December (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, specifically) is the most popular time to pop the question. Thousands of couples all across the States will get engaged this month. With so many new couples preparing to spend the rest of their lives together, I thought it would be appropriate to use this week’s blog to shed […]

Though similar, anxiety and stress are two very different psychological issues. People who are stressed sometimes try to compare themselves to people with anxiety, but anyone who has ever experienced chronic anxiety knows that the two will never be the same. In my practice as an online mental health counselor, I have worked with several […]

When you think of “bullying,” what comes to mind? Many people think of the common displays portrayed in movies and TV shows, where a bigger kid (backed by a gang of other kids) shoves around the smaller children, stealing both their lunch money and their dignity. While these examples unfortunately do play out in real […]

Being grateful is one of the best ways to improve your mental health. According to an article in Forbes Magazine, gratitude has been scientifically proven to offer seven distinct benefits: Opening the door to more relationships Improving physical health Improving psychological health Enhancing empathy and reducing aggression Improving quality of sleep Improving self-esteem Increasing mental […]

We live in a world with literally billions of people – people of countless different cultures, religions, beliefs, values, and experiences. In my opinion, this diversity is something to celebrate. Every time we interact with someone from a different background, we have the opportunity to stretch, grow, and expand our own personal experiences. Unfortunately, not […]

Often, our best learning doesn’t come from textbooks or lectures. Our most memorable lessons almost always come from our role models. Role models come in all different forms, from family members to celebrities. In recognition of the incredible impact these people have on our lives, November is National Inspirational Role Models Month. In honor of […]

Even though we can’t always see it, mental illness is all around us. The father of three amazing, successful adult kids may contemplate taking his life, for example, and the woman you work with who just got a promotion may compulsively make herself vomit after every meal. It’s not always obvious, but it is often […]

In a perfect world, we could count on our family to be there for us, to protect us, and to always have our best interests at heart. Unfortunately, our world is far from perfect. Family members aren’t always there for us the way we need them to be. Sometimes, they are even the primary sources […]

Anyone can struggle with mental health, but some people are more likely to develop disorders as a result of their careers. Certain high-stress positions (such as firefighters, police, and other emergency services) are more likely to cause suicidal tendencies, as well as various mental health disorders like PTSD or depression. Since these issues are becoming […]

We’ve all heard the term “PTSD” tossed around multiple times. Unless you have personally experienced it yourself or are closely connected to someone who has, however, you might know very little about it. Though some individuals are beginning to break past the stigma and discuss mental illness more openly, most people still say very little […]

Teenagers – preteens – substance abuse. It may be harder to spot than you think. With the challenges that teenage life presents, it’s not uncommon to know teens who are suffering from social anxiety or appear unhappy for what seems like the littlest things. What is important to consider is the access to and pressure […]

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about something that you are uncertain of its outcome. The key word in that definition should be “feeling,” yet many people allow anxiety to take on a form of its own. It becomes a great big bully in your life, doing its best to convince […]