The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had an affect on the mental health of adults, children, and teenagers. Socialization with friends and peers has been limited because of the quarantine, causing many teenagers to feel isolated and withdrawn. Now that teenagers are returning to school, the affect of COVID-19 on their mental health is even more apparent. [...]
We all want to have a healthy summer. If the novel coronavirus has reinforced anything, it’s the idea that there are things we can control, and things we can’t. While many eagerly await a vaccine or effective treatments, there are many actions you can take to strengthen your system’s defenses. We already know about the [...]
As the days grow shorter and cooler temps set in, we can sometimes feel down, and tenser. Factor in the holidays around the corner and it becomes even more important to maintain daily wellness rituals and self-care this autumn. Here are 6 simple ways to honor the season and provide a solid foundation of self-care [...]
Sometimes when people try to change the attitude or behaviors of others, they often find themselves in a power struggle. When a loved one is struggling with overwhelming emotions, this can lead to dangerous situations. While acceptance of the limitations of your control over others may be helpful to your emotional state, it can also [...]
This February doesn’t have to be all about sappy cards, overpriced flowers or another excuse to eat candy. This Valentine's Day, show yourself some love. If you’re like most people, you tend to put others’ needs ahead of your own and don’t pause to attend to your own. You may feel you don’t have the [...]
Introduction Pat Harvey and Jeanine Penzo, both licensed clinical social workers, have a book called Parenting a Child Who Has Intense Emotions. It’s a book that I have been enthusiastically recommending to parents who are confronting this difficulty. The book teaches Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills, established by Marsha Linehan for treating adults. These skills help [...]
"What's the big deal? It was just emotional abuse." I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard this sentiment being expressed whether it is directly from a client, a perpetrator, or commentaries made by media forums, the general public, or other social networks that reflect a lack of awareness about the ramifications of emotional abuse. [...]
Don't munch on feelings. Often we munch on feelings when we don't have useful tools to cope with distressful feelings. If you’ve identified yourself as someone who uses food to avoid and soothe a distressful emotion, then you may lack the necessary, non-food-related, tools to cope. Making this change is challenging as food is a [...]
Now that the winter season is ending, there is much we can learn from it about factors that impact our emotional health. In the winter, the temperatures are (generally) low, there’s less sunlight and often people are required to stay inside for longer periods of time. As a result, we can sometimes find our emotions [...]