is as commonplace as seeing a primary care doctor—where people grappling with emotional and relational challenges can easily access the professional services they need to not only survive, but thrive.

Embracing Change and Planting Seeds of Growth

It’s spring! The outdoors is a kaleidoscope of colors, as we witness transitions from dormant stages to vitality. Yet often we want to skip over or dismiss the process it took to get to this point. It was dedicated and difficult work to be “planted.” Much like the seeds and bulbs around us, we may be “in process.” We may have changes on the horizon – both chosen and unwelcome. Change and growth can be unnerving and exhausting. It can also be incredibly rewarding and life-changing.

What NOT to Say to Sexual Assault Victims

In the wake of the #metoo movement, the highly publicized cases of Brock Turner, Harvey Weinstein, and Brett Kavanaugh have evoked thousands of men and women to come forward and share their stories of sexual assault. Sharing about the incident with someone you trust can be helpful, but only if the response is one of belief, support, and non-judgment. It is important to know what to say — or what NOT to say — to someone who has shared a history of sexual assault.

Supporting Your Transgender or Nonbinary Child

For parents or caregivers of a transgender or nonbinary child, it can be a confusing and overwhelming journey. But loving and accepting children for who they are plays a vital role in affirming their identity. After all, transgender and nonbinary children should feel they are in a safe environment where they can flourish as their authentic self. They are entitled to be respected, supported, and loved, especially at home. 

Standing Up for Gender Inequities on International Women’s Day and Beyond

Leaders, sisters, caregivers, daughters, entrepreneurs, mothers, artists, therapists, and activists. Women can be anything they choose, and we’re all the better for it. So today, let’s take an active role in spreading awareness around gender bias and taking action to create a more equitable world for all women. Here are just a few ideas on how you can participate and celebrate this meaningful day.

Social Work for Social Good: Celebrating National Social Work Month

Thanks in part to social workers, the stigma of mental health illness has lessened over the years, and there is open and honest dialogue around mental health, opening the door for the field of mental health treatment. The fields of social work and therapy are inextricably linked, and we wouldn’t be able to serve our community without the dedication and innovation of social workers. 

Coping with Caregiver Stress: Self-care for Caregivers

Caring for an aging, disabled, or chronically ill loved one is a reality that many people face. Often, caregivers tend to live with chronically elevated stress levels and may neglect their own self-care – factors that raise the risk for negative impacts on both emotional and physical wellbeing. So it’s vitally important that caregivers take the time to also care for themselves. There are resources and strategies you can use to ensure you’re giving yourself the same care and attention you give your loved one. 

Understanding and Practicing Self-compassion

Self-compassion is the practice of relating towards yourself with curiosity rather than criticism. It helps us adapt to life changes and challenges as well as strengthens resilience, emotional wellbeing, and psychological healing. Learn more about the transformative power of self-compassion as well as simple ways to put it into practice.

It’s Time to Normalize Couples Therapy

When it comes to the relationship with our partner, we can be happy with our partner AND still feel like we have some areas that need extra attention and support. If something is feeling off or uncomfortable in the relationship, it could be time for a tune-up to head off a major crisis down the road. We have counselors dedicated to supporting couples. It can be a gift to yourself and your partner to invest in regular support so you can have greater relationship satisfaction over time.