5 fast ways to calm down when you need it most by Alisa Hrustic | Mar 17, 2025 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics, Stress When you’re stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or all of the above, there’s nothing less helpful than being told to “calm down,” even if it’s your own internal monologue. Whether you’re drowning in work, trying to balance parenting with your own needs, or grappling with the loss of a relationship, sometimes life…
Understanding depression counseling: Expert insights and support by Laura Harris, LCMHC | Sep 6, 2023 | Beginning Therapy, Depression, Mental Health Topics Depression refers to a cluster of symptoms which might include low mood, lack of enjoyment and motivation, sleep and appetite changes, feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, and even thoughts of death. These interfere with functioning and are likely to cause physical, cognitive, and behavioral changes. As such, it’s important to seek…
What are some helpful journal prompts for anxiety and depression? The benefits of journaling and 5 journaling prompts for mental health by Alexandra Cromer, LPC | Feb 21, 2023 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics, Self-Care Journaling is a powerful tool. It serves as an outlet, allowing us to express our emotions and process our thoughts without fear of judgment — there is no need or temptation to censor ourselves when we’re writing to and for nobody but ourselves. What a gift. And yet, for some,…
Goal setting: A guide to setting and achieving your goals by Hannah DeWitt | Jan 5, 2023 | Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement Travel more. Lose weight. Get out of debt. Exercise more. Buy a new car. You’ve probably laid eyes on one or more of these goals before — they’re a handful of the most common goals in America. But did you actually achieve them? Better yet, did you put yourself on…
Your guide to adjustment disorder: Symptoms, causes, treatment, and more by Taylor Bennett | Oct 14, 2022 | Disorders, Mental Health Topics Stress is unavoidable. It’s a universal response to challenges that threaten our health and well-being — some of the most common stressors being job loss, divorce, and the loss of a loved one. When confronted with a stressful event, we might feel frustrated, worried, nervous, or angry; we might lose sleep…
How do I deal with two big losses — my relationship and my job? by Emily Simonian, M.A., LMFT | Aug 3, 2022 | Ask a Therapist, Grief & Loss, Mental Health Topics Q: My ex girlfriend and I were kind of dating and then she met someone else that she started having feelings for. She told me this morning that she wants to pursue things with him. I am feeling very sad, desperate and don’t know what to do. I also just…
Staying strong while going through a divorce: 7 tips by Katie Brenneman | Aug 2, 2022 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Self-Care No matter how strong you are, the truth is that divorce is hard, and it is sure to affect you in one way or another. Divorce means that a chapter of your life is ending, and it can be difficult to come to that realization — and even harder to…
A straight-forward guide about anxiety and how to manage it by Taylor Bennett | May 11, 2022 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics If we had to guess, you’re no stranger to anxiety. You’ve heard, read, and talked about it — more importantly, you’ve probably experienced it firsthand. But few of us truly understand what anxiety is or how to deal with it. And even fewer know the difference between day-to-day anxiety and…
Grieving the loss of a pet: Self-care essentials and when to seek counseling by Taylor Bennett | Apr 5, 2022 | Grief & Loss, Mental Health Topics, Self-Care In January of last year, my boyfriend and I jumped on the bandwagon and adopted a pandemic puppy. We named her Summer (thought it fitting for a golden retriever) and quickly fell in love. She’s like our child — we’ve watched her grow into the stick-loving, ball-chasing, somersaulting, silly, loving,…
Confronting anxiety about the unknown: How to spend your time in life’s “waiting room” by Shannon Kersey, LPA | Mar 10, 2022 | Anxiety, Coping Skills, Mental Health Topics Waiting… how much of our lives do we spend waiting? Right now, I know people who are waiting to find out if: a lump is cancerous they are going to lose their baby she is going to lose her job he is going to get into graduate school her marriage…
Chronic pain and mental health: How to care for yourself or a loved one, from onset to diagnosis and beyond by Taylor Bennett | Jan 31, 2022 | Health Conditions, Mental Health Topics I’ve been in survival mode for the past 6 months. It started with a swollen knee, regret that I ever played soccer, and the fear of possibly undergoing my first-ever surgery — but ultimately, the promise of an end to a bizarre chapter of my life. It quickly turned into…
What to do when the power goes out: Mental health edition by Taylor Bennett | Jan 7, 2022 | Mental Health Topics, Self-Care On January 3rd, a snowstorm pummelled the East Coast, and Fredericksburg, Virginia (my home) got the brunt of it. The first couple hours of snowfall were idyllic. I enjoyed the white, winter backdrop in the window behind me, as I sipped my coffee and completed the day’s journal entry (hello,…