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When Hope Feels Out of Reach: A Reflection for Suicide Awareness Month
September is Suicide Awareness Month, and it calls us to pause and acknowledge a difficult reality: suicide touches more lives than we often realize. Whether through the loss of someone we love, the struggles of a friend, or even our own silent battles, this issue is not far away—it affects our communities, our families, and often touches lives more closely than we realize. The Hidden Struggle Behind Suicide Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and it does not discriminate. It affects people of every background, at every age, and in every corner of the country. Behind each number is a story of someone…
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How to Support High-Support Needs Families: A Therapist’s Insight
For those of you who know me personally, it’s hard to know me without knowing my brother. My brother is the reason why I am the helper I am. The therapist I am. And the woman I am today. He has taught me more of my life lessons than any other person, and has done so without using words. My brother has Level 3 Autism, or what used to be referred to as “severe Autism.” He is conversationally non-verbal and has epilepsy. Inside the Challenges of a High-Support Needs Family Life has always been different for my family. We don’t go to restaurants. We take shifts on who is watching…
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Learning to Manage Stress — Before It Manages You
Stress. We all experience it, and as a therapist, I can tell you it doesn’t discriminate. It shows up in every walk of life — at work, at home, in relationships, and in moments when we least expect it. Feeling stressed is completely normal, and in small doses, it can motivate and focus us. But when it becomes chronic, it can quietly build until it’s managing you. When Stress Starts to Manage Your Life I’ve watched this happen so many times — and felt it myself. You’re getting through the days, putting out one fire after another. You tell yourself it’s just a “busy season” or that “things will slow…
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Unpacking Your Core Beliefs: What ‘Inside Out’ Can Teach You
One of the most important things to consider when addressing mental health challenges is focusing on what’s within your control—namely, you. You may not be able to control how your parents, siblings, or others behave in your relationships, but you can take steps to better understand yourself and your thought patterns. A great place to start is by exploring your core beliefs—the ideas you hold about yourself, others, and the world. Inside Riley’s Mind: How Childhood Experiences Shape Our Core Beliefs If you’ve ever seen the movie Inside Out (and if you haven’t, you should!), you might remember the main character, Riley, and her collection of core memories—glowing glass orbs…
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The Beautiful Complexity of Being Human: A Therapist Reflection
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to be human. It’s such a unique experience—messy, meaningful, and sometimes mystifying. We each start our journey at birth, thrust into a world we didn’t choose, and then spend the rest of our lives trying to figure it out. Along the way, we learn, grow, struggle, celebrate, and keep evolving. But have you ever paused to ask yourself: Who am I really? Not the roles you play or the titles you hold—but the real you, beneath it all. Being human means living in that question, constantly discovering pieces of yourself as life unfolds. In the spirit of reflection, I…
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Navigating Caregiver Burnout with Compassion and Strength
Being a caregiver is often described as a labor of love, but it’s also one of the most emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausting roles a person can take on—an invisible weight that can quietly lead to burnout. Whether you’re caring for an elderly parent, a child with special needs, or a spouse with chronic illness, the responsibility can feel never-ending. Add in a full-time job, raising children, or managing a household, and it’s no wonder so many caregivers find themselves overwhelmed, exhausted, and sometimes hopeless. If you’re reading this and thinking, “That’s me”, know that you’re not alone—and what you’re feeling is valid. The Unseen Challenges of Caregiving Caregiving often…
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Life Transitions: 5 Ways to Rediscover Yourself in Times of Change
I’ll never forget the moment I transitioned into a new role in my career in 2018. For so long, I had been responsible for others—leading a team, guiding a program, carrying the weight of decisions and outcomes. And then, one day, I found myself in a position where my responsibility was only to myself and the people I served. It was a shift I didn’t fully anticipate. At first, it felt like a loss—an identity I had built for so long was no longer there. I had spent almost 5 years shaping the direction of others, and now, I had more time to breathe, more space to think. It felt…
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What Is the Connection Between Sleep and Mental Health?
In our pursuit of mental wellness, we often prioritize therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes, yet we frequently overlook a cornerstone of mental health: sleep. Insufficient or poor-quality sleep can have profound effects on our psychological well-being, impacting mood, cognitive performance, and overall mental health. Understanding the importance of sleep and recognizing lesser-known sleep disorders can pave the way to a healthier mind. The Importance of Sleep According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults require 7-9 hours of sleep per night to function optimally. Lack of sleep can lead to anxiety, irritability, and a decreased ability to manage stress. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can exacerbate conditions such as depression…
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How to Set Boundaries with Family and Protect Your Peace
The holidays can be a reminder for grief, a breeding ground for disappointment, and a healthy reminder of why we don’t see our extended family every day. These moments have made some of my clients realize that they want to change their boundaries with some of their family, or change their relationships with them. Here we’ll cover some tips on how to do that if you are in a similar situation. But first, let’s explore what setting boundaries means. What Setting Boundaries With Family Means? There can be some confusion about what setting boundaries really means. Your boundaries are about you and what behavior you will and will not tolerate;…
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3 Simple Shifts to Redefine Fear in 2025
The other day, my teenage daughter insisted on a Walmart run because our fridge was basically empty. I wasn’t in the mood to go inside, so I let her shop while I took a much-needed moment to myself. As I sat scrolling through social media reels, I stumbled upon a story that captured my attention—a woman named Wiebke Lühmann had spent the last year biking all the way from Germany to the tip of Cape Town in South Africa. Having traveled to Africa myself, I immediately thought, Wow, that is one huge undertaking. The continent is so vast and diverse—it’s not exactly a walk in the park. My second thought…
