How do we help people motivate themselves on a cold dark winter morning? by Christine Lyon, LPC, BHTG co-owner and clinical manager This stage in winter can be particularly challenging for Michiganders. January and February are the most overcast months of the year, with skies historically covered with heavy gloomy clouds  63-66% of the time....Read More

According to researchers at the University of Illinois, how you express your emotions can reduce or increase anxiety. According to their study, people who suppress or avoid expressing their feelings had more social anxiety and anxiety in general than people who focused on the positives in situations. Similar studies found that suppressing emotions increased stress...Read More

We are deep into winter when the dreary, dark days seem to never end. Many people who experience symptoms of worry or sadness during this time have trouble understanding the root of their negative emotions. You may need to check-in on your mental hygiene practices when you cannot explain your feelings of dysphoria (feelings of...Read More

It’s a time for family and cheer, but keeping the house clean, cooking, and wrapping presents can be overwhelming. In a time meant for happiness, these factors can cause stress and depression. You can minimize holiday stress with some important, practical tips. You may even enjoy the holidays more than you thought. During the endless...Read More

Dec 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities On December 3, we recognize the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Yet, so many disabilities are those that are unseen – invisible. Disabilities that are invisible can be defined in many different ways, but in simple terms, they are physical, mental, or neurological conditions that...Read More

The ability to deal with conflict in relationships is crucial for interpersonal health, and every relationship will experience conflict at some point. Many people have trouble dealing with conflict when they have to contend with someone who’s always right. Understanding how to handle these kinds of interactions can be a huge stress reliever for interpersonal...Read More

Clinical burnout has become the catch-all phrase to describe clinician distress. A person who is burnt out is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. This term implies that healthcare workers and family caregivers lack resiliency. It puts the burden on them to do better and figure it out despite proving their inherent resilience in other areas...Read More

What’s in Your Mental Health Toolkit? Anxiety and depression have been the subject of numerous papers, but few address prevention. CDC data shows that the number of adults with recent anxiety or depression symptoms increased in the U.S. from 36.4 to 41.5 percent between August 2020 and February 2021, with the largest increase among adults...Read More

As a result of the pandemic, many people have developed sedentary lifestyles characterized by isolation, inactivity, and mindless scrolling through screens. It is common nowadays for people to complain about chronic fatigue, feeling as though they have barely enough energy to get through their day.  Why has fatigue become such a widespread problem? Pandemic Effects...Read More

National Recovery Month One in twelve adults living in the United States suffer from a substance use disorder (SUD). Each September we recognize National Recovery Month. Uncontrolled substance use is a mental health disorder. Substance use begins with a voluntary decision. Due to changes in brain function, it becomes a compulsive pattern over time. Moderate...Read More