In this technological age of instant news and social media at our fingertips, children are bombarded daily with news of school shootings, bombings, war, nuclear threats, genocide, and political extremism. At school and in their neighborhoods children experience peer pressure, bullying, and social isolation. As a result there is a continued increase in the diagnosis … More Reducing Anxiety in Children
Sometimes you don’t want to deal with emotions. Sometimes you need to wait until you have more time to process. Sometimes you hope that they will just go away. Waiting until you have time alone to think things through or holding onto the emotions to share at your next counseling appointment can be a healthy … More Dealing with Emotions: An Analogy
In a recent post I discussed the value of a morning ritual to support focus, creativity, and peace. I have found that a brief evening ritual can support the transition from work to home. Working in community mental health care can be challenging and sometimes stressful. It is important to set aside the content of … More Making the Shift: An Evening Ritual
Those who know me well are cognizant that I do not naturally lean towards rituals, habits and organization. I thrive in creativity and fluidity. However, in my professional practice, I have discovered the value of daily rituals. I have come to discover that well planned rituals can create smooth transitions from home life to professional … More A WARM Morning Ritual
It’s been a tough day. There is too much going on and your emotions feel frayed. At this moment, you would like nothing better than to get away from it all. However, you only have a few minutes to decompress. So you decide to revisit your favorite place without leaving your current space. A Peace … More Take a Walk on the Mindful Side: Visual Imagery
Life is hard sometimes. We work, attend school, home repairs, shopping, shuttle children, go to the gym, clean the toilet, attend community meetings and repeat it all again tomorrow. Without conscious effort, life can become an endless to do list that we are simultaneously checking off and expanding. What we need is a little bit … More 7 Ways to Have More Fun Everyday
Stress happens to the best of us. There are pressures at work and at home. Daily meditation and mindfulness practices help to reduce overall stress and anxiety and support focus. Sometimes, however, you just need a quick reset to get grounded. Below are seven of my favorite mindfulness activities that can help you to regain … More Mind Over Stress: One Minute Mindfulness Activities