Boundaries: A Radical Act of Self-care
An exploration of boundaries as a radical act of self-care. We’ll discuss what boundaries actually are, why they’re difficult to set, and why we need them both for our mental health and for the health of our relationships.
Grounding: the Benefits and the Practice
Grounding encompasses simple tactics aimed at disengaging from emotional distress. These tactics include distractions directing our attention outward, to the external world. They also are helpful to bring us back to the present moment.
5 Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health in College
Taking care of your mental health during school can be really hard. Between classes, friends, and work it becomes difficult to make time for yourself. Here are five changes I made to prioritize my wellbeing during college.
Love After Abuse
How will I know when I’ve found a healthy relationship? I wish there was a simple answer to this question. One of the most important characteristics of a healthy relationship is both partners feeling safe. This can be tricky because it’s different than feeling comfortable. Sometimes, we stay in relationships because they are familiar even if we aren’t happy or if our needs are consistently unmet.
The Need to Please
People-pleasing can often be associated with an emotional wound or trauma. It is a behavioral response that is utilized to feel and keep “safe.” We are diving a little deeper into the people-pleasing experience and a few ways to shift out of this specific coping response.
What is Vagal Toning?
Part two in our two-part series about the Nervous System! We’ll explore the vagus nerve, the definition of vagal tone, and practices to regulate our nervous system.
An Introduction to Understanding Your Nervous System
Take some time to learn what is happening in your nervous system. We explain the purpose of your nervous system, how it impacts you on a day to day, and explain polyvagal theory. Gain a better understanding of how the mind and body are connected and influence each other.
The Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude can have a significant impact on both your mental and physical health. So, what is it exactly? “Scientists conceptualize gratitude as both a state and a trait” (Jans-Beken, L., et al, 2020). It’s something that can become a part of how we see ourselves and the world around us (that is dependent on the state we are in) as well as something that we can intentionally do.
4 Ways to Live More Intentionally
What does it mean to truly live intentionally? And how does one cultivate intentional living?
Holistic Therapy: What is Internal Family Systems?
What is Internal Family Systems? And what does it mean to work with our parts? An introduction to IFS, the different parts of us, and the path towards healing.
What is Somatic Therapy?
What is Somatic Therapy? And how can it a help us? The body-based approach that encourages us to be with our feelings, rather than thinking right past them.
6 Ways to Overcome a Breakup
Going through a breakup can be an emotional and difficult time, and it's important to take care of yourself during this period. Here are six ways you support yourself holistically during this time.
Treating Substance Use Holistically
Substance use is a complex, layered struggle. Building an integrative, holistic treatment play is critical when it comes to supporting the individuals mind, body and soul.
6 Holistic Ways to Get Better Sleep
The quality of our sleep also plays a role in how well our nervous system is functioning. Let’s take stressors for example, if we are sleeping poorly (which is a kind of physical stressor) we will be less able to properly handle stressors and may find that we are overwhelmed more easily.
The Biology of High “Functioning” Anxiety
What is the biology behind high “functioning” anxiety? In today’s blog, we are breaking down what may be happening inside the body (and the nervous system) when it comes to experiencing high “functioning” anxiety.
Avoiding Burnout and Finding Deep Rest
On avoiding burnout, challenging “hustle” culture, and deepening our relationship with rest and ourselves for mental wellbeing.
How to Shift the Inner Critic Mindset
Our inner critic is often fueled by cognitive distortions which are internal mental filters and biases that often leave us second guessing ourselves as well as feeling badly about ourselves. Learn how you can use the 4 C’s to modify these unhelpful thoughts and change the way your inner critic speaks to yourself.
The Impact of Trauma on your Mind and Body
Trauma is not just a category of experiences, it is also about our response to those experiences. An ongoing stressor can be a traumatic experience, as can the betrayal of trust in a relationship, a physical accident, or suddenly losing someone important to you.
A Psychologist’s Experience with High “Functioning” Anxiety (plus a free resource)
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist struggling with High “Functioning” Anxiety. I’m sharing a little bit more about my experience with high-functioning” anxiety, to provide insight AND make you feel a little less alone. Plus, I include my free HFA downloadable resource if it is helpful.
Nonviolent Communication in Relationships
Nonviolent Communication: Returning home to our needs, practicing deep listening, and finding our way through conflict.