Personal Growth in Springtime
Embracing Spring: The Ultimate Self-Care Guide
As the days grow longer and the air turns warmer, spring offers a perfect opportunity to reset, refresh, and reinvigorate your mind, body, and spirit. The season of renewal not only invites nature to bloom but also encourages you to invest in your own well-being. Here’s a comprehensive self-care guide to help you welcome the beauty of spring with open arms.
1. Spring Clean Your Space and Mind
Spring cleaning isn’t just about tidying up your home—it’s a chance to clear away the mental clutter, too. A clutter-free, organized environment has been shown to reduce stress and promote a sense of calm. Start by decluttering your living space, donating items you no longer need, and cleaning areas that may have been overlooked during the winter months.Additionally, take time to declutter your mind. Journaling can be a great tool for letting go of any mental fog. Write about your thoughts, emotions, and intentions for the new season. Clearing your mind helps create space for growth and positivity.
2. Nourish Your Body with Seasonal Foods
As the weather warms up, your body may crave lighter, fresher meals. Spring is a time when local farmers’ markets overflow with vibrant fruits and vegetables, so take advantage of this bounty. Incorporate more greens, berries, asparagus, peas, and citrus fruits into your diet for a natural boost of energy and nutrients. Hydration is also key during spring as the temperatures rise. Drinking plenty of water, herbal teas, or infused water with lemon and mint can help keep you hydrated and refreshed.
3. Move Your Body Outdoors
Spring is the perfect time to take your workout outdoors. After months of being cooped up indoors, embrace the warmth of the sun and the beauty of nature. Whether it’s hiking, biking, or simply taking a walk in the park, getting outside can elevate your mood and boost your physical health. Engage in activities like yoga or pilates in a nearby
green space. The combination of mindful movement and fresh air is a perfect way to honor both your body and mind.
4. Create a Morning Routine to Ground Yourself
A mindful morning routine sets the tone for the entire day. Start your day with intention by incorporating calming practices, such as stretching, deep breathing, or meditation. Drinking a warm cup of tea or lemon water while journaling can help clear your mind and give you a sense of purpose. This ritual doesn’t have to be long—just 10-15 minutes of focus can help you feel centered and ready to tackle the day ahead. Spring is a time of renewal, and using the morning to reset is an ideal way to start your day with a fresh perspective.
5. Reconnect with Nature
There’s no better time than spring to reconnect with nature. As the flowers bloom and the trees regain their leaves, spending time outdoors can be incredibly grounding. Whether you’re tending to a garden, walking through a park, or simply enjoying a peaceful moment under the trees, nature provides both physical and emotional healing. The act of nurturing plants in your garden can also serve as a metaphor for nurturing yourself—allowing you to grow and flourish as the season unfolds.
6. Practice Gratitude and Set Intentions
Spring symbolizes new beginnings, making it a great time to reflect on your life and set meaningful intentions. Take a moment each day to practice gratitude—whether it’s for the simple beauty of nature or the loving relationships in your life. Consider setting intentions for the coming months. Think about what you want to manifest and create in your life during this season of growth. Whether it’s focusing on personal development, cultivating new hobbies, or improving your physical health, establishing goals for spring will give you a sense of direction and purpose.
7. Cultivate Meaningful Connections
The spring season brings a sense of renewal, not just for the earth but for our relationships, too. Use this time to reconnect with friends and family. Spend quality time outdoors with loved ones, have a picnic in the park, or plan a small gathering to celebrate the season. Social connections are essential for emotional well-being, and spring’s energizing atmosphere is the perfect backdrop for deepening relationships.
A Season of Renewal
Spring is a time for growth, rejuvenation, and renewal. As the world outside comes back to life, take the opportunity to nurture yourself—mind, body, and spirit. Whether through self-reflection, outdoor activities, or nourishing your body, embracing the season’s changes can help you feel more balanced, energized, and ready to bloom. By making self-care a priority during the spring months, you’ll set yourself up for a season of vitality, joy, and personal growth.
To receive support and guidance with Amy Buchanan, LCMHC on this or any other area of your life, please click the button below to begin.
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Depression in Men IS Different
Breaking the Silence: Understanding Depression in Men
Are you feeling like something’s just not right, but you can’t quite put your finger on it? You have been feeling more frustrated, isolated, and more tired than usual, but you don’t know why. Or perhaps you’ve been pushing yourself to “just get through it,” but it seems harder every day. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and what you might be experiencing could be depression. Before you brush it off… yes, men can get depressed too, even if it doesn’t look like what you might think. The truth is, depression affects millions of men. Unfortunately, the way it shows up often looks different than what one may expect.
What Does Depression in Men look like?
Depression is more than just feeling “down” or “sad.” It’s a serious mental health condition that affects millions of men globally. In fact, research shows that one in eight men will experience depression in their lifetime (American Psychological Association, 2020). Yet, the way depression manifests in men is often different from how it’s typically recognized in others. While sadness and hopelessness are common symptoms, many men find themselves feeling irritable, frustrated, or even physically drained.
It’s important to recognize that depression in men can look and feel different. Men often don’t express their struggles with tears or obvious sadness. Instead, they might feel exhausted, angry, or withdrawn. This doesn’t make their experience any less real—it just means that they may be suffering in ways that don’t immediately scream “depression.” Unfortunately, societal norms around masculinity can make it even harder for men to recognize their depression or seek the help they need.
Why Men’s Depression is Often Overlooked
- Cultural Expectations: Whether intentionally or unintentionally society has normalized the concept of suppressed emotions in men.
From a young age, many men are taught to suppress their emotions. Phrases like “man up,” “don’t cry,” or “brush it off” are often thrown around, sending the message that expressing vulnerability is a weakness. These cultural expectations can lead to men bottling up their emotions, pushing them aside in favor of appearing tough or in control. As a result, it becomes harder for them to even recognize what they’re going through—let alone ask for help. - Stigma: Although mental/emotional awareness has grown tremendously, mental health issues, especially in men, are still stigmatized. Admitting to depression can feel like a sign of weakness. Asking for help, whether it’s through therapy or just talking to someone, can feel like admitting failure. Unfortunately, this stigma prevents many men from acknowledging their depression or reaching out for support. Some may believe that opening up about their mental health will make them seem less capable or less of a man.
- Misdiagnosis:There is a common misinterpretation of depression symptoms in men. Due to depression symptoms in men not always showing up the “traditional way”, oftentimes, their depression goes undiagnosed. In fact, men are less likely to recognize their own depression, and healthcare professionals may not always connect their symptoms to a mental health issue. This leads to missed opportunities for treatment and healing (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023).
What Causes Depression?
Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all answer for why depression happens, but essentially depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. I’m sure you’re wondering “what does that even mean?”, lol, here’s some additional clarity:
- Biological Factors: Changes in brain chemistry, genetic predisposition, hormonal shifts (e.g., during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause), and chronic illnesses can all contribute to depression.
- Psychological Factors: People with negative thinking patterns, low self-esteem, or past trauma may be more prone to depression. Cognitive patterns, like rumination,can deepen feelings of hopelessness.
- Environmental Stress: Major life events such as job loss, divorce, or grief, along with social isolation or ongoing stress, can trigger or worsen depression.
- Substance Use: Alcohol and drug use can temporarily numb feelings but often make depression worse over time by altering brain chemistry.
- Sleep and Nutrition: Lack of sleep or nutritional deficiencies can contribute to depression, and the two can create a cycle that’s hard to break.
Perhaps reading that felt very general and not exactly specific to men. The causes for depression are predominantly the same across genders. However, one notable difference is the tendency for men to consistently suppress their emotions. Constantly suppressing emotions is like putting a band aid on a gunshot wound, the pain still lies underneath and continues to get worse when left untreated.
How You Can Support Men with Depression
- Encourage open conversation: Create an environment where men can talk about their emotions without fear of judgment. Encourage the idea that speaking about emotions are actually strengths, and is not a weakness.
- Ask questions: For example asking something like “How can I best support you in this season?”, offers a compassionate way to invite men to share what they need. Studies suggest that asking open-ended questions encourages self-reflection and facilitates the healing process (Seidler et al., 2016).
- Seek professional help: Encourage them to seek help. Therapy is a space that can bridge the gap between suffering in silence and having your own personal outlet. His counselor will serve as a guide who listens with empathy and works with you to create a personalized plan for healing. Professional intervention has been shown to improve mental health outcomes and can significantly reduce the impact of depression (Cuijpers et al., 2010).
- Promote healthy coping strategies: Encourage your loved one to cope in a healthy way. Physical activity has been found to reduce symptoms of depression by releasing endorphins and improving mood (Schuch et al., 2016). In addition to physical activity, healthy eating, engaging in hobbies, spending time with loved one and a balanced sleep schedule are important to improve overall mental health.
Are You or Someone You Know Experiencing Symptoms?
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘man up,’ but let’s be real.. sometimes ‘man-ing up’ means recognizing when you need help. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.
Let’s stomp out the stigma! Counseling isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a courageous step toward understanding your emotions and finding a path to healing. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, consider reaching out to a professional counselor.
Here at Miracles Counseling Centers, we believe in offering compassionate and knowledgeable support to help individuals through their mental health journey. We understand the struggles men face with depression, and we are here to walk alongside you, providing a safe, supportive space to explore your emotions, goals, and path to healing.
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The Benefit of Self Compassion in Anxiety
How self-compassion assists in overcoming anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common emotional experiences in the United States right now. We want you to know that it is ok to sometimes be anxious. If anxiety is starting to creep into all parts of your life, we are here for that too! When you have anxiety issues, our anxious emotions tend to create fear, worries, and overwhelm. Additionally, these feelings can fill all parts of our life including our relationships, work performance, and overall health. Also, it should not go unnoticed that anxiety struggles can also create a secondary experience of deep inner criticism. This criticism comes out in many ways. One of the most common is that this inner criticism can come out as inaccurate beliefs that you ‘should’ be a lot of things. “I should be strong.” “I should be able to handle this by now.” “I should be more like others.”
Inner Criticism will increase your Anxiety
If you have been in therapy, you have probably heard from your therapist that allowing inner thoughts that lead with the ‘should’ word will cause increased emotional distress. This is true! ‘Shoulding’ ourselves causes self criticism and low self esteem. Today, we want to encourage you to begin applying self-compassion as one of your approaches to helping yourself manage anxious emotions.
Using self compassion helps to move away from feeling shame in our emotions. This approach actually works very well when you are managing anxiousness. Rather than the internal criticism, it allows emotional space to consider how to best approach the emotion. There are a number of benefits to using self compassion, especially when living with anxiety. Here are a few….
Why self-compassion helps with anxiety
Improves emotional regulation
Self-compassion can help people be more aware of their emotions and regulate them. This works because compassion depersonalizes the anxiety allowing for you to apply skills to “work” on your anxiety.
Increases Confidence
Once you are able to be compassionate to yourself with your anxiousness, another change comes. You are no longer blaming your entire self for being anxious and thus allowing confident feelings to be recognized in other parts of who you are.
Reduces shame and guilt
Self-compassion teaches us acceptance in our entire selves. Not to mention, once you learn how to lean into self compassion, you will naturally feel less shame and guilt.
Tips on how to practice self-compassion
Be kind to yourself
Validate your emotions and offer yourself patience. When struggling, talk to yourself as if you were talking to a close friend or family member. Do not minimize or belittle yourself when you are struggling with a feeling or emotion in your day.
Practice mindfulness
This skill helps us to slow down the rapid fire of thoughts and adjust if they are unhealthy. Focus on your breathing and gently acknowledge anxious thoughts. Daily mindfulness practice is shown to increase emotional wellness.
Treat yourself well
Are you giving yourself time to rest and recover? Or possibly you may need an activity that is soothing to your body. Take a bath, go dancing, stretch for 30 minutes, or listen to music.
Practice Daily Affirmations
Remind yourself of the things you are appreciating of yourself. What ways have you made yourself proud? What things have you accomplished, big or small, that pleases you. Remember that you’re capable of changing how you feel and that your self-worth comes from within!
Self-Compassion is an Antidote to Anxious Moments
Above all else, remember that your care and love of yourself helps to extinguish the powerful hold anxious emotions can have on you. Your therapist will work with you on additional strategies as well, but these are tips and tricks that you yourself can use every day to support your emotions that much more!
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7 signs of anxiety in your life
7 signs of an anxiety disorder that suggest you should visit a professional counselor.
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The Benefits of Play for your Child
Building Strong Emotional Bonds Through Play
Playing with your children is a natural human instinct. Whether it is rough housing, playing pretend, or using toys, this type of activity is seemingly hardwired in the human brain. Kids play in all kinds of ways—pretending to be superheroes, running and climbing outside, building with blocks, or getting messy with paint and sand. Some play with friends, learning to share and take turns, while others enjoy quiet time alone with puzzles or dolls. Each type of play helps them grow, explore, and express themselves.
it may seem somewhat insignificant at surface-level, playing with your child has many benefits. In fact, play is incredibly significant to the growth and development of your child!
Play is how children understand the world
Garry Landreth, the founder of child-centered play therapy, states that “toys are children’s words, and play is their language”. He goes on to state that children frequently use playing as symbolic self-expression. Play can represent things that they desire, need, or are experiencing in their lives. Children do not operate in the cognitive or verbal world; they express through play. Play is an important part of services for children and adolescents in our office as research shows.
You have already seen the power of play
You may have observed this truth in your own children. The ease they use their imagination is automatic. You have witnessed them recreating adult relationships in their play with others. Children are powerful observers as well. When your child shares with you what they see others doing, this is emotional learning in action. We also know that physically active children are healthier. This is what helps them to develop balance and hand eye coordination. Think back. Your young athlete’s skill and responsiveness improves each season. These are examples of how play helps the child socially, emotionally, and physically as the grow.
Be a part of their growth through play
Playing with your children presents an opportunity to create a space that is safe for them. This gives them the potential to express what they are wanting, needing, or experiencing in a manner that is natural and comfortable for them. In this way you are meeting them where they are. So why not play more?
Playing with your has multiple potential benefits:
- Assisting the development of secure emotional attachment
- The way a child learns to attach to others is based on their life circumstances. This is especially true during their critical development periods. To develop a secure attachment a few things are required. First, emotional attunement. This means noticing their cues, offering comfort, and validating their emotions in a consistent, nurturing way. Second, a safe environment. This provides the sense of security children need to explore the world and return for reassurance. Lastly, parents who positively interact with their children. This is done by the use of warmth, playfulness, eye contact, and gentle guidance—teach children that relationships can be a source of joy, support, and stability.
- Bolstering Emotion Regulation Skills
- While playing with a child, there are often situations in which the child can become very angry or frustrated. You can model healthy emotion regulation during play. This helps guide them through frustrating situations. In this way, the child can learn how to pro-social behaviors to other circumstances when you are not present. These practice situations create opportunities to learn coping skills and conflict resolution.
- Building Self-Confidence
- During play, children may often find themselves in tough situations to overcomel. Parents can empower the child by supporting them as they conquer the challenges they face during play. This process can assist in the development of individuality and self-confidence. Confidence also enhances a child to try new things that may feel difficulty at first.
- Reinforcement of Positive Behaviors
- During play, children may exhibit behaviors that are both positive and negative. Playing with your child can provide an opportunity for you to reinforce positive behaviors in real time. When positive behaviors occur, you can reinforce those behaviors with phrases like “I noticed you sharing your toy with me, great job!” These responses increase the presence of positive behaviors.
- Mutual Enjoyment
- Playing offers a unique opportunity for parents and children to connect in a joyful and meaningful way. It’s more than just fun—it’s a shared experience where laughter, imagination, and presence come together. Through play, memories are created and the parent-child bond is deepened. These moments of connection can build trust, encourage communication, and remind children that they are seen and valued.
Play can be an excellent tool to accomplish these goals and more. Through the process of entering their world, you may find that it is an effective tool to add to your parenting toolbelt. Being a “kid” again may feel unnatural initially. Knowing how to interact and play with your child is a skill that can be learned! Our child therapists are able to set the example and help you learn how to get down to your child’s level.
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Scroll Less, Live More: Break Free From The “Doom Scrolling” Cycle
In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s increasingly difficult to avoid negative news. Whether it’s catastrophic events, political conflict, or global crises, our access to information is both vast and immediate. Whenever a significant event occurs, coverage on the event can be available within minutes. Not only are headlines and articlesavailable, but the photos and videos from multiple perspectives will be posted over social media. The overload of news coverage means that we’re glued to our screens, unable to break free. This exposure can have an unintended impact on our mental health, even when we know it’s not good for us. To be informed and aware is valuable, but are there potential negative effects of being so tuned in?
What Is Doom Scrolling?
Doom scrolling, a term coined by Gen Z individuals on TikTok, refers to the habitual, and in some cases compulsive, overconsumption of news headlines and negative events on social media and other websites. This scrolling has become an unfortunate part of modern life, contributing to rising levels of anxiety, stress, and even depression. Doom scrolling applies to anyone who habitually consumes an overwhelming amount of distressing news online.
Depending on the age group, the type of online exposure to these events varies. A Gen Z individual on TikTok may have seen video about a negative current event that has a humorous spin. Millennials may have seen people on Facebook linking an article alongside their commentary on the event. Older generations may have seen coverage of the event on mainstream media news stations. Despite the different methods of delivery, each generation is undoubtedly overexposed to current events.
Why Is It So Harmful?
With this phenomenon, potential negative effects can materialize. In psychology, there is a pattern of negative thinking called rumination. Rumination refers to repetitive thinking or dwelling on a negative thought that is difficult to escape. With the overexposure to negative events that occur, individuals may find themselves in one of these negative thought cycles that lead to anxiety and/or depression. Hearing tragic news stories or stressful situations occurring within the world can greatly impact an individual’s stress level and can lead to these ruminations. Additionally, elevated stress levels can exacerbate existing struggles with anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.
In 2021, researchers from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health conducted a study investigating the relationship between compulsive “doom scrolling” and negative mental health concerns. The researchers found that there was a significant increase in self-reported mental health concerns in individuals who reported the compulsive search for news. Additionally, researchers from the Journal of Psychological Trauma Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy found that many young individuals engaging in these behaviors exhibited significant symptoms of depression and even posttraumatic stress disorder simply from seeing online material surrounding these negative events even if they were not directly exposed.
How Can We Break Free from Doom Scrolling?
Our brains crave new information whether it is positive or negative. How do we break free from this cycle? Here are some potential actions that can be beneficial:
- Set time limits: Use apps or features on your phone to limit social media or news consumption. Both iPhone and Android devices have the capability of setting limits on specific apps. With Google Chrome, there are extensions on the Chrome Web Store to accomplish the same goal.
- Create digital boundaries: Designate times during the day to check news or social media and avoid mindless scrolling. Schedule half an hour every day to look at current events, and then do not allow yourself to engage in consuming news outside of that specific window.
- Engage in other activities: Replace scrolling with hobbies, exercise, or spending quality time with loved ones. Although social media seems to promote a sense of “connectedness”, it can also lead to perceived feelings of isolation. Go connect with others!
- Practice mindfulness: Focus on being present in the moment, and engage in mindfulness techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or journaling. Connect with nature and allow your brain to escape present concerns.
- Set Filters: Many social media apps such as Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others allow you to filter out posts and media containing specific phrases. For example, if the presidential election was a source of stress for you, you could filter out any posts containing the word “president”.
- Seek Professional Help: If you find yourself incapable of escaping this cycle on your own, reach out to a licensed professional for assistance.
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Tackling Grief During the Holidays
Managing grief during the holidays
The holiday season is generally regarded as a time of joy to be shared with family and friends. However, for those who are grieving lost loved ones, this is often not the case. The holidays can actually magnify our sense of loss. Seasonal events and traditions that are supposed to be festive and fun may serve as painful reminders of our loved ones’ absence. Whether this is your first or tenth holiday without a loved one, you may find yourself experiencing heightened feelings of grief that seem overwhelming. We want you to balance your grief with still finding joy in the holidays.
Ways can you manage grief and loss during the holiday season
Avoid engaging in grief comparison
Grief is a universal response to loss, but the actual experience of grief is unique to each individual. Everyone processes and copes with grief differently, so your grief may look different from another friend or family member’s grief in response to the same loss. Know that there is no right way to grieve.
Create new holiday traditions
Don’t be afraid to do something different because this year is different. Get creative and do something out of the ordinary or alter your previous traditions to better fit with this change in your life. For example, if you don’t feel like you have the energy to cook your usual meal at home, then go out to dinner!
Find ways to honor your loved one
Acknowledge the absence of your loved one and participate in a holiday ritual to remember them. Here are some ideas to consider:
-Light a candle for the dinner table or leave an empty chair
-Eat your loved one’s favorite food
-Share your favorite memories of your loved one
-Say a few words of remembrance for your loved one
Give yourself permission to grieve
There are so many different feelings that can come with grief. You may experience sadness, anger, guilt, and joy all at once this season. All of these are valid. Accept these emotions without judgement. Allow yourself to feel them.
Set boundaries
Do whatever feels right for you during this time. You don’t have to go to every holiday event. Do things because you want to do them, not because someone else would want you to. If you need to be alone, honor that. If you need to be around others, seek them out. Make time to care for your own needs. Get enough rest and exercise.
Plan ahead
Many find that the anticipation of the holidays without a loved one is worse than the holidays themselves. Planning ahead can ease your anxiety about what the holidays will be like. Be sure to plan some comforting activities to look forward to. Come up with an escape plan so that you can easily leave an event or activity if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Volunteer/Give
Spending time helping others this holiday season may bring some comfort in the midst of your grief. Donate to those in need in your loved one’s honor or volunteer with an organization.
Reach out for help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you’re struggling during the holidays. Talk about your feelings with loved ones and be honest about how you’d like to do things this year. Consider seeing a mental health professional or joining a grief support group. Here are a few resources:
-KinderMourn – Sliding scale services for bereaved parents, children, and teens
-GriefShare – Local grief support groups
https://www.griefshare.org/findagroup
-Novant Health Hospice & Supportive Care – Free counseling and bereavement support groups for anyone grieving the death of a loved one (Huntersville, Charlotte, Matthews)- (704) 384-6478
-Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region – Sliding scale support groups in Huntersville, Lincolnton, Davidson, Charlotte, & Pineville
https://www.hpccr.org/grief-counseling
Therapists at Miracles Counseling Centers underand that grief is particularly difficult during the holidays. If you are grieving the loss of a loved one this holiday season, know that you are not alone. We understand that this can be a difficult time and are here to support you. Simply remember you aren’t alone in this difficulty and we want to support you so you can still find happiness this holiday season.
Source(s): health.harvard.edu, psychologytoday.com, mayoclinichealthsystem.org, aarp.org
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How to Manage Boomerang Children
How to Manage Boomerang Children – When the Nest isn’t Empty
You may have anticipated this empty nest phase of your life, and planned to manage this as a normal life transition. However, things did not end up turning out as you thought that they would. You may still have adult children living at home. According to the 2021 Census 58% of adults aged 18-24 are living at home with their parents and 17% of adults aged 25-34 are living at home with their parents. This phenomenon of adult children returning to live at home with their parents is called “Boomerang Children.” The influences on the financial needs of Boomerang Children include a shortage of affordable housing, increased student loan debt, and employment volatility. Other factors include delayed milestones, personal development, and the need for health care support. Many families find themselves in this situation, and are attempting to find balance in how to have healthy relationships with these children, who are now adults, in their home.
Life with adult children in the home can cause unexpected stress.
The present circumstances may create conflict if the adult child has differing lifestyles, values or habits. Parents may experience a loss of privacy or have difficulty adjusting their roles with adult children. This can increase emotional distress including frustration, anxiety, and disappointment. Increased conflict in your marraige is likely if the two of you disagree on the approach of having adult children in the home again. Overall, strife can occur with so many individuals in the home attempting to share space once again. It’s natural for this new and unexpected transition to feel difficult.
What can help ease the stress during this challenging time?
- Establish clear boundaries. Discuss together house rules, responsibilities, and timeframes to set expectations and avoid misunderstandings.
- Create a supportive environment by engaging in open communication through active listening without expressing judgement.
- Discuss finances openly and set an expectation to contribute to the household.
- Balance freedom and structure by respecting their privacy while holding household standards.
- Be patient. Give each other grace because adjusting to living together can be difficult for both parties.
Despite the challenging time of life together, it can also be a time of growth and joy. There are ways to continue to connect with your adult children andmake the most of this extended time together. It all starts with how we choose to look at the situation and decide to embrace it.
- Share experiences. Spend time together intentionally on a regular basis doing something you both enjoy like watching a favorite show together, meeting up weekly at a favorite restaurant, taking an exercise class, or traveling.
- Be open-minded. The younger generations have many things to offer including preferences in food, music, and décor. Be open to allowing them to teach you something.
- Encourage their interests. Just like when they were younger, be their cheerleaders and show interest in their passions and pursuits.
- Allow them to take a larger role in decision making. Allowing adult children to have input in holiday plans, meal choices, and household decisions will foster respect and provide opportunities for growth.
- Reconnect with your spouse. This is especially important! After spending years raising your children and making them a priority it is critical to prioritize your marriage. This is important for YOU, but it also provides a role model for your adult children of what healthy relationships look like. Plan regular date nights, experience new things together, support each other’s roles, and start new traditions.
Counseling can help smooth the adjustment of Boomerang Childen in the home
Transitions can be difficult, especially when they do not happen as we expected. Counseling help is available when you find it difficult to process the new needs of the family or need support engaging in the difficult conversations. Putting off addressing concerns can allow difficulties to grow, This transition can be a beautiful experience with reasonable expectations and helpful tools.
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What Makes Art Therapy Unique
What is Art Therapy
Written by: Brandy Prabucki, LCMHC, ATR
Art Therapy is using art as a means of self-expression, self-exploration, processing, and healing. Art Therapists are trained at a Masters level and have had education in art therapy theories, assessment, techniques and application. Many people think that art therapy is for only children and adolescents but anyone can participate in art therapy. Many people who engage in art therapy they find that it helps them express emotions deeper than words can reach.
I’m not a good artist, can I even benefit?
Here’s a little secret, you do not need to have any artistic ability to participate in art therapy. In fact, art therapy isn’t about creating a beautiful piece of art. It’s about the process of making art and what your art means to you. It can be expressive in nature, meaning you have freedom to use supplies and mediums as you choose. Alternatively, it can be a specific art directive. Art Therapists use their own creativity to choose the approach that can help their clients with where they are in their journey.
Why does art help work through our emotions?
Some may wonder how does art actually help our emotions? For instance, it can help decrease anxiety related to being in a therapy session. Have you spent time just to doodle or color a pre-patterned picture? Have you ever noticed how it feels to color something that is pre patterned? Did you notice how you felt? Did it help you relax? Slow your mind down? It has been shown in research to lower cortisol levels. So if you are feeling particularly stressed one day, color something pre-patterned, such as a mandala or coloring book (another secret, they make adult coloring books!) and see how you feel.
I have personally seen how art therapy can help build clients self esteem. It helps them understand and express themselves in a more clear way. An example of a directive I like to use with my clients is to create a collage card. They start by looking through magazines for words or images that represent who they are and what they enjoy in life. Then we process the collage they created. When you compare this to traditional talk therapy, and someone is asked to share about themselves, it can be an overwhelming question. Art expression gives people the opportunity to share so much more, and to share things they maybe wouldn’t have thought to share verbally.
Art opens accessibility to our emotional world
As you can see with this example, Art therapy can remove some of the barriers in therapy. Children are much more free in their art expression and use drawing as a form of communication. I use some assessments with children to help me understand their internal world a little better. One directive I use with younger clients is to draw a picture of themselves and their family doing something together. This type of assessment helps me see who they are possibly closest to in their families, which they could depict by who they draw themselves next too. They may draw the parent they think is in charge much larger than the other parent to depict the power they have in the family. Their size can also show how they feel in their family unit. There is some speculative interpretation that an art therapist is trained in, but there is also the processing of the art which helps the art therapist understand if those interpretations are accurate. An art therapist understands this by asking reflective questions about the image their client made. This is just a small example of how I use art in therapy.
How can I get started in Art Therapy?
It is important to note that when looking to do Art Therapy you find someone who is a Registered Art Therapist or Board Certified Art Therapist. These are the only clinicians who can call themselves Art Therapists. They have the required graduate level education and post-graduate training required by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). The American Art Therapy Association is also a great resource to learn more about Art Therapy.
Art therapy can be a great addition to traditional talk therapy. As a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Registered Art Therapist I give my clients the option to participate in Art Therapy. Some people feel they have no artistic ability so it wouldn’t be beneficial to them. If you are thinking about trying art therapy, I want to invite you to take a risk. We don’t know how beneficial something can be until we try it.
I hope this article has provided information about what art therapy is and how it can be beneficial for people seeking therapy or additional types of therapy. Art Therapy is my passion, my love for art was combined with my interest in psychology and I have seen how beneficial it can be for people. If you have any interest in learning more or beginning Art Therapy please reach out to Miracles Counseling Centers, or to myself, Brandy Prabucki, LCMHC. I look forward to meeting you.
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5 Signs of Teenage Burnout
5 Signs of Teen Burnout
Teenage burnout is becoming increasingly common as young people juggle academic pressures, extracurricular activities, and social expectations. The reasons why teens are becoming more emotionally burned out and are struggling with anxiety and depression lies in the demands of our fast paced society. We commonly encourage teens to be well rounded in sports, AND participate in volunteering, AND excel academically to be competitive in the college application process. These influences coming from parents, coaches, teachers, and society are heard everywhere in a teens life. We also have to consider the notable impact of social media on our teens, which varying studies have shown to cause negative impacts on self esteem and feelings of inadequacy. The emotional toll including depression and anxiety that comes from life stressors is very real. Read this article so that you understand the indicators of teen burnout so you can support your child when they hit these struggles in life, and to help them rise above them.
You KNOW your teen is struggling
It’s evident when your teen is emotionally struggling with burnout. It can show up as the snappiness that seems to be just a bit more than typical for your teen. They might be honest with you and express that they don’t have enough time for everything. They could be trying to push all nighters just to keep up. Conversely, your teen may also be crashing to sleep the minute they walk through the doors or constantly seem exhausted. Seeing their light for life burnout is sad and concerning. You know that at this time in their youth, they should be finding enjoyment and living new experiences….You are right to be concerned.
5 Signs your Teen is Burned Out
There are ways you can recognize if your teen is in that burnout phase. Here are five signs that indicate a teen is experiencing burnout:
- **Exhaustion**: This goes beyond just feeling tired; it’s a persistent lack of energy that makes even daily tasks feel overwhelming. Your teen is struggling with this if their exhaustion is continuous for 1 week or longer.
- **Physical Signs**: Teens struggling with burnout frequently complain of headaches or stomach aches. A teen struggling with burn out struggles with a compromised immune system and may become sick more often. A change in your teens appetite can also indicate anxiety or depression due to stress.
- **Loss of Interest**: Activities that once brought joy—like hobbies, sports, or spending time with friends—may no longer seem appealing. Your teens’ connection with their friends is now be sidelined due to the constant pressure of their lives.
- **Darkening Mood or Cynicism**: Your teens outlook on life may be more negative life, often paired with feelings of hopelessness. Mood swings of depression and anger outbursts may be more commonplace than before. They can be feeling out of control of their life, and may have the perception that they are not able to succeed. These are signs of emotional fatique in managing life’s commitments.
- **Increased Anxiety**: Your teen is consistently expressing anxious thoughts about being enough. They may have thoughts of dread and worry about their readiness for their commitments or academic performance.
We help teens find balance and control In their lives
Therapists can play a crucial role in helping teens recover from burnout by providing emotional support, teaching coping strategies, and addressing the underlying causes of their stress. Through a variety of approaches, therapists are able to give the guidance and insight to help teens through life’s circumstances. Whether your teen needs to learn how to set boundaries, improve their self-compassion, or even needing a safe place to express themselves we can help them through their struggles with burn out. Your teen will take away a better understanding of themselves as well as the confidence to communicate their needs to be able to enjoy their lives again – and not feel exhausted from it!
Give them the chance to regain confidence in themselves
It’s important for teens to have support, whether through open conversations with family, friends, or mental health professionals. This is the opportunity you are affording them when a teenager begins counseling. Teens who begin counseling have the opportunity to address underlying issues early and improve their emotional resilience. Even more importantly, you are giving them the chance to support their development into adulthood. Our team loves to support adolescents in their journey towards adulthood, let us help them pave a healthy path forward!
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