Category: Blog

Psychiatry Series: What is a Psychiatrist?

Upper half of woman's face surrounded by question marks

Many people find themselves unsure about seeing a psychiatrist. This is partially due to the common myth that psychiatrists treat “crazy” people with prescription medications. However, this is not the case at all and I would like to take some time to talk more about what psychiatrists ACTUALLY do and how they help their patients…. Read more

Suing for Emotional Distress

judge's gravel and scale

If you have experienced emotional distress at work, you could be eligible to sue your employer for damages. This is a possible solution in many different situations, from your manager ignoring your requests for help to a coworker behaving in an outrageous way towards you. The law around emotional distress personal injury cases is complex…. Read more

Mindfulness and Your Mental Health

The word "mindfulness" written in the sand at the beach

Have you ever been told that your anxiety or your depression is “all in your head” and that if you just stopped fixating on it so much that you could get better? Unfortunately, if you are affected by anxiety and/or depression, this may be something that you have heard before at least once, if not… Read more

September is National Suicide Prevention Month

Banner for World Suicide Prevention Day September 10th

Did you know that the week of September 8th-14th is National Suicide Prevention Week and that World Suicide Prevention Day is Septemeber 10? In fact, the month of September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is not an easy topic. Unfortunately, far too many of us have directly or indirectly been affected by suicide, whether… Read more

What Are Phobias?

Woman sitting in the fetal position inside a giant glass jar

We’ve all heard the term “phobia”. Perhaps we’ve even joked with friends about having certain phobias, like arachnophobia (fear of spiders). Ultimately, however, phobias are no laughing matter and they are a serious anxiety disorder that currently affects 19 million Americans.  The way phobias are often portrayed indicates that many people don’t fully understand what… Read more

How to Support a Loved One’s Mental Health

A female hand being held in between to male hands offering support

After having a medical procedure done, patients are often given a list of post-op or post-treatment instructions. This list makes it easy for themselves and their caretakers to know exactly how to care for them after said procedure. However, this is not usually the case with mental health treatments.  Although therapy has a range of… Read more

Why Do People Self-Harm?

Arm facing upwards with wrist bandaged and the word "help" scribbled across the bandages

Self-harm is a tough subject for both those who self-harm and those who love them. If you are reading this, it is likely that you either have self-harmed or you know someone who is or has self-harmed and you’re looking to find them help. First and foremost, if you suspect that you or someone close… Read more

How Brain Development Affects Children’s Mental Health

Blonde female toddler against a background with two halves of the brain showing logic and creativity

The human brain is responsible for just about everything we do and everything we will ever become. For starters, it acts as the body’s central control panel and is responsible for regulating a number of essential functions such as breathing, digestion, blinking, hormone levels, and many others.  Not only that, but the brain is basically… Read more

Different Types of Therapy

Psychotherapy word cloud

When many people think of going to therapy, they picture laying down on a couch and talking to a therapist sitting in a chair and avidly taking notes on a clipboard. While this may be a somewhat accurate depiction of what happens during a therapy session, there is much more actually happening below the surface…. Read more

The Relationship Between Depression and Anxiety

man holding his head and slowly blurring away at the edges

Did you know that anxiety disorders are the most common mental health illness in the United States and that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide? In fact, The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that anxiety affects about 40 million Americans, while the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance notes that about 17.3… Read more

May is National Maternal Depression Month

Lower half of pregnant woman sitting cross legged and holding her belly

As Mental Health Month comes to a close, we’d like to pay tribute to another important part of this month: National Maternal Depression Month. National Maternal Depression Month aims to raise awareness to maternal depression and other maternal mental health disorders. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 1… Read more

Does Your Client Have Psychological Damages

woman screaming

As a personal injury attorney, you deal with clients who have been through a lot — both physically and mentally. You’re probably well aware of this. But do you know how to determine whether your clients are getting the mental health treatment they need? Mental trauma often isn’t immediately recognizable, even by the most experienced… Read more

May 9th is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day

banner of may is mental health awareness month

Did you know that May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and that May 9th is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day? Did you also know that according to the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, one out of every five children experience some form of mental disorder annually? Starting in 1949, the Mental… Read more

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Myth vs. Fact

strips of paper saying obsessive compulsive disorder

Nowadays, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is almost an internet trend. There are a number of social media sites that glorify incorrect notions about what OCD is and are instead redefining it as the preference for neatness and pleasing visual aesthetics. A number of memes, quizzes, and image-based articles confirm how the internet is slowing changing… Read more

Group Therapy 101

group holding hands together

Are you considering attending a group therapy session or has your therapist started to encourage you to “try one out”? While many people are familiar with the traditional psychotherapy model of one therapist to one individual, they are often not as familiar with group psychotherapy. To help familiarize yourself with what group therapy actually entails,… Read more

The Nature of Trauma and Its Effect on the PTSD Brain

brain

Trauma is a tricky subject. The word “trauma” gets thrown around quite a bit and there seems to be a subjective nature to its definition. With the mentioning of trauma often comes the phrase “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” (PTSD), which is a legitimate mental disorder listed within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders… Read more

Identifying and Treating the Seven Types of ADD/ADHD

woman screaming at laptop

ADD, or attention deficit disorder, is the outdated term for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). In 1987, the American Psychological Association discontinued the use of the term ADD and instead replaced it with ADHD. However, in modern times both terms are thrown about and sometimes this can cause major confusion. In a modern context, ADD… Read more

What is Parenting Therapy

parents and young bot looking down

While parenting is one of the greatest joys in life, it is also one of the most challenging. Parents are responsible for not only meeting their child’s physical and emotional needs, but also teaching them life skills, social skills, and appropriate behaviors. For new parents, overwhelmed parents, or parents with a mental health condition, this… Read more

How ADHD in Women Differs From ADHD in Men

man and woman with drawing coming out their heads

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly referred to as ADHD, can have very different effects of children and adults based on their biological sex. In fact, ADHD is exhibited differently in females than it is in males. Because of this difference, ADHD is more commonly diagnosed in males, yet research has found that it affects both sexes… Read more

Do You Need Couples Therapy?

Couple holding hands during a therapy session

Relationships are hard. There’s just no getting around that fact. The perfect, yet effortless relationships of sitcoms are nothing more than hopeful myths. To truly have a great relationship, you’re going to have to work at it every day. Part of this work is recognizing when your relationship needs something different than what you’ve been… Read more

Is Your Childhood PTSD Affecting Your Adult Life?

young girl holding her head

When many people hear the term “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” or PTSD, they picture war veterans, survivors of violent attacks, or people who have been through a natural disaster. However, PTSD can also affect children, especially those with adverse childhood experiences (ACE). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 4% of children have been… Read more

Is Group Therapy Right for You?

group therapy circle chair

There are different approaches to psychotherapy available and finding an option that works best for you is the key to a successful outcome. Group therapy is one approach to psychotherapy that some people have found to be quite beneficial. You may have heard of group therapy and have begun to wonder if this would be… Read more

6 Drug-Free Treatment Options for Depression

woman bent over on running trail

When it comes to finding effective treatment methods for depression, every person is different. While medications are widely used to treat the mood disorder, they may not be effective in everyone. Some people may not even want to consider turning to medication at all, and will seek alternative options to help them manage their disorders…. Read more

The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise That We Often Forget

yoga pose

You’re probably aware that exercise can help you feel better physically. Lift weights, and you can get stronger. Stretch regularly, and you can become more flexible. Start running, and you can increase your stamina. But the benefits of exercise don’t stop with your body; they extend to your mind. Physical and mental health are more… Read more

The Difference Between Psychology and Psychiatry and Why You May Need Both

graphic of the difference between psychology and psychiatry

While mental health is just as important as physical health, the mental health system is not as transparent. Nevertheless, if you are dealing with mental health concerns, knowing where to seek treatment is the first important step. Often the terms “psychologist” and “psychiatrists” are thrown about, even used interchangeably by some individuals, but what do… Read more

When is the Time to Get Help for Your Troubled Teenager?

Girl in depression

The teenage years are tough on both teenagers and their parents. As your child navigates this tricky terrain between childhood and adulthood, they will start to try to define and assert their identity, which is stressful for both parties involved. While some strife and disobedience are to be expected during the teenage years, there comes… Read more

Tips for Managing Mood Swings

mood swing

It’s normal for your emotions to fluctuate throughout the day. You might feel content upon waking up, exasperated while waiting for a late bus, or ecstatic upon getting a pay raise. But have you ever experienced a rapid change in your emotions, for seemingly no reason? Mood swings are extreme and sudden changes in a… Read more

At What Age Can ADHD be Diagnosed in Children?

boy making funny face

It can be difficult enough for a grown adult to realize that he or she may be struggling with a mental health disorder. You can imagine how hard life is for children with mental disorders, who have no idea why they seem or feel different from “normal” children. That’s where parents and other caring adults… Read more

6 Symptoms and Disorders That Can Be Treated with Biofeedback

brain split in half

The medical world is always changing, but something that doesn’t change is the information provided by our own bodies. From muscle tension to brainwave activity, our bodies can tell us so much about our internal reactions to stress. Biofeedback collects that information, which can then be used to train a patient’s brain. As the patient… Read more

How Does Group Therapy Work?

group therapy circle

One of the most common myths about therapy is that it’s only for people with mental disorders, or those struggling with trauma. But really, therapy isn’t just for people who “need” it. It can benefit everyone, even perfectly happy, healthy people; the ultimate goal of therapy is to help you become a more productive, better… Read more