In January of last year, my boyfriend and I jumped on the bandwagon and adopted a pandemic puppy. We named her Summer (thought it fitting for a golden retriever) and quickly fell in love. She’s like our child — we’ve watched her grow into the stick-loving, ball-chasing, somersaulting, silly, loving,…

On January 3rd, a snowstorm pummelled the East Coast, and Fredericksburg, Virginia (my home) got the brunt of it. The first couple hours of snowfall were idyllic. I enjoyed the white, winter backdrop in the window behind me, as I sipped my coffee and completed the day’s journal entry (hello,…

A holiday feast should be a joyous occasion, where people clink glasses and indulge in deliciousness and reinforce their bonds of love. But all too often these banquets conclude with a substantial portion of the guests laid up on the couch, dealing with heartburn, hating themselves for their gluttony. (This…

This is not a parenting advice column. Most parents don’t need more parenting tips. They just need a break from taking care of their kids. I took an informal poll over the weekend, asking my parent-friends how they practice self-care. Their answers: They drink, they smoke weed, they play video…

Self-care posts and tips often talk to us as though we’re single. But what about practicing self-care while we’re in a relationship? When we avoid prioritizing our own needs in a relationship, it can result in us feeling hurt and insecure, putting an unfair amount of pressure on our partner…

Last December, in thinking about my New Year’s resolutions, I decided to focus on me. That was my goal. To do whatever it took in the coming year to prioritize and improve me, my well-being, my happiness. I know, I know… this isn’t technically a SMART goal. It is absolutely…

Many of us take care of our physical health without thinking twice about it: We eat and we exercise; we stretch and relax; we moisturize dry skin and apply sunscreen; and we consult a doctor when we feel physically ill or hurt. But when it comes to our mental and…

Click here to schedule online counseling at Thriveworks. Hi, my name is Stacey Jaundoo and I am a clinician at Thriveworks Counseling in the Bethesda, Maryland area. And I wanted to just talk with you a little bit about how the Coronavirus is really impacting a lot of our lives…

Sometimes, nerve-racking situations make us feel tense, such as the emergence and spread of COVID-19. It can feel like there’s nothing to do but wait it out; however, there are proactive ways to relieve your tense feelings now. First, try going for a walk: Spending time in nature will help…

Many people keep a diary or journal as a way to store their thoughts. Actually, a recent study found that 83% of girls, ages 16-19 say they keep a diary—mostly as a means of personal reflection.  If you keep a diary or journal, you are in good company. Past United…

One of the most powerful ways to express oneself involves taking pen to paper or fingers to keyboard as emotions spill out. For people seeking mental health treatment, journaling their thoughts is often a lifeline. I was spending time with a client not too long ago, and I felt myself…

I was scrolling through Facebook recently, when I came across a friend who said she had “run out of spoons”.  She reached out to her Facebook friends in hopes of feeling supported and rejuvenated. Personally, I had seen the term but wasn’t sure of its exact meaning.  I took to…