You have an important deadline at work. But you had to take your car to the shop. You skip breakfast and catch a ride to work. By noon your stomach is churning. On your way to lunch, your boss stops you to take care of something urgent. What do you do? We depend on our… Read more »
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Ever wish you could laugh and talk more easily with others? When you try to share your feelings and get closer to someone, what happens? Do you freeze and say nothing? Does too much spill out? Do you have a short, awkward conversation? Do you end up feeling bad about yourself? People learn early in childhood… Read more »
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Good cheer, happiness, family and a spirit of giving are a big part of the holiday season. But for many people, stress and loneliness are major players that upset plans to stay positive. If your tension level rises when the decor goes up, you are not alone. It is common for some people to feel… Read more »
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The experience of trauma makes a profound mark on a person. It doesn’t matter whether the injury is grave and evident, like the bruising of a battered person, or hard to see, like the emotional neglect of someone detached and withdrawn. Whatever the cause, when a person feels threatened, helpless, and unable to escape, that… Read more »
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The phrase “self-harming behavior” may call up images of troubled teenagers with cuts on their arms. But self-injury can occur for people of any age, in children, adolescents and adults, whether male or female. People who self-harm or cut are people who are in pain. We have to notice that. The important thing is to… Read more »
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“Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able.” – Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wallpaper, 1892 For some new moms, motherhood sparks surprisingly difficult emotions. We expect new mothers to greet a newborn with joy and delight. But not every woman will feel these emotions after childbirth. Days,… Read more »
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As professional psychotherapists, we offer our authentic self as an ally in a healing relationship. On the journey of trauma-informed care, the client can witness the therapist’s authentic self at work during a therapy session. But another core concept deserves more attention: helping clients become aware of and nurture their own authentic self. At a… Read more »
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What is trauma, and why do we need trauma-informed care? When a person feels overwhelmed, threatened and endangered, the mind and body react for survival. If the person can’t find ways to feel safe again, the threat-response system tends to stay active, even though it’s not obvious. That person is likely to experience traumatic stress…. Read more »
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Most health professionals understand postpartum depression (PPD) and other mood disorders are a serious mental health concern. Raising awareness of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) is so important for two reasons. First, professionals need to be more proactive with evaluation and diagnosis, because PMADs can be challenging to detect during a brief office visit. Women… Read more »
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Adolescence arrives with a surge of energy. It pushes many young people to try new things, make new friends, depend less on parents, and live more passionately. But as an adult, your role is still important. Adolescence is also a time when some explore alcohol or drugs (such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and prescription medicine,… Read more »
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