To Rest or Not to Rest? You’re struggling to complete a paper for school or project for work. You notice you’re judging yourself for needing a break, thinking you’re “lazy” or lack drive. And because of this, you have difficulty listening to your body, even when it’s signaling for a break. Of course, our cultureContinue reading The Case for Rest
Window of Tolerance
What Is the Window of Tolerance? The window of tolerance is a psychological concept introduced by renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Dan Siegel. When in our window of tolerance, we can think and act clearly, responding to stressors and life’s demands with balance and control. Here, we feel present and engaged and can function mindfully and effectively.Continue reading Window of Tolerance
Pain Reprocessing Therapy
A Case of Chronic Pain Marina is a 30-year-old woman who played tennis on her high school team and continued to play recreationally until a lower back injury sidelined her from the courts. One day, she was lifting some boxes in preparation for a move and felt something give out. The pain was excruciating. AndContinue reading Pain Reprocessing Therapy
Mental Health Benefits of Mind-Body Practices
The Mind-Body Connection The relationship between the mind and the body is a fascinating and powerful one that deserves attention in the field of psychology. At the forefront of understanding and approaching this connection are the time-honored methods that utilize mental work and physical movement to increase overall well-being. Mind-body practices are activities that intentionallyContinue reading Mental Health Benefits of Mind-Body Practices
Childhood Trauma and the Body: Pain, Autoimmune Functioning, and More
Have you ever wondered why people who were exposed to extreme stress early in life tend to suffer from physical ailments more than the general population? The ACEs study, a large-scale research endeavor, showed that those who were subjected to childhood trauma were, as expected, significantly more likely to develop mental health symptoms, such asContinue reading Childhood Trauma and the Body: Pain, Autoimmune Functioning, and More
Insomnia: Coping with Sleep Troubles
It’s late, and you can’t seem to fall asleep. Your mind doesn’t want to quiet, and one of the thoughts that you’re having on repeat is that you’re not going to get enough sleep, even if you were to fall asleep at this moment. Or it’s 4am, and you woke up from a dream orContinue reading Insomnia: Coping with Sleep Troubles
CPT for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
What is CPT? Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is short-term, evidence-based therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). CPT was developed in the 1980s, derived from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CPT is primarily a cognitive therapy, helping trauma survivors examine and challenge their beliefs surrounding a traumatic event, beliefs that serve to keep them stuck in traumaContinue reading CPT for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Building Resilience: Coping with Trauma, Adversity, and More
Over the years, we’ve worked with thousands of people coping with varying degrees of stress, trauma, and adversity. With this, comes an organic study of how people come to handle life’s challenges and how they come upon resilience. Some erroneously believe that being resilient means that you don’t struggle or have difficult emotions or experiences,Continue reading Building Resilience: Coping with Trauma, Adversity, and More
Coping with Infertility
The Trauma of Infertility Coping with infertility can be one of the most trying experiences you face, with the process challenging you physically, emotionally, financially – and for many – spiritually. Often, folks struggling with infertility end up experiencing anxiety, depression, and other mental health outcomes. Relationships and responsibilities can suffer, self-esteem can plummet, andContinue reading Coping with Infertility
Home for the Holidays: Coping with Triggers
Going Home for the Holidays For some, the holidays evoke family, connection, and cheer. But, this time of year can be tough for many folks, particularly those in recovery from an eating disorder, substance use disorder, trauma, depression, or other mental health concern. Visiting people or places that bring up uncomfortable memories – or causeContinue reading Home for the Holidays: Coping with Triggers
Sexual Assault and Alcohol Use
CW: rape/sexual assault The Ford/Kavanaugh case has engendered numerous discussions about the connection between drinking and sexual assault. People – even in the mental health profession – are speculating about the accuracy of Dr. Ford’s report given her (reportedly minor) alcohol consumption around the time of her assault. Others are wondering whether or not KavanaughContinue reading Sexual Assault and Alcohol Use
Coping with a New Medical Diagnosis
Receiving a medical diagnosis can stir up all sorts of emotions, including sadness, fear, and hopelessness. Whether the diagnosis came out of the blue or after a significant period of symptoms and diagnostics, attaching a label to the experience – particularly one that has chronic implications – can be traumatic and, typically, life-changing. To helpContinue reading Coping with a New Medical Diagnosis
