With the wildfires that have ravaged the West Coast, and the on-going hardship of the Covid-19 pandemic, psychological health and well-being are significant complications of living in such uncertain times. While psychological first aid is no substitute for therapy or treatment, it can be a way for communities to come together and provide support to … Read More
When you think of the term “burnout,” what do you think of? For a lot of us, we apply the term burnout to work-related stress, but the mental drain and overwhelming feelings we might experience can be related to anything that causes us significant mental load. This “worry work” or “cognitive labor” isn’t physical, but … Read More
What stories do you tell about yourself? Your life? What has brought you to this point here and now? Are you the central character in your own story? Or, do others often have the leading role? Narrative therapy uses these questions and more to help us explore the ways we make meaning from the things … Read More
Albert Einstein said, “Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.” Practitioners of eco therapy would agree with Einstein’s statement. Working with and noticing the patterns in the natural world can teach us a lot about how to maintain wellness, an idea that has been increasingly backed up by research. As an … Read More
It sometimes seems that the world of behavioral health is a mess of letters: CBT, DBT and EMDR. These acronyms stand for different treatment modalities that are often used during therapy for substance use disorders. One treatment, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), helps trauma survivors manage intrusive symptoms like flashbacks and disturbing dreams. In … Read More
Are you someone who struggles with anxiety? According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 million people in the US, over the age of 18, have a diagnosable anxiety disorder. Treatment for anxiety is available, and one way to support recovery from anxiety is to pay attention to how you can support your … Read More
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can increase an adult’s likelihood of poor mental and physical health outcomes later in life. The other side of the ‘ACEs coin’ is Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), which can lead to improved mental health and healthier relationships throughout childhood as well as into adulthood. In 2019, Christina Bethell, et al. studied … Read More
In an earlier post, we explored the value of animal-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders. The following is a narrative of how a service dog, named Gander, saved the life of his human companion, military veteran Lon Hodge.
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I really want to read this book,” and another part of you thinks, “I just want to go to bed.” Or maybe you think, “I know I should go to a meeting tonight, but it’s been a long day, so I think I’ll just go home.” Richard Schwartz, the … Read More
Music is one of humanity’s oldest ways of communicating; songs can induce feelings of happiness and can help us feel less alone in times of heartache. According to the Mayo clinic, memories of music are not lost to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, suggesting that they are embedded in vital parts of our brain. Music has … Read More
