The Journey Through Pet Loss and Grief
Our pets are a part of our family. When their time comes to cross the rainbow bridge, it can feel like a part of our heart and our family is now missing, much like a human member. Unfortunately, our friends, family, and community members who are either not animal people or have never had pets [...]
The Value of Getting Outside in the Winter
Spring is almost here, but at the same time, winter is still a reality for a little while longer. As Minnesotans and Midwesterners, we know that the spring, summer, and fall months allow us the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors almost 24/7. However, the reality is that these three seasons often only last a few [...]
Are psychiatric medications for you?
Are psychiatric medications for you? Deciding whether or not to seek mental health services can be daunting and overwhelming, particularly with the ongoing social stigma associated with it. Likewise, the decision to start psychiatric medication can also be difficult. This is where an assessment with a psychiatric medication provider can be helpful. After assessing and [...]
Mindful Ways to Approach Eating Through the Holidays
For many clients dealing with an eating disorder, the holidays can often be a very challenging time. Amid the holiday lights, Christmas carols, and snowy days, the holidays often focus on the food being served. Use the below tips to practice mindfulness when eating this holiday season to increase overall enjoyment and make for a [...]
Lessons from the Stairs
The other day I was out for a walk and was going to climb a long flight of railroad tie stairs built into the hillside. As I approached the stairs, a young boy (maybe 4 or 5 years old) and his mother had completed their journey to the top and were safely landing back at [...]
Differentiating Between ADHD and Anxiety in Children
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and anxiety share some common symptoms. This makes differentiating between these two mental health disorders more challenging. With both of them, a child may demonstrate symptoms of inattention, distractibility, hyperactivity, restlessness, and at times even insomnia. It is even more challenging to know if a child also has ADHD if [...]
Common Concerns About Mental Health Treatment
Most individuals are fairly good about seeing their physician or dentist for routine health care or when they experience an injury or illness. Unfortunately, it can be much more challenging to have the courage to seek mental health treatment due to the stigma surrounding mental illness. Individuals often worry about being judged by family or [...]
The Importance of Variety with Food
In this world of the internet and social media, we have so many messages thrown at us. We're bombarded with individuals who lack proper credentials inadvertently telling us and showing us how we should look. Underneath these specific looks, there is often a diet or routine that they follow to make them appear a certain [...]
Navigating The Pain of Infant Loss
One of the most difficult and devastating experiences a parent will ever face is the death of their child. Each year there are individuals and couples who experience a miscarriage, still birth, or the death of an infant son or daughter. If this is you, we want you to know there is hope, and we [...]
Tips for Navigating the Holidays in 2020
It has been an unusual year, but the end of 2020 is fast approaching and the holiday season is here. There is no question that the holidays this year will be very different than years past... For many people, Christmas and New Years are a wonderful time to get together with family and friends, many [...]
The Benefits of School-Linked Mental Health Services
School-linked mental health therapy services have become increasingly common due to the many benefits they provide. This model can be best defined as a therapist from an outside agency working onsite at a school, providing services to students during the normal school day. The benefits of this model are many... School counselors and teachers are [...]
Simple Tips for Wearing Masks
Today, I want to share some thoughts and advice around wearing masks and the anxiety that can come with it. As more cities and states have moved to mandatory mask-wearing policies, we're hearing from people about their experiences of masks causing anxiety. This can include creating full-blown panic attacks whenever a person puts on a [...]