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Video Blog by Victoria Pitz, LPMHC
Learn more about Victoria or make an appointment with her here
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By Caroline Rudin LMSW, MS.,Ed  “Fight or flight.” “Rest and digest.” We’ve heard these terms over and over since high school biology class, but, how can we access the latter physical response in the right times? Each of us as individuals have experienced intense levels of stress within the past two years alone living through pandemic times and some of us are still trying to cope with the changes that have occurred. Let’s tap into your personal resiliency and introduce a few different methods of reaching a state of calm that you may not have thought of before.
by Janet Whyte, LCSW  What is mindfulness? To some people, it may sound like something that only “hippies” do. The truth is, everyone can benefit from practicing mindfulness in their daily lives. According to the American Psychological Association, practicing mindfulness comes with many proven benefits including reducing stress, reducing rumination, improving attention, decreasing emotional reactivity, and increasing cognitive flexibility as well as relationship satisfaction. All in all, mindfulness can contribute to better mental health and wellbeing.
How do you actually practice mindfulness? by Jayoti Chabra, LMSW  Personal boundaries are the limits and rules we set for ourselves within relationships. A person with healthy boundaries can say “no” to others when they want to, but they are also comfortable opening themselves up to intimacy and close relationships.
A lot of people have difficulties creating boundaries, at home, work, and/or in their social life. I know I do and I’m working on it. It's hard saying no to the mother-in-law that wants to help in your kitchen and you don’t want them to, or to the friend who shows up when you just wanted a day for yourself. It can make you feel like you have to choose between disappointing someone else or disappointing yourself. by Melissa Marconi, LMSW  Healthy dieting has long been associated with benefits like, fitting better in our jeans, improved skin and hair, and reducing chronic illnesses. But, did you know that the foods we eat can also be important to our brain health? Read on to find out what foods can improve your brain health, and what might make it worse.
 Changing habits is not a simple or linear process. It takes time, effort, and dedication, which can seem difficult with busy schedules. The great news is that it's never too late to break or change an old habit and create a new healthier habit in its place.
Learning how to break or change bad habits can be daunting, as habits are often associated with negative emotions. We may get angry or upset with ourselves about everything we’re not doing, or feel like we’re doing wrong, but it’s often those feelings that identify wanting a change. The trick to breaking or changing bad habits is to find an approach that works for you and the habit that you would like to change. Every habit is different, so they can’t all be changed the same way or at once. By Melissa Marconi  What is The Spoon Theory and How Can it Promote Better Physical and Mental Wellbeing? When I was in my 20’s I was diagnosed with a chronic illness which not only impacted my physical health, but also led to depression and isolation. There were days I could not get out of bed. I would use my energy to do basic things like shower and go to doctors appointments. Very rarely could I do the things I once enjoyed like hanging out with friends and family or going to bookstores, concerts, and sporting events. One day, I was talking to a friend, and she was telling me about a party she had over the weekend. “All of our friends were there”, she said. I asked “Why didn't you invite me”?
by Melissa Laks, LMSW  Therapy sessions can be a great source of support. You may learn about your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, as well as learn how to take control of your life and respond to challenging situations with healthy coping skills. But a lot of the work that is done in therapy is actually done between sessions, when you’re doing your daily routines. This is when you’ll get opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in sessions.
by Amanda Snizek, LMSW  Have you ever noticed how it’s easier for us to reach for the cold medicine when we are feeling sick, but then we are so reluctant to seek medication from a prescriber when we feel anxious or depressed?
By Janet Whyte, LCSW  Most people seek therapy when they are having a problem that they need help working through, or when their mental health is not doing well. After working with your therapist over time, you may feel as though you have solved your problem, and your overall mental health may start to improve. The question then becomes: do you stop attending therapy now that you are feeling better?
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