Back to school, cooler weather, and changing leaves mean that fall is just around the corner—and so is election season. For many individuals, election season can cause significant stress and anxiety. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s annual mental health poll, 43% of U.S. adults report feeling more anxious than they did last year, with…
Throughout life, we all find ourselves having to deal with storms and struggles in life. Whether they are struggles in relationships, physical health, job changes, or moving houses – the struggle is real!! Sometimes it can feel like we are either gearing up for a storm, in the midst of the storm, or coming out…
Who are you? When many of us are asked this question, we respond with our name or with our labels. “I am Kiara, I am a mom, I am a counselor, I am a daughter, and I am a friend.” But if you were to really answer this question, who are you without the labels…
So you have decided to schedule your first therapy session? It’s normal to have a variety of feelings about this and the circumstances that brought you to that decision. If you haven’t been to therapy before you may feel nervous or unsure of what to expect! This post will provide some general information and outline…
It’s February and love is in the air! But let’s face it: sometimes, cupid’s arrow stings. As passions cool, love may feel distant or prickly even when it’s laying next to us in bed every night. Ah, animosity, resentment, and regret don’t make warm bedfellows. It may feel impossible right now, but what if I…
Over the next few months, millions of families across America will gather for the holidays. Everyone is wondering who will host and what will be on our menu. Respectfully, I’d like to suggest another important question: how can I bridge the gap that exists between the generations that will gather around my table this year?…
Madonna – we all know her: A wildly successful musician. When I was younger, I remember reading a quote, originally from a 1991 Vanity Fair piece on her life, and it’s stuck with me ever since: “And all of my will has always been to conquer some horrible feeling of inadequacy. I’m always struggling with…
Are routines and rituals both needed for a healthy family environment? As human beings we all begin and end things each and every day. Mealtime, chores, work, school, and many more activities. One of the most important endings of a day is mealtime and putting our kids to bed. Both are a time to reconnect…
How does trauma impact our relationships? Trauma alters the nervous system. The experience of threat and danger has changed the way that survivors interact with and perceive the world. They experience feelings of being hyper vigilant, anxious, confused, fearful, irritable, and emotionally detached. Their minds and bodies have been rewired by their traumatic experiences to…
Be careful little ears what you hear. I remember singing those lyrics from a Sunday school song as a young child. At the time, I heard it as a warning to be careful what I listened to. And sure, there is value to being cautious about what we consciously take in. But what about all…