Stress is a natural response to life’s demands, but when it becomes chronic, it can take a serious toll on your physical health….
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In recent years, mindfulness has become a buzzword in mental health and wellness circles. But beyond its trendy status, mindfulness holds significant power as a therapeutic tool.
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Communication and relationships are foundational to the operations of a home. When these areas become difficult it can be hard to know what to do to get back on track....
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Let's debunk some of the most common myths clients have about emotions….
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Emotional temperature is a tool you can use to help you understand your feelings and more easily identify the need to implement skills to prevent yourself from reaching an extreme emotion. Your emotional temperature can be assessed using a typical thermometer and can look different from person to person. The colors and numbers can be used to indicate the level or intensity of your emotions. Ideally you would get in the habit of checking your emotional temperature several times a day. Your goal is to stay in the lower half of the thermometer as often as possible to effectively manage and be able to reach your goals.
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“You’re just not listening to me!” your adolescent child yells at you for the third time today as you try hard to prove to them that you are. You’re not on your phone, you’re not washing the dishes, you’re doing your best to be present and even give them the eye contact you think they want as you lean over the kitchen counter staring at their disappointed demeanor. “You just don’t get it!” they say, as they storm off into their room and once again you can’t resolve the topic of the conversation.
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The colder, darker months of the year have arrived. During these months of the year, you may find yourself staying indoors more often to avoid the cold, having lower motivation to workout, and the warmer sweeter foods may take over the front row of your pantry. However, it's important to remember the positive relationship between exercising and your mental health and well-being.
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For you as a parent it may often feel like the hard parenting moments last a lifetime. Sometimes, your child’s 15-minute tantrum over having to clean up their room feels unbearable and incessant. While you know you’re doing the right thing by teaching them responsibility, you start to question your decision and ask yourself “Is this really worth it?” when your head starts to spin hearing your child complain over and over again. Well, this is where using dialectics may come in handy!
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As a parent, it can be difficult to meet all of the many physical needs of your child, and when it comes to their emotional needs the challenge can be even greater! It is easy to remember that your child needs food, water, shelter, and safety. But what are some of the other emotional needs that a growing individual can benefit from having in order to thrive and reach their full potential? What are some of the most memorable experiences you remember having as a child that made you feel happy, seen, and important?
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“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Benjamin Franklin once said. Society has created the myth that you have to be going through tough times or crisis to seek therapy. Let's talk about why seeking or staying in therapy is beneficial.
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Microaggressions come in many different forms, and no matter the form, they all could have a deep, long lasting impact– especially when coming from a loved one. Microaggressions are characterized as covert or overt derogatory language or behavior targeted toward a marginalized group of individuals. In recent years, there has been a growth in research that supports the idea that microaggressions negatively impact LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) individual’s mental health (see Nadal et al., 2011).
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As the trees start blooming and the weather begins to get warmer the anticipation of the summer season starts to grow. Some families follow a certain activity of traditions that they look forward to all year. Others may find themselves thinking of how to make the best of the summer months with nothing particular planned other than a brief family vacation. No matter what situation you find yourself in, using structure to make the most of the summer months can help you make the most of your time.
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The end of the school year could be filled with many different emotions for students and parents alike. It marks the completion of another school year full of growth, successes, and overcoming obstacles. Many may have already grown attached to their routine, classmates and teachers, while others may be eager to move on happily looking forward to the future. In either case, it can be beneficial to intentionally plan on supporting your child so they can get the opportunity to experience a meaningful goodbye.
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Setting expectations for your child is meant to be helpful. But, when is it harmful? Similar to a tightrope, expectations can be tricky to navigate and acrobats (in this case, your child) often require the perfect combination of skill, training, and coaching to be able to successfully get across. So when you set expectations for your child you should consider whether or not you are setting your child up to succeed (meet the expectations) or fail (not meet the expectations).
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As parents, we tend to feel like there’s not enough time in a day for quality time with our kids. We want to maintain a strong connection with them, but how can we juggle that, sports practice, work, and so many other responsibilities? The key is quality over quantity. Quality time does not have to involve a 2-hour shopping spree or a full-day activity. When your children were toddlers, going for a walk together or having them help you bake cookies was considered quality time together. So why would that have to change as your children get older? Sometimes, even the simplest ideas for quality time will work great. Here are some tips and tricks to making bonding with your child easier…
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What’s your family goal this year? Whether you’re aiming to spend more time together, to be more active as a family, or to schedule one on one time with each other, it’s great to have an intent that the whole family can work towards. Only downside: it’s easier said than done. Navigating the hurdles of sticking to an individual goal can be hard enough. Trying to stick to goals as a family with three, four, five or more only magnifies those challenges. The idea of working towards a goal can feel enticing, exhilarating, and exciting at first – until, it's not. Once the thrill is gone, then you’re faced with the biggest hurdle: sticking to it. Life gets in the way and other to-do’s seem more important. Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your goal! Here are few tips to help your family stay on track and hold each other accountable…
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