Navigating Life Transitions: Allowing for Change and Thriving
Some of the most profound transitions people experience involve shifting their sense of identity, perhaps in regards to life expectations, faith, sexuality, or gender. These transitions can bring both deep fulfillment and intense emotional challenges. Allison Meakin, MSW Intern shares five tips to help you navigate life transitions.
Progress Over Perfection
The journey from perfectionism to embracing progress can lead to true growth and fulfillment. As you value progress over reaching that mystical point of “there,” you can learn from each experience and move forward with self-compassion, resilience, adaptivity, and patience.
Signs That You May Still be Suffering From Post-pandemic Social Anxiety
In my clinical observations with clients, it has come to my attention that a significant number are presenting symptoms indicative of social anxiety, a condition that emerged during the pandemic and has persisted beyond its conclusion, failing to revert to pre-COVID levels of adaptability. Despite the return to normalcy, there remains a notable absence of comprehensive guidance and psychological awareness concerning the enduring psychological repercussions of the pandemic, resulting in a substantial portion of the population being susceptible to the effects of social anxiety.
Healing Through the Universality of Music
As a therapist, one question I love to ask in an intake is what people’s favorite songs/albums/artists are, or what songs they are currently listening to on repeat. This provides a lot of insight into ways the person may be trying to connect with themselves or the world around them.
Compassion & Accountability Belong Hand in Hand
A common narrative I hear from clients is that to improve, learn, or experience self-growth, we must be critical and brutally honest with ourselves. We are often taught that if we fail, we need to be tougher on ourselves, and that tough love and criticism are what push us to improve and grow. As a therapist, all I have seen these ideas do is cause harm, and I think it is time we talk about it.
Journaling for Mental Health: What Do I Even Write About?
Journaling can sometimes feel like one of those clichés therapists or friends recommend to clients who are wanting support between sessions, but a lot of times we can sit down in front of a blank page and have no idea where to start. Here are some prompts to get you started.
4 Ways to Celebrate Mental Wellness Month
January is mental wellness month: It’s the perfect time to shift your focus from the holidays to your own personal well-being. These four activities and practices can help you boost your mental wellness this month.
The Power of Self-Compassion
Having compassion for yourself is treating yourself with kindness, forgiveness, grace, and love, just as you would a family member or friend who you care deeply about. Having self-compassion includes nurturing patience and care for the unwanted parts of yourself, the imperfections that bring embarrassment or shame. It's having an understanding of your human-ness, and it is allowing the truth that your mistakes are stepping stones to growth. And self-compassion can be a gateway to deep inner healing and hope.
Emotional Connection
Emotional connection is a form of vulnerability and intimacy that couples need to have in order to maintain healthy and secure attachments. It is more than saying “I love you” or having consensual sexual relations with your partner, but it is allowing your partner to see and be present with you in all forms of emotion, including ones that require vulnerability, such as pain, sadness, shame, loneliness, or fear. These emotions can come from our personal triggers, unresolved past experiences, or attachment needs not being met. However, sharing and understanding one’s emotions can be difficult and does not come easily for everyone.
Healing Sexual Trauma with Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Sexual trauma is an unfortunate reality for many individuals, often leading to a myriad of mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and difficulties with intimacy. Traditional therapeutic approaches can sometimes be limited in effectiveness, but recent research into psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown promise in treating PTSD and other trauma-related disorders.
Resilience Songs- A Playlist to Remind You of Your Strength
Music can help set the tone for our life. How many times have you heard a song and been transported back to high school, or that one road trip, or been reminded of a special person in your life? As a parent what tone do you want to set for your kids, or yourself?
Stopping Negative Thought Patterns
As individuals, we often get stuck in negative thinking patterns. When we are in this head space, it is often accompanied by feelings of self-criticism, doubt, insecurities, self-blame, guilt, or worthlessness.
Creation and Telos
Creation stories have always been a bit of an obsession for humanity. The ancient Greeks told of the original Chaos from which emerged Gaia (the Earth) who birth Uranus (the Sky). The Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) teach that God created the Earth over six days, beginning with the separation of the heavens and the earth. The tradition of Jukurrpa or “The Dreaming” of the aboriginal people of Australia describes ancestral beings (human and animal) who wandered the deserts, bringing form to the land and establishing culture. We also tell stories of our own lives and where we come from.
Common Humanity: A Doorway to Self-Compassion
Do you tend to be hard on yourself? When you make a mistake, do you notice that self-blame and judgment end up making everything worse? Do you feel isolated and lonely? Do you struggle with perfectionism? Do you feel embarrassed or overwhelmed by your emotions? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may benefit from a Self-Compassion practice.