So much of the foundation of a sustainable recovery is about learning how to tolerate, engage with and move through adverse emotions; learning how to cope with the inevitable pain and discomfort, anger and grief that comes in a way that is life-giving, rather than life-threatening. It is a process that takes unwinding, unlearning, and … Read More
We are an overstimulated society. American adults spend an average of 10.5 hours per day in front of some kind of screen. On top of that, we live in a culture obsessed with productivity, our lives move at a fast pace, and the most common answer to the casual “How are you?” Is usually (and … Read More
Almost no one enjoys pain. In fact, many distorted patterns of behavior that can become serious mental health conditions begin with the very normal desire to avoid feelings of pain – physical or emotional. As humans, so much of what we do on a daily basis is either to avoid pain or maximize pleasure. These … Read More
Scrolling through TikTok offers a welcome escape during the pandemic, something more adolescents than ever have been doing to stay connected with friends. But the video content the social platform serves its users is not always harmless entertainment. Many adolescents are seeing videos that promote eating disorders, and the impact on their mental health can … Read More
I learned the HALT acronym early in my recovery process, and while it is easy to remember, and logical in its construction, it was one of the most challenging tools for me to learn how to use. The word “halt” actually translates to “stop” in German, and is a technique used to remind us to … Read More
If there is one thing we can all relate to at the present moment, it is that in many ways, our lives have gotten significantly more uncomfortable in the year 2020. Insecurity and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, coupled with economic fragility, unemployment, and major shifts in education, healthcare, not to mention travel and … Read More
Keeping our thoughts, turbulent emotions and difficult questions suppressed can cause severe damage to our mental health. That is why talk therapy, expressive therapies, CBT and DBT are all the cornerstone of mental health treatment. They are exceptional tools to practice processing difficult emotions so that they don’t control our lives. Learning how to communicate … Read More
As the Chaplain for Timberline Knolls, I have the unique opportunity of meeting people from a variety of circumstances and accompanying them on their spiritual journey. These journeys traverse the paths of spiritual highs and lows. In the heights of spiritual connectedness residents feel empowered, joyous, hopeful and happy. In the lows of spiritual connectedness … Read More
Here we are. The beginning of 2018. This is an exciting time for a lot of people as they plan for their next adventure, set personal/professional goals for the new year, and celebrate with friends and family. For those struggling with or in recovery from an eating disorder/body image issues, this time can bring a … Read More
Fall is back-to-school season and throughout our country children are hoisting on new backpacks while teenagers are trying to figure out their new class schedules. Although children often lament the end of summer vacation, most students look forward to a new school year for a variety of reasons. It could be rejoining friends, kicking … Read More
