There’s been a lot of talk about service animals in the past decade or so. Our bond with animals has been shown to provide multiple benefits. For those suffering from certain medical or psychological conditions, there are additional reasons to have a pet. However, just owning a pet isn’t the same as having a service… Read more

Grief can be an overwhelming emotion and one that can severely impact our lives. Studies of this emotion have revealed that species does not limit our experience of grief. Losing our companion animals has been shown to be just as devastating as losing a friend or family member. Managing our experience of these emotions is,… Read more

Meditation is a practice that has an ancient history and has been proven to have remarkable benefits. These benefits extend beyond the spiritual and into the practical and physical. Meditation has been shown to ease stress, help process emotion, and improve efficiency. The sense of resilience, calm, and focus it provides helps to organize our… Read more

The term mindfulness has been seeing a lot of use in modern psychiatry. It describes the process of removing yourself from the frantic pace of the world. Doing so requires detaching yourself from it and focusing on a calm center. Successful use of this process has led to reports of reduced anxiety. These results can… Read more

Change is something that many people find scary. Change is often perceived as the source of pain or tragedy. It’s important to remember that change can also be a source of joy and wonder. It helps us to grow and to experience new things that broaden our minds. We learn more, discover new people and… Read more

The choice to take part in therapy is one that sets you on the path to greater well-being and mental health. Be proud of your decision. It is not one that should be taken lightly and takes a great deal of strength to commit to. If you’re feeling a significant amount of anxiety, stress, or… Read more

There are many ways of describing the ways that strong emotion can impact our overall health. Among them can be found “scared the life out of me,” “worried to death,” “sick with worry,” etc. While we generally consider these to be mere turns of phrase, those who have experience with moments like this can tell… Read more

Having depression can hurt both you and your loved ones. Because depression can be experienced at any point in one’s life, it isn’t easy to spot. When it comes to families, spotting the symptoms of depression can be even harder because of the emotional impact this condition can create. Depression symptoms can be practically invisible,… Read more

Anger is a powerful emotion that we are all familiar with, having experienced it at one point in our lives or another. Whether it’s the minor irritation of not being able to find out keys or a raging torrent borne out of some real or perceived injustice, it can be a powerful force. Anger is… Read more

Children need attention and time from their parents because the impact of these interactions cannot be overlooked. Families have a significant impact on the emotional and behavioral actions of children, and when more time is spent, the emotional maturity of those children grows. Child development from infancy to adulthood, however, is often a complex topic… Read more

The conversation about how the effectiveness of spanking is essentially over in psychology circles, though it continues to rage among the general population. Studies have demonstrated that children who were spanked often demonstrate long-term problems with behavior, including low self-esteem, aggression, mental health problems, and even impaired cognitive ability. If you’re one of those parents… Read more

It’s no secret that keeping a regular date night is an important part of staying connected while raising a family. In spite of this, it’s fairly rare that parents will actually give themselves this all-important time off to maintain their relationship. Date nights are essential for a variety of reasons, not the least of which… Read more

As our family grows and develops, it’s essential that we help foster the relationships within them in an atmosphere based on trust. At every stage of your children’s lives, it’s essential that they know they can rely on you to hear them out and provide judgment-free advice. The same can be said of your partner,… Read more

During this stage, teenagers exploring relationships, identity, and aspects of life outside of the family home can ultimately turn everyday interactions into a confusing time for parents wishing to maintain a strong, positive relationship. However, finding common ground between both you and your child can be accomplished. But for many parents, it can be difficult… Read more

It’s a natural part of growing up for our children to act on one or more occasions. During these outbursts, they may interrupt others, disobey the rules, and throw tantrums. When these occasions begin to occur frequently, or the problem behaviors become more serious, a deeper issue may be present. Speaking to your child’s mental… Read more

As our children grow, they are bound to encounter setbacks and difficulties in the world. Learning how to have confidence in themselves and their abilities early is essential to overcoming these challenges and thriving. This confidence can carry on with them into their adult years, giving them the tools necessary to face all the good… Read more

It’s common to think that when an individual goes through a traumatic event, they’re the only one who experiences the effects of trauma. Families aren’t made of isolated individuals; they are all part of a support system that is intertwined on many levels, including emotional. When a member of the family becomes traumatized, it’s not… Read more

Open dialogue is a core concept in family therapy, as it brings family members as a support group for the patient and establishes a social network for families to bond. Open dialogue was initially a developing process for therapists to find the best treatment for those suffering from psychosis, a mental state where an individual… Read more

It’s probably safe to say that there isn’t a single person who hasn’t experienced the desire to stay home and hide from the world at large. Not having to go into the office, deal with traffic, or endure another day at school seems like something out of a dream. After almost a year of many… Read more

Surviving the holiday season can be a real challenge for anyone. There’s the stress of shopping for presents, the constant onslaught of holiday music, and familial obligations to meet. If that wasn’t bad enough, our businesses and friends are often clamoring for our time for special gatherings as well! No matter how much we want… Read more

Sibling rivalry is a well-known element of childhood with brothers and sisters, but at what point does it cross the line into bullying? It frequently comes as an unpleasant shock to parents to learn that what they thought of as merely the troubles of youth may actually be a problem that can have long-lasting psychological… Read more

When the topic of anorexia comes up, the first image that usually pops to mind is that of a dangerously emaciated young woman counting every calorie on her plate. As the popular image of anorexia, it does a disservice to many of its sufferers by making them invisible to the public eye. While many anorexics… Read more

Holiday depression is a well-known phenomenon that strikes many people each year. 2020 is expected to be especially rough for many more as the combination of depression, and pandemic fatigue hits them like an emotional hammer. The feeling of loneliness that drives holiday depression is amplified by our inability to hang out with friends and… Read more

Autism, when viewed through the eyes of others, can often be miscued, but they’re, in fact, a normal part of life. Its a spectrum disorder that shows its symptoms in many variations and people with the condition experience their autism individually. They operate on different social rules, express their thoughts in their way, move and… Read more

According to the CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, around 30 million Americans have dealt with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. An eating disorder is characterized by severe disturbances in one’s behavior, thoughts, and emotions in regards to food, eating, and weight. Although eating disorders can occur independently, they are… Read more

Many people are familiar with posttraumatic stress disorder, or have at least heard of it. However, did you know that there are other types of trauma and stressor related disorders? Trauma and stressor related disorders are defined by exposure to a traumatic or stressful event that causes psychological distress.  In the past, trauma or stressor… Read more

With all the recent changes, chances are you’ve spent more time than ever at home with your family. While this can be beneficial for a variety of reasons, it can also create tension and highlight family problems. Not to mention the fact that your entire family dynamics may have changed as a result of having… Read more

Parenting is tough enough as it is, albeit trying to parent during a pandemic. With everything going on, chances are you and your family’s lives have suddenly changed. In fact, many families are now trying or preparing to navigate the complicated road of distance learning. While this is not how anyone pictured this year going,… Read more

When people hear the term “anxiety”, many will associate this with nervousness, an inability to sit still, sweating, or even rapid breathing or heartbeats. While these are certainly some of the more well known symptoms associated with anxiety, they are not the only symptoms. In fact, some people can experience anxiety in different ways and… Read more