September is Suicide Awareness month. As the COVID-19 pandemic extends into the remainder of the year, the pandemic may begin to have more long-term effects on those who struggle with mental health conditions. Preventing suicide in vulnerable populations is important during this time. There is evidence that deaths attributed to suicide increased during the 1918-19...Read More

September is National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has likely brought on a unique set of challenges. During the pandemic, it is normal to feel vulnerable and anxious about the unknowns. We look to each other to...Read More

When we think about our health, usually we think about nourishing our bodies, not our brains. Our daily habits influence our cognitive health. As use of technology during our daily lives, particularly with changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are changing our technology habits at a rapid pace. Using technology during our day can...Read More

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many children have experienced anxiety, sadness, and stress. Playgrounds and parks have been closed, we’re staying distant from friends and family, and stores are closed. While these changes have affected us all, one of the most visible changes is people wearing masks or face shields. For children, the sight of someone...Read More

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unique challenges to most individuals. A new challenge for many is working at home with their partner. Millions of couples are now working from home together. It can be difficult to acclimate to spending the entire day with each other and getting adjusted to another person’s working style. If this...Read More

The COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive to our daily lives, especially for children. With last school year being cut short, a return to school this Fall either in-person, remote, or as a hybrid will be welcome and exciting for most students. However, with the drastic changes that are probable with any scenario, other children may...Read More

Schools across the nation closed early this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic leaving millions of children to complete their school year remotely. Parents learned quickly about structure, homeschooling, schedules, and how to talk about the pandemic to their children. Now we are well into summer break and most kids are home with no school...Read More

If you are pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s okay not to be okay. Remaining calm, positive, and hopeful during the past few months might’ve been incredibly challenging. While you can’t change what is going on in the world, you can choose to focus on your mindset, mood, and anxiety levels. While it is important...Read More

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In July, we acknowledge Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This year, we’ve seen discussions of experiences of racism and the detrimental impact it has on equitable access to resources such as housing, healthcare, and education. However, we don’t often see the impact racism has on mental health. Experiences of racism have negative effects on the...Read More

As we navigate our new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, technology can be a tremendous blessing for keeping us connected, entertained, and even allowing some of us to work remotely. During the past few months, many apps have made adjustments to their prices or offering to help us cope with the pandemic and practice safe...Read More

If you’ve ever been stuck inside due to rain or a blizzard, you have an idea about experiencing cabin fever. However, anytime we feel isolated from the outside world ‘cabin fever’ can occur. COVID-19 social distancing and quarantine practices have many experiencing cabin fever due to confinement for a longer period of time. If you’re...Read More

Traumatic events ranging from personal ones to a global pandemic like COVID-19 can cause traumatic stress and take an emotional toll on your life. Experiencing traumatic stress after a distressing event such as the COVID-19 pandemic, a motor vehicle accident, natural disaster, or violent crime is completely normal. May individuals report feeling intense shock, fear,...Read More

Carla Washington, MA, LPC, ATRR is an adjunct professor of art therapy at Wayne State University and a licensed counselor with our practice, Beverly Hills Therapy Group. I asked Carla about her work, how she started, and how art therapy has evolved for her. Can you tell me a little bit about how you came...Read More

Animal-lovers know that pets are powerful mood boosters. Having a pet has numerous mental health benefits and can help many cope with their stress, anxiety, or depression. Our pets are incredibly attuned to our emotions. Dogs can interpret body language, gestures, and more. Numerous studies have shown that pet owners are less likely to suffer...Read More

Stress has a large impact on our lives and affects our physical and mental health, relationships, and performance at work. Stress has such a powerful impact on our physical health that it can even make many health conditions worse.  Stress can exacerbate or cause many serious health problems. Cardiovascular disease has been linked to stress....Read More

Have you recently found yourself working from home? Or maybe you’ve been working from home for years. Individuals who work from home often face increased anxiety, depression and loneliness due to their remote situation. If you’ve just started working from home, do you find that you’re feeling more stressed, or perhaps fighting feelings of isolation?...Read More

Spring for high school and college Seniors usually means experiencing the delight of “senioritis”, experiencing the remaining time you have with your friends for the last few weeks before graduation. It’s also a time of many major life events such as prom, graduation parties and ceremonies, and other local traditions. However, due to the COVID-19...Read More

The world is being told to stay put in our homes and practice “social distancing” by limiting our trips outside the home and social contact during the COVID-19, or “coronavirus”, pandemic. While we’re all concerned with our physical health as it relates to avoiding the virus, many are also concerned about their mental well-being. The...Read More

After an emergency, children may feel upset or anxious no matter their age. Some children may not show obvious signs of difficulty until later while some may have strong reactions immediately. A child’s reaction will depend on their previous experiences, how they typically deal with stressors, and their age. Typically, children react based on how...Read More

Continue the work of therapy even from a distance. Seeing a therapist used to imply being in the same room with them, but not any longer. Teleconferencing has made it possible to see a mental health professional from a distance. With recent requirements for social distancing, many therapists and clients have had to either pause...Read More

March is Self-Injury Awareness Month. When an individual is in severe emotional distress, they may turn to physical self-harm. Self-injury is intentional and a way for the person to mirror their emotional pain through physical pain. For some, a self-inflicted injury has a calming effect and helps them “feel something”. Self-injury is much more common...Read More

When we’re young, we’re often told to share and to be kind to others. Kindness is beneficial to us all whether we’re on the giving or receiving end, but it can also improve our mental well-being. As the medical community has seen mental health conditions rise over the years, kindness can help us all connect...Read More

It’s no secret that we live in the age of technology. However, many of today’s parents did not grow up with technology or grew up at a time when technology might’ve been a basic cellphone and a home computer. Because of this, this generation of parent’s is writing the rules of technology for its children....Read More

If you believe your loved one is in danger, call 911 immediately. It’s challenging to help friends or family members who are struggling with an eating disorder and not receiving the help they need. February is Eating Disorder Awareness month and if you need some guidance, there are several ways you can safely assist your...Read More

This time of year, many people are hyper-focused on keeping their New Year resolution fitness goals. Exercise is great for our physical health. It helps us control our weight, lower blood pressure, reduces the risk of diseases such as diabetes, gives us an energy boost, and more. But exercise is more than just beneficial for...Read More

The workplace is often the last place that we expect to discuss our mental health, but it is one of the most vital places that our mental health comes into play in our daily lives. There are still stigmas surrounding our mental health. Employees may fear judgement from their boss or co-workers if they disclose...Read More

Winter is hard for many who struggle with their mental health. Yet in one of the bleakest regions during winter, you can find some of the happiest people on Earth according to researchers. In Denmark, the Danish culture has embraced the concept known as Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”). Hygge is a way of living that focuses...Read More

Struggling with a mental illness can make it challenging to plan ahead for some individuals. Some years can be uneventful while others can bring big changes or the need for additional help managing mental health. As the year draws to a close, many people choose to make New Year’s resolutions. But, if you’re not sure...Read More

Winter is hard. For many of us, it’s a season of cold, gloomy days with little sunshine. We spend less time outdoors and more time under artificial lights. For 5% of the U.S. population, these seasonal changes can signal the start of seasonal affective disorder, more commonly known and appropriately abbreviated as SAD. SAD is...Read More

Around the holiday season, we often hear that it’s better to give than to receive. But did you know that there is some scientific truth to this? It’s easy to feel as though we’re too busy or stressed to help others, but research shows that giving back to others is helpful for our own mental...Read More

The holiday season is upon us. Shopping, parties, gift-giving – it seems non-stop from Halloween until the New Year. This season is meant to represent love, family, and cheer, but for many it’s a source of stress. A big cause of holiday stress can be trying to do too much. While stress is necessary for...Read More

If you struggle with disappointment or sadness during the holiday season, it can seem as though nothing is fulfilling. Even if your life is going great, you’re not alone if you feel this way sometimes. Even successful people can find themselves feeling crushed by the winter season.      There are many strategies available to help you...Read More

Do you have a great work ethic, but struggle to stay on task? Or maybe you consider yourself responsible but often miss important details or miss deadlines, or are often late for meetings. Maybe you’re not very good at studying, but know that you’re smart.  Sound familiar? It’s possible the cause is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder,...Read More

Each year, many of us make health-related promises to ourselves. We attempt to take better care of ourselves and set goals to exercise and eat healthier. Just as our physical health and fitness are important, so is our mental fitness. It’s vital to our overall health and happiness. We live longer and richer lives when we...Read More

If you think it can be challenging to support someone who has attempted suicide, you’re not alone. Often, people don’t know what to do or say and finding the right words can be difficult. It can be incredibly overwhelming. It’s important to create a “safe zone” where the person you are supporting can feel loved,...Read More