When you build a fire, whether to warm your home or to add a bit of ambience on a cold, winter’s night, you know you’ve got to tend to the fire to keep it going. Relationships are no different. They, too, begin with that initial spark, but you both have to tend to the relationship to keep the heat!In our...[ read more ]

When we first fall in love with that special someone, we want to spend all of our time together. In fact, we seem to feel better when we are with our significant other.This is the infatuation stage, and admittedly, it feels really good. But enduring relationships move past this stage and into a place of mutual respect and care. This...[ read more ]

Depression is a complex mental health issue that varies widely between individuals. This is why it can be difficult for some people to recognize what may be a situational discomfort that may pass on its own, and what may be more serious and require professional help.The Difference Between Mild and Serious Mental Health IssuesIn order to measure the seriousness of...[ read more ]

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects 2-3% of the population. The disorder is characterized by a pattern of unwanted thoughts or fears (obsessions) that cause an individual to perform a set of repetitive behaviors (compulsions). OCD interferes with a person’s daily activities and can lead to significant distress.Symptoms of OCDPeople that have been diagnosed...[ read more ]

The Covid pandemic disrupted the lives of everyone on the globe. But without question, certain professions got hit the hardest. Teachers definitely belong in this category. Numerous teachers were laid off without notice; the rest were forced to adapt quickly and begin teaching remotely.While the pandemic is behind us, the mental health affects on teachers are lingering. As these professionals...[ read more ]

The CDC has recently reported that roughly 1 in 44 children in this country is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 1 in 27 boys and 1 in 116 girls are identified with an ASD, respectively, each year.Although there is no cure for autism, there are tools parents and teachers can use to help children with autism cope with...[ read more ]

There is an epidemic in this country of mental health crises. At the same time, we also have a lack of crisis services, which has led to police officers acting as first responders to many mental health crises across the nation.The response to this epidemic from many communities has been to develop a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program to improve...[ read more ]

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is a form of therapy that is often used with children and adults who have been diagnosed with autism and other mental health conditions. ABA focuses on improving specific behaviors such as social skills, communication, learning aptitudes, hygiene, motor dexterity and domestic capabilities, to name a few. ABA is often used in a variety of settings...[ read more ]

According to CDC data, 1 in 4 children experiences some form of trauma or abuse in their childhood. More sobering statistics indicate that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have experienced rape at some point in their lives. These numbers suggest that many people, male and female, young and old, have and will experience trauma in their...[ read more ]

Emotional abuse is not as easy to spot as physical abuse, but oftentimes its effects can be just as traumatic. Emotional abuse can involve a wide range of tactics, including gaslighting, shaming and manipulation. All of these are intended to leave the victim feeling confused, powerless and hopeless.Typically people suffer from long-term or short-term emotional abuse, and depending on the...[ read more ]