Years ago, I found myself at a very low point. First, my boyfriend broke up with me. Later that same month, my dog passed away. The next month, my stove broke. The same week my stove broke, my car failed the emissions test. It was time to let the car go and purchase a new... Continue Reading →
Steel Pan music emerged from the tradition of enslaved African people creating new musical inventions to compensate for their drums and other instruments being taken from them by slave owners. Slave owners often thought that the drums and other instruments were communication tools being used by slaves to plan revolts and uprisings. Therefore, they were... Continue Reading →
Over the last nine months since I have been an intern at Olive Branch Counseling Associates in Tinley Park, I have had the opportunity to provide counseling services in various settings. Among them are Roseland on the south side of Chicago, and West Garfield Park on the west side. Clients in both of these communities... Continue Reading →
Depression and anxiety are among the mental health challenges of most concern around the world. Mindfulness training is a common approach used to help people to manage various aspects of depression and anxiety. According to Erford (2020: 96), “By nature, humans are self-aware and attentive. But people vary in these characteristics, and how they cultivate... Continue Reading →
Mindfulness can be defined in many ways, but a simple way to define it might be intentionally leaning into the present moment and engaging your senses in a way that grounds you. Leaning into this moment creates awareness, connection, and acceptance. The practice of mindfulness is often helpful for anxiety, depression, and many other challenges... Continue Reading →
Thanksgiving is traditionally a day to eat delicious comfort food, watch football, and spend time with family. However, sometimes this day produces uncomfortable feelings or situations. Perhaps you have a complicated relationship with food, or perhaps your extended family makes you feel angry. Maybe you are hosting and want to make sure everything is perfect,... Continue Reading →
Recognizing and naming our emotions can be tough. Sometimes we are so busy we rarely notice our feelings. Other times, our emotions can be so intense that we don’t even take a moment to recognize them before we react to them. Maybe you grew up in a family where you didn’t talk about your feelings,... Continue Reading →
We all have some sort of relationship with food and eating. Over the COVID-19 pandemic, with the pace of our lives slowing tremendously, many of us became much more aware of what our relationship with food looks like. The cultural values of thinness often lead to fears of gaining weight, shame around eating what we... Continue Reading →
Painful emotions are most often experienced as intense, overwhelming, and unmanageable. They can lead us to cope in unhealthy ways because we are so flooded and don’t know what else to do. Listed below are some great techniques to try when you need a moment of relief. 1. REST (relax, evaluate, set an intention, and... Continue Reading →
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