by Jennifer Mudarrie, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) With the rise of need during the lockdown, a large wave of new resources and telehealth counselor provided fewer boundaries for those seeking help. Coming to therapy is now a common conversation topic and has become much more normalized in our culture. However, normalizing mental health does… CONTINUE
Using Distraction as an Avoidance of Emotion
By Jennifer Mudarrie, LICSW Distractions are sometimes helpful from overwhelming states or times when we need different input or neutral information. When you ramp up at work, for example, instead of acknowledging your feelings of shame by falling behind – you’re avoiding those feelings through distraction and this can lead to burnout and other stress… CONTINUE
6 Mental Health Tips: Practical Steps for Daily Wellness with Depression
by Jennifer Mudarrie, LICSW Did you know that one-third of U.S. adults have symptoms of depression or anxiety and 47.4% of adults 18 to 29 years showed signs of anxiety or depression? So many of us struggle to make it through days filled with obligations, commitments, and plans. Feeling this way is overwhelming and can… CONTINUE
Dear Teen… Licensed Counselor Provides Insight on Heading Back to School – Part 2
By Jennifer Mudarrie, LICSW Having a hard time believing summer is almost over? I can’t believe it’s time to go back to school! It’s strange how time flies by when you are still recovering from last year and finally had a little time off from the stress of exams and afterschool sports and jobs. It… CONTINUE
Healthy Competition: A Therapist Take on Comparing Yourself to Others
by Jennifer Mudarrie, LICSW In our culture, comparison and FOMO (fear of missing out) are a very real issue. Our “hustle culture” is fueled through imagery which sets us up to think others have “it” figured out and we can have the potential to get swept up in this setup. This pulls at our egoic… CONTINUE
Social Media, Parenting and Mental Health
By Charles Jarvis, LMHC There has always been a benefit to speaking to someone directly, which seems to be changing at a rapid rate thanks to social media. We used to be able to look someone in the eye, view body language, and be awarded opportunities to read subtle cues. Now with the online era,… CONTINUE
Escaping Anxiety: Simple Suggestions Which Make All the Difference
By Charles Jarvis, LMHC Many of us had to find a way to manage our stress this past year. Whether it is managing financial concerns, finding childcare, or trying to keep assets – anxiety was high for many. In a historic year in mental health, many clinicians are seeing heightened divorce rate, relapses in substance… CONTINUE
Want to boost your mood? Practice a daily mantra
By Jennifer Rego, LICSW Have you ever practiced mindfulness or gratitude before? Did you know it can allow you to focus on being aware of your thoughts and making them more conscious? As mental health awareness develops around mindfulness and neuroplasticity, neurologists determined that once a brain has reached a relaxed state of mind, it… CONTINUE
The Magic Pill and Mental Health
By Charles Jarvis, LMHC It is common when seeing someone struggling with their mental health or in crisis to ask me “can you just give me a pill to make this all better?” The answer to that question is no. While some medications can help alleviate symptoms, no medications will completely reduce all mental health… CONTINUE
5 Ways to Evaluate Your Relationship After Change
By Jennifer Rego, MSW, LICSW In previous articles we discussed personal growth and challenges during the pandemic. But, it’s also important to look at how this time has impacted our most intimate relationships. If you are coupled or otherwise partnered, it is important to reflect on your relationship – especially in times of significant change…. CONTINUE