Behavioral Health Clinic

  Is it time to reinvent yourself? I recently found myself feeling as though I was living life on autopilot. There are so many wonderful things happening day-to-day but was I working to create the life I want? I decided it was time to take a step back, evaluate what needed to change, and take some action. Luckily, with the small changes I’ve been making, I’ve been feeling both excited and at peace about life. Since I’ve seen some success, I thought I’d share some of the insight I’ve gathered. Firstly, ask yourself what you want your life to look like. By having a finish line in mind you can more easily find the steps needed to get there. One key factor to this being helpful is being able to recognize when you’ve set goals for yourself that aren’t reasonable or can’t be met. If you find that’s the case, don’t hesitate to simply take another step back and alter your plans to include goals you can succeed at. Ensure your environment matches how you want to feel. Our environment impact...

  Too often people wrap up their holiday season feeling frazzled. Here are some reflection points to help you go into the  holiday season   so that you may set yourself up for the best chance at wrapping up 2021 feeling fulfilled, connected, and energized into the new year. Check-in with your needs/feelings.  How are you doing? The honest answer beyond the “I’m fine” you give to the attendant at the grocery store. How are you truly doing? Give yourself the care, attention, and love you need by answering that question honestly, and expressing yourself authentically. Once you have the honest answer to that question, as yourself “what do I need to be well (comforted, satiated, cared for, etc.)?” Check-in with expectations.  How do you expect your holiday to go? Are you planning to drive to 4 different houses, splitting your time evenly between each? Are you planning to stay close to home, only celebrating with yourself and those in your household? Whatever the case...

Where in the world have the past few months gone? Summer came and went before we knew it and Fall is ahead of us. Fall is my favorite time of year, not too hot and not too cold. The leaves change colors and everything pumpkin comes out. Yes, I am that girl, Pumpkin Spice Latte’s, and let’s just be honest, anything pumpkin goes. This time of year, a lot changes, some good, some challenging. School is back in session, parents are running their kids from here to there and back again, attending sporting events and trying to keep up with the household chores. All on top of working, maintaining relationships, and trying to find time to make dinner and get enough sleep. Does this sound like you? Stress can create several changes to our personalities including irritability, lack of interest in taking care of our needs or appearances, social withdrawal and isolation, and procrastination or reduced work productivity. Stress can also create changes to our cognitive functioning including difficult...

  The struggles of having an eating disorder, or a dysfunctional relationship with food is very real. In my therapeutic work with teens and adults, I have been an intimate observer, supporter, challenger, educator, advocate, and a firm believer in the ability to regain a positive sense of self and true appreciation for the human body. I never cease to be excited (and relieved) when one of my clients reaches a point in their recovery when they “get and accept” themselves for who they are, as they are. When they embrace the understanding of food as fuel to sustain a healthy body, nourishment becomes an integral part of their everyday life. Certainly, in the beginning, stage of recovery, it feels like a fleeting acceptance, but when nurtured, it grows into a lifestyle change. I have had the privilege of working with a wonderful young woman, Jennifer, for the past several months who wrote a beautiful story of her “Journey to Love My Body”. I have her permission to share some of what sh...

People often imagine pregnancy as a time of hopes and dreams filled with positivity, but often moms can feel very different than they expected even if the pregnancy has been a long-time plan. Working through that “mom-guilt” can be one of the most difficult and most important things to be able to do during pregnancy and postpartum. Primary caregivers often encounter feelings of shame, embarrassment, or guilt surrounding the decisions they make in course of pregnancy and raising their children. During the covid-19 pandemic, increased fear, anxiety, and isolation it may feel even harder to manage the stress and anxiety of navigating a new arrival. While these feelings may never dissipate entirely, there are steps you can take to help keep them in check and use them to your advantage. Set Boundaries.  Setting clear boundaries and expectations can be really hard, and without them you may be left feeling that increase in guilt. Letting others know ahead of time what you need and practic...

People often imagine pregnancy as a time of hopes and dreams filled with positivity, but often moms can feel very different than they expected even if the pregnancy has been a long-time plan. Working through that “mom-guilt” can be one of the most difficult and most important things to be able to do during pregnancy and postpartum. Primary caregivers often encounter feelings of shame, embarrassment, or guilt surrounding the decisions they make in course of pregnancy and raising their children. During the covid-19 pandemic, increased fear, anxiety, and isolation it may feel even harder to manage the stress and anxiety of navigating a new arrival. While these feelings may never dissipate entirely, there are steps you can take to help keep them in check and use them to your advantage. Set Boundaries.  Setting clear boundaries and expectations can be really hard, and without them you may be left feeling that increase in guilt. Letting others know ahead of time what you need and practic...