Coping with Holiday Grief
While the holiday season brings festivity, excitement, and cheer to many, it can be a terribly challenging time for those who are living through bereavement. The death of a loved one can turn the holidays from a time of joy into a time of mourning. Even those experiencing disenfranchised grief - perhaps following the loss […]
Engage your Defenses
It’s that time of year again, when we are “expected” to be social and gather with our friends and family. For some, that brings connection and joy, for others it’s a landmine fraught with complexities and frustrations. A very typical “go to” for most people is the use of defense mechanisms – a way our […]
Mental Health Awareness Month: It's time to talk about it
Mental health is just as important as physical health, but it's often overlooked and misunderstood. Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness about mental illness and to reduce the stigma associated with it. This year's Mental Health Awareness Month theme is "It's time to talk about it." This encourages us to talk […]
Mental Health Awareness Week: Let's Have some fun while breaking the stigma!
In 1990, Congress officially established the first full week of October as MIAW in recognition of NAMI's efforts to raise mental illness awareness. Since then, each year advocates have worked together to sponsor activities, large or small, to educate the public about mental illness. Mental health is serious business, but that doesn't mean we can't […]
Pardon my French
Am I speaking in French? That’s a tag line I find myself sometimes thinking when communicating with my kids. The more appropriate term is miscommunicating – and I’m going to guess that we’ve all been there. Communication is a central dynamic pattern within any relationship – siblings, parent-child, significant others, co-workers – you get the […]
Mindfulness & Stress Reducing Skills for Parents
Stress for Parents The American Psychology Association found that 46% of parents say their average stress is between eight to ten on a ten-point scale. This is a concerning percentage as almost half of the parents reported being at the highest end of the scale. The pandemic and factors impacted by this big adjustment can […]
The Power of Self Awareness
*Do you find yourself feeling like you don’t know why you just reacted big to something or someone? *Do you find yourself not understanding why someone might be upset with you after a recent conversation? *Do you find yourself lying about something for no reason? There are many more questions that could be asked, but […]
The Importance of Creating a Routine
School is back in session. You have bought everything on your child’s school supply list. You were able to buy several pairs of clothes and shoes on sale. That brand new backpack with the matching lunchbox was worth the buy, and brought a smile to your child’s face. The first week of school is complete […]
Back to School: Supporting Your Child as They Return to the Classroom
It's that time of year again! Summer break is coming to a close, and we are all preparing to send our children back to school. Whether you are the direct caregiver, extended family, or educator of a child, you can make a significant impact on their confidence and overall mental health as they transition from […]
Riding the Waves
There is a saying: “Marriage is hard Divorce is hard Choose your hard… …Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.” There is an unspoken truth to life seeming difficult, a burden to bear at times. We long for the easier path, the quick results, […]