self-care

The holidays are over, the credit card bill just hit, and the sun sets at 4:47 p.m. If you’re feeling more drained than motivated right now, there’s a biological reason: Research shows that mood-regulating serotonin activity drops during darker months, while melatonin production increases. In other words, your body is…

Boundaries are a popular topic right now, especially on social media. But if you consider yourself a people pleaser, you might find it stressful—if not impossible—to set them. I’m here to convince you that setting healthy boundaries is worth the effort, both for your own well-being and your ability to…

Divorce is hard. It means that an influential chapter of your life is ending and one of the most important people in your life won’t be there like they were. “Divorce is hugely impactful in almost all aspects of our lives,” says Whitney McSparran, a licensed professional clinical counselor at…

For decades, therapy has been synonymous with the classic image of a client lying on a couch while a therapist scribbles notes. Fast forward to today, and this image is rapidly changing. Imagine instead opening an app and confiding in an AI chatbot—a scenario that’s becoming increasingly common as artificial…

I want to start by acknowledging how tough this situation is. Depression is hard not just for the person experiencing it, but also for their partner and the relationship. I’m sure a lot of people can relate to what you’re going through. First, kudos to you for noticing that your…

In the early 2000s, a travel company labeled the third Monday in January as the most depressing day of the year and named it “Blue Monday.” While data hasn’t proven the day to be more depressing than any other, the name stuck. Whether or not Blue Monday is really the…

With the year already in full swing, many individuals have made New Year’s resolutions to live healthier lives and to take steps to improve their overall well-being and happiness. That said, with all the noise around self-improvement, it can be hard to know where to start, or what practices will…

Mental health is an important part of one’s well-being. However, talking about or taking care of one’s mental health isn’t always easy. Due to stigma and misconceptions surrounding therapy, much of the population has trouble admitting they need any help or support, causing their mental health to suffer further as…

Just as physical health is supported by proper diet, exercise, and rest, our mental health is just as multi-faceted. Mental health consists of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.  In recognition of the importance of mental health awareness and treatment, World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on October 10th….

Gratitude is a powerful and transformative emotion that can greatly enrich our lives. This simple, yet profound practice holds a vital place in our personal and social well-being. Gratitude, at its core, is more than just a polite gesture or a perfunctory “thank you.” It is a deeply felt appreciation…

Unfortunately, we will all experience grief at some point in life. Loss is universal (whether we like it or not) — but the grief process isn’t. While we might share similar emotions or responses to loss, the journey through our grief is an incredibly individual experience.  That said, there is…

Depression refers to a cluster of symptoms which might include low mood, lack of enjoyment and motivation, sleep and appetite changes, feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, and even thoughts of death. These interfere with functioning and are likely to cause physical, cognitive, and behavioral changes. As such, it’s important to seek…