Take control of your health and wellness
By Kim Lake August is National Wellness Month! We encourage all types of wellness – so I was asked to share some of my story. I am 50 years old, and for about 15 years, I have been on a quest to feel better and be healthier. It started with just wanting to eat better and exercise to control my weight, help my mood, and increase my energy. At that time, I was working in healthcare in a fairly physical job. To others, I seemed like I was doing well, but on the inside, I was hurting. I was [...]
5 simple strategies to sharpen your assertive communication skills
By Coby Cushenberry, LMFT Because we live in a society, we will all inevitably find ourselves at odds with someone. Whether that be a spouse, friend, coworker, or boss, the ability to communicate effectively is crucial to ensuring our needs are met. You may find communication challenging and uncomfortable, and sometimes your attempts to discuss your needs might even end in disaster. To help improve your communication skills, we offer this introduction to assertive communication -- finding ways to communicate that benefit all parties. When you use assertive communication, you respect the needs, boundaries, and autonomy of others while [...]
Change your perspective and improve your mental health wellness
By Lea Aunins, LMSW Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could experience every encounter in our lives as positive? This may seem impossible, but I believe we can significantly change our experiences by changing our focus. I recently ended one of my workdays feeling exhausted and frustrated with several of the encounters I had had that day. As I was recounting the events of the day to my family that evening, I realized that the challenges of my day hadn’t been any different from other days, but rather my perspective had changed due to some temporary life stressors and [...]
5 tips to better cope with your anxiety
By Tori Drake There is often a sigh of relief as we move out of the winter months into the spring and summer. However, experiencing anxiety can put a damper on the lengthening days and family fun. To help you with this transition, take a look at five ways you can help manage anxiety in your everyday life. Expand your support circle. Isolating yourself when you don’t feel mentally well can be tempting. But when you get in touch with others, you will lessen any obsessing and prevent getting stuck in a thought spiral. Visit a friend or family [...]
How you can manage forgiveness and reconciliation in relationships
By Jake Miller Forgiveness and reconciliation are fundamental aspects of any healthy relationship. While the two aspects are closely connected, they have distinct meanings. Forgiveness involves releasing negative emotions, such as anger, bitterness, and resentment toward someone who hurt us, without seeking revenge or holding onto grudges. Reconciliation, on the other hand, involves rebuilding a damaged or broken relationship after forgiveness has been granted. This process involves repairing damage, rebuilding trust, and moving forward with mutual understanding and respect. It's important to understand that reconciliation isn't always possible or appropriate, even after granting forgiveness. There could be instances where [...]
Three ways to practice navigating change and transition
By Tana McKee There are a few things in life that are absolutely guaranteed—and one of those is CHANGE! Sometimes change gets a bad rap for not being a good thing, but there are many things that change or transition for good reasons and eventually lead us to new and better things. At the beginning of spring, daylight saving time starts, and many of us are able to enjoy Spring Break Week – both lead to differences in our schedules. At first, it can seem a bit challenging, and we might grumble about some of the inconveniences resulting from [...]
Elevate the positivity in your couple relationship
By Rita Buffington, LCMFT, Counselor Many of us celebrated Valentine’s Day with our partners, and we hope you were able to enjoy. But this special day also made us think about ways we can improve our relationships with our significant others. Sometimes it’s easy to look at the negative side of things – especially when we’re stressed. So we’d like to offer three simple suggestions on how you can focus on cultivating positivity between you and your partner. Look For, Create, and Take Small Moments to Connect with Your Partner Daily. Over coffee in the morning, spend a few [...]
