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 in crisis for them to ask me “can you just give me a pill to make this all better?” The answer to that question is no. While there are medications that can help alleviate symptoms, there are no medications which will completely reduce all mental… 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
Stop Surviving and Start Living: Three Tenets to Self-Care That Will Keep You Fresh
By Charles Jarvis, LMHC As the years go on, we all find ourselves busier and busier. Between living through the pandemic, trying to teach kids with remote learning techniques, and meeting the pressures of a capitalist society–we all lose sight of ourselves a little. Anxiety has been increasing, stress-management techniques less employed, and this aspect… CONTINUE
Signs the Pandemic Is Affecting Your Mental Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so now feels like a great time to revisit a topic that has affected the nation’s collective mental well-being for over a year now: the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a 2020 CDC study on mental health, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts during the pandemic, at least 40 percent of… CONTINUE
How to Spot a Narcissist – 9 Telltale Signs of Narcissism
Many of us have a narcissist in our lives. In fact, we might even be narcissists! But narcissism can truly take a toll on your relationships. In fact, it is classified as a personality disorder. How can you tell you or someone you know is a narcissist? What are the 9 traits of a narcissist?… CONTINUE