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4 Strategies to Help Reduce Test Anxiety
From LEAP testing to taking the ACT or final exams, testing will be in full swing as we draw closer to the end of the school year. During times of testing, anxiety levels for students and teachers can increase. It’s stressful for students who want to do well and teachers who want their students to be able to show mastery of concepts they’ve been working on all year with their students. If your child begins to have test anxiety, here are a few strategies that might help them feel a little less anxious. 1. Put the Test in Perspective The first thing to do is to help your child put…
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3 Reasons to Consider Online Therapy
Have you ever thought about talking to a counselor or mental health professional? If so, then online therapy could be a way to get the help you need from the comfort of your own home. Here are 3 reasons to consider online therapy. This year has been tough. And if a pandemic wasn’t enough, add two hurricanes, winter weather, and life struggles into the mix, and naturally stress levels go up. When everything shut down last year, to help individuals navigate the uncertainty and emotions of this new reality online therapy moved to the forefront of mental health care. Before COVID, online therapy (also called teletherapy) was starting to become…
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Love the One You’re With
When February 1st hits, we know Valentine’s Day will soon be upon us. Walk into any store and you will see flowers, boxed chocolate hearts, and “I love you” cards, reminding us that “love day” is coming. Valentine’s Day is the one day of the year that reminds you to love the one you’re with. Yet, this shouldn’t be the only day of the year that we acknowledge and show love to your partner. Love your partner. Being intentional about finding ways to show your partner they matter each day of the year can go a long way in making your relationship deeper and more meaningful. Unfortunately, as a relationship…
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Managing Holiday Stress
The holiday season can be a fun time for individuals and families. It often brings people together in celebration. But, with all the joy a holiday season can bring, it can also lead to stress and overwhelm. If you find yourself becoming overwhelmed by all the holiday joy, pay attention to how you feel. Protecting your mental health during the holiday season is important. To manage holiday stress: Prioritize The first step in managing holiday stress is to get clear on your priorities this holiday season. Is it having memorable experiences with your family? Is it to show your coworkers how much you appreciate them? Or, it’s spending time honoring…
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Online Therapy for Depression
If you are feeling depressed, you may wonder if online therapy is right for you. There are many benefits of online therapy for depression. Finding help can often be the turning point to help you get from hopeless to hopeful. What is depression? We all go through various struggles, losses, or events in our life, leading us to feel down, sad, or overwhelmed. However, depression is more than just feeling down. Depression can change how you think, feel, and act in your day to day life. It causes feelings of hopelessness or despair that won’t go away, inferring with your ability to work, sleep, eat, engage with others, and enjoy…
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Journal Through a Pandemic
When you’re stuck at home during a pandemic, where does your time go? A recent statistic stated the average number of hours Americans are streaming videos through mediums such as Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube is approximately 8 hours a day. Think about that for a moment: 8 hours a day! Kind of shocking right? In fact, Netflix added 15.77 million more subscribers globally this quarter, many of them added after the onset of quarantine. During this time it’s important to spend time unwinding. If streaming the latest video series helps you do that, then that’s okay. However, if you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, streaming shows can become…
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Strategies for Working From Home
If you have been working for home over the past several weeks and have had some difficulty “getting in the swing of things”, just know it takes time to adjust to a new reality or routine. Working from home can be a great way to maintain social distancing while also being able to work. However, working for home is not without its challenges. Here are some strategies for working from home that may help you during this transition. Take Time to Exercise In times of increased stress, it’s important to give your body opportunities to release tension. One way of doing this is by exercise. Just taking a walk outside…
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How to Challenge Anxious Thoughts
Do you ever experience anxious thoughts you can’t escape? You are not alone. Many times we can get wrapped up in our head with our thoughts spinning out of control. And, instead of trying to find a way out or forward, we often dig down deeper into a hole of no return. When you find yourself struggling with anxiety, go back to your ABCs and take a moment to reflect about your situation before you react. Attention Notice what your mind is saying. The first step to being able to figure out everything that’s going on is to just start by noticing what you are actually thinking. Write your thoughts…
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Help Kids Cope During Quarantine
Children are experiencing many different feelings during quarantine. Some may be worried about their safety, they may miss their friends, or they may just be sad they can’t do some of the things they used to do. Here are some ways to help kids cope during quarantine. Christy Pennison, LPC-S, and her furry friend Waldo the Walrus with Be Inspired Counseling & Consulting wanted to help kids identify how they feel, teach them coping skills to manage their feelings, and help them learn ways to shift their thoughts to what is going right instead of what they may be missing. In this four-part, interactive video series, we talk with kids…
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Mental Health Checklist During Times of Uncertainty
Now, more than ever, it’s important to do things that support your physical and mental health as well. During times of uncertainty, it’s hard to know what you should be doing to maintain your mental health. Here are 9 things to do during this time to take care of yourself to be able to fully show up for the people who need you. I got out of bed and took a deep breath in and out Especially during this time, it’s important to make sure you are getting adequate rest. Many will experience “sleepless” nights during times of uncertainty. But, try to identify what may be contributing to your trouble…
