Creativity has long been recognized as a tool for healing, self-discovery, and resilience. Some of the world’s most renowned artists—think Edgar Allan Poe and Vincent Van Gogh—were known for both their artistic abilities and the ways they expressed their inner struggles in their art. While these artists were known for both their artistic brilliance and…
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…
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…
Let’s face it. Life comes in hard and fast at times. It leaves you scurrying from task to task and just hoping when you lay down to sleep that you’ve done enough and been enough to keep your head above water and your relationships intact. Time escapes from grasp and the feeling of being caught…
Society is constantly sending us messages that we must work hard, overwork or overexert ourselves to achieve what we want in life. But I challenge you to think about how much healthier, happier and whole we could be in life if we actually took time to rest. When I refer to rest, I don’t just…
This pandemic has been very stressful for many people for a myriad of reasons, parents included. As a mother myself, with four kids ranging from a newborn to 12-years-old, I have found myself struggling more than any other time in my life with self-care. I have been multi-tasking homeschooling three kids, caring for a baby,…
One of my jobs as a therapist is to make sure that whoever walks into my office for the first time feels safe and comfortable. One way I often do this, is through humor. Here is a common exchange I engage in if they are new to therapy: Therapist: So… is this your first…
My Junior year of college I was not only a student, but also a teaching assistant and residential advisor. As finals were approaching, I was overwhelmed with the demands on my time – especially with homesick freshmen girls knocking on my door at all hours. I was trying to figure out how I could find…
Life has transitions and events that come in many forms. Marriage, the birth of a child, moving, the loss of a job, divorce, or death of a loved one can leave us feeling a number of ways. Sometimes we’re excited or full of hope, but sometimes we’re worried or full of guilt. Both positive and…
Communicating with others about our needs, wants, and expectations can sometimes be a daunting task. For many, it can be uncomfortable and, at times, even downright scary. I have rarely met anyone who finds it extremely easy to communicate openly about these things. In fact, it is more common for people to avoid, deflect, and…