Although we can’t control all the factors that play a part in determining our mental health, we do have control over many of our lifestyle choices. Making healthier lifestyle choices can help us improve our psychological wellbeing. Getting enough sleep, for example, has been shown to strengthen emotional processing, improve mood, decrease stress, improve memory,... Continue Reading →
Find Your Career With O*NET
Whether you’re a young adult investigating potential career paths or an experienced professional thinking about a career change, O*NET, the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network, offers an abundance of information about hundreds of jobs to help you identify the career path that is right for you. What does an exercise physiologist do?... Continue Reading →
Good Sleep Hygiene Supports Good Mental Health
Getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t just help us wake up feeling great. A full night’s sleep supports our mental health. Getting enough sleep can strengthen emotional processing, improve mood, decrease stress, improve memory, and increase productivity. Psychologist and sleep disorder specialist, Dr. Michelle Drerup, of the Cleveland Clinic, reports that most healthy adults need... Continue Reading →
Parent vs. Teen: Tips on How to Diffuse Conflict and Improve Communication
The teenage years are a crucial time of change and development. The family dynamic might change as the growing teens seek more autonomy and independence, and the parents try to maintain rules, protection and guidance. This combination creates tension and conflict between teens and parents. Learning how to diffuse conflict and maintain respect and connection... Continue Reading →
The Power of Two
When I think about marriage, the first thing that comes to mind is a strong union that is maintained by love, connection, understanding and friendship. I am currently reading the book The Power of Two: Secrets to a Strong and Loving Marriage and I am learning a lot about how we communicate with our significant... Continue Reading →
The Power of Stillness and Silence
When living life day-to-day, it is easy to get caught up in responsibilities and the busyness of the world. Sometimes it is necessary to sit still and give yourself a moment of peace. The practice of meditation and mindfulness is often overlooked. People dismiss its effectiveness because they don’t make time for it, they get... Continue Reading →
Raising Independent Children
In his book The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt compares modern-day parenting to carpentry and parents to carpenters. He explains that, like a carpenter envisions the finished result of their project, parents have a clear idea of what they are trying to mold their kid into. Parents have character traits personalities in mind that they want... Continue Reading →
Take it Easy
When summer rolls around, it often brings with it an unspoken pressure: make every moment count. Vacations, BBQs, road trips, kids’ activities, festivals—the calendar can fill up faster than we realize. And while these experiences can be joyful, the constant busyness can leave us feeling just as stressed and exhausted as the busy seasons we... Continue Reading →
Designed for Addiction
Through my internship here at Olive Branch Counseling Associates this semester, I have been reading the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and have written several blogs about the implications screens and social media have on our society and our youth. The most recent chapter I read from this book addressed how social media... Continue Reading →
