My clients know that one of the common examples I use in my sessions is how we need to pull weeds out of the garden we tend to.  Looking and growing beautiful flowers is wonderful but having healthy soil is imperative for overall success. The same is true for our mental health and the growth mindset that we can encourage within.

Spring is often associated with renewal, fresh start, and progress. When we can focus our energy and growth toward our minds an bodies we are more likely to feel positive effects with our emotional well-being and growth. With spring starting this week, we will discuss and review a few healthy tips to tend to your own mental health garden. 

About a week after elections have concluded, I’m hearing from many that they are worried. People are sharing concerns for the future and processing the possible outcomes of change. Feelings are high, anxiety may be through the roof, and the stress may be affecting many areas of your life. Let’s explore together 5 tools that may help the change feel a little lighter.

Have you found that you’re experiencing similar weeks and are stressing about the variables? Or perhaps you notice difficulties completing similar tasks. Whether we’re starting change, in the midst of it, or waiting on it, adjustments can have a huge impact on our mood, daily dynamics, and overall mental health. In this post we will discuss the algorithm and explore some tips on helping with a smoother transition.

The postpartum journey is filled with new experiences.  Even with multiples, every newborn experience can be hectic and unique.  From getting to know our body again, healing, and trying to connect with your most precious little baby. Mix all of these changes in with hormones, body pains, and fresh emotions, the feeding experience may be a high form of stress for you. 

​Trying to exclusively breastfeed, there could be high pressure to be constantly needed but touched out and tired. Anxiety, fear, loneliness, and sadness may be especially high if the expectation and reality of feeding your new baby is not what you expected.

Grief is a feeling that many know,  although it's likely we wish we didn't. Bereavement after end stage cancer is so difficult and the loss of a loved one is immeasurable. Together, it may feel that it would be impossible to heal. In this blog, I will explore some strategies to help you, your family, and the cancer community to process and grieve. Know that as you start and continue this journey of healing that there is more than one "right" way to grieve a loss. The overall goal is not to forget but to balance our feelings in remembering the love and the light and not the illness.  To live in the pain without breaks would be unbearable. To try to only ignore and hide would likely lead to unhealthy tendencies. Let's explore finding a balance for you.

With the warming temperatures and school bells on mute, summer is often a major time of change for most. Individuals are likely to experience mental health changes, physical changes, and life changes in the next few months. Sound like you or a loved one? Here’s what we can keep in mind for a smoother transition.

​Whether you have repetitive negative thoughts or not, you likely feel some anxiety throughout your body.  This form of stress may be felt regularly and intensely and is a physical symptom of worry. 

With the holidays right around the corner and the schedule filling up, I’m reminded how busy this time of year can be. Don’t get me wrong, the holidays can be a fun-filled season with holiday cheer and delicious food. However, for many, this season can also mean higher than average levels of anxiety because of the additional costs, events, and more socializing. While every individual has a slightly different strategy of reducing their winter woes, I wanted to provide some tips on what you can do to keep the holidays merry and bright.

Do you consider yourself an introvert?  Do you get tired after social engagements? The holidays are tough enough, without being overwhelmed by all the social engagements.  The trick is navigating through the maze of holiday parties and still feel like you’re able to recharge your battery. Renewing our battery levels may vary a little from person to person.  Following these tips will help you glide through the holidays.

Ever finish a workout and get a burst of energy? Runners call this a “runners high” but you don’t have to be a runner to receive the benefits of exercise.

As you read this, you are most likely at “baseline.” Baseline is when an individual is cool, calm, and collected. While most of us stay at or around baseline the majority of the day, we all deviate from this area and experience highs and lows.

Have you ever asked someone how they are doing and they respond with an answer that sounds forced? They might feel forced to answer with a “fine” or “okay” or any similar resemblance because that’s the social norm. However, their body language and their tone might be telling you that there’s something they would like to say and they don’t know how. ​

With technology changing and advancing, the option of video conferencing with a therapist has become more popular than ever.  With this technology and change in the therapeutic process, many clinicians and clients have questioned the effectiveness of working through their mental health concerns with a screen.  

Setting and maintaining work boundaries can be beneficial to our physical and emotional health.  By creating a consistent work schedule and leaving at your designated time, it sets a starting record for consistency.  Leaving work on time allows for family, exercise, healthier eating, etc.