Blogs

Tips for Parents during COVID-19

Y’all, things are weird. I have felt a whirlwind of emotions in response to the coronavirus and quarantine (panic, grief, stress, anxiety). Parents are being hit tenfold because they’re having to worry about their own lives as well as their children’s. First, I want to give kudos to parents who are now working from home as well as homeschooling! Your hands are full, and I can’t imagine the array of emotions you must be feeling. Kids are feeling these things,

READ MORE

How To Stay In Recovery During Social Distancing

We live in strange times. Right now, sobriety from substances and continuing on the path of positive sexual well-being and health is severely challenged on a global scale.  In the midst of all of this, people are coming together all over the world to help others stay connected while staying at home.  Below is a list of resources, meetings, and applications for those struggling with addictions of all kinds and/or mental health issues to help stay connected, sober, and sane

READ MORE

How To Respond If Your Teen Is Looking At Porn

So, you discover your teen is watching porn and you’re asking “what do I do now?”. It is important to talk about pornography with your teen. However this is a sensitive subject, so it is vital that you handle this conversation with the care and respect it deserves.    Why It Is Important To Talk To Your Teen About Porn Why do I need to have a talk? Exposure to porn during adolescence can be harmful. Viewing porn can leave

READ MORE

How To Have Fun in Recovery

Figuring out to have fun without drugs, alcohol, porn, and/or sexual escapades we once pursued can be really difficult and, to some, feel like it is impossible to achieve. For most that struggle with addiction, the concept of fun is a foreign concept unless one is under the influence of something.  The ironic and very important aspect of sobriety and recovery is finding joy and fun again is essential to one’s change.  Without a little bit of fun in our

READ MORE

Helping children regulate

How to Help Children Regulate Their Emotions Let’s be honest, we all flip our lids sometimes. We’re human—we’re going to get angry, overwhelmed, anxious, and/or defiant. Children are human too, and they need help learning how to regulate and cope with their big emotions.   The “flipped lid” analogy helps parents understand what is happening in a child’s brain when they are having a big reaction (a fit, tantrum, hitting, screaming, etc.). The prefrontal cortex is where our executive functioning is located. This part

READ MORE

When to talk to kids about sex

When should I start talking to my child about sex? Honestly, now. It’s never too early to start. In today’s world, children will hear and see sex everywhere from advertisements, songs, movies, video games, etc. There is no way to shield them completely, so being a part of the conversation gives you control over what they accept as truth.  Children being able to talk openly and honestly with their parents about sex, sexuality, and sexual development builds trust, reduces shame, and ultimately keeps them safe.   

READ MORE

Recovering from Betrayal & Infidelity

“We are all damaged. We have all been hurt. We have all had to learn painful lessons. We are all recovering from some mistake, loss, betrayal, abuse, injustice or misfortune. All of life is a process of recovery that never ends. We each must find ways to accept and move through the pain and to pick ourselves back up. For each pang of grief, depression, doubt or despair there is an inverse toward renewal coming to you in time. Each

READ MORE

When Sex Becomes a Problem

“Perhaps the great renewal of the world will consist of this, that man and woman, freed of all confused feelings and desires, shall no longer seek each other as opposites, but simply as members of a family and neighbors, and will unite as human beings, in order to simply, earnestly, patiently, and jointly bear the heavy responsibility of sexuality that has been entrusted to them.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet   Although sexuality and sex has

READ MORE

Therapy for Men: Why Men Don’t Go

We live in changing and progressive times where the role of gender is becoming less rigid and the concept of “being a man” is constantly changing.  The image of the Marlboro Man riding his horse down a desert or a New York attorney in a suit and tie running down fifth avenue only stopping to flirt with a woman in a red dress is becoming less and less relevant these days.  The idea of a man being sensitive, open-minded, and

READ MORE

Anxiety Management and Mindfulness

“Meditation: Because some answers can only be found on the inner net.” – Shira Tamir   Are you feeling anxious more often than you’d like and want a quick fix?   We now live in a time and generation where the concept of being present, at times, feels impossible and the idea of mindlessness is encouraged. Whenever I ask my clients questions such as, “When was the last time you have spent ten minutes in absolute solitude and focused on

READ MORE

What is DBT and How Can It Help With My Feelings?

“Emotions are not good, bad, right, or wrong. The first step to changing our relationship to feelings is to be curious about them and the messages they send to us.” ― Lane Pederson   Emotions, feelings, sentiments, and sensations can be so frustrating and exhausting sometimes that we may wish we would be better off turning them off or maybe we even have learned to break away from them or stuff them down. The problem with this, as research suggests, is

READ MORE

Road to Recovery: A New Group for Those Affected by Addiction, Trauma, and/or Mental Health

This therapy and support group is created for those that are struggling with their loved one’s addictions, substance use, compulsive behaviors, anxiety, trauma depression, and/or other mental health issues. Additionally, individuals in recovery from any of the aforementioned issues are welcome to join to process, grow, and share their experiences. This group offers a new perspective on substance use, addiction, trauma, mental illness & wellness, and coping with them as well as tools on how to support your loved one

READ MORE