May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a time each year to raise awareness about mental health. We continue to fight stigma, provide support, and educate the public. As counselors we also advocate for policies that support people dealing with mental illness and their families. At this point in time – more than...
Continue readingStepping Back in to Social Interactions
Are you ready to be stepping back into social interactions? A year ago, the whole world seemed to be shut down. Schools were closed, restaurants were closed. Everyone was in panic mode as COVID-19 forced its way into our lives. It was a scary, unknown, and traumatic time for many of us. We cried,...
Continue readingHow to Combat “Coronasomnia”
How to combat “coronasomnia”? First, let’s define what it is. “Coronasomnia” is the inability to fall asleep or get good quality sleep during this pandemic. There are a number of factors that play into this problem. To name a few: heightened anxiety over everything from health worries to financial problems to the sheer isolation...
Continue readingWhat is Motivational Interviewing?
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way?” It’s likely that you have. People use this phrase often to try to motivate someone to get something done, or to find a solution to getting something done. I have even found myself saying this phrase to my own children when...
Continue readingRecognizing the Importance of Mental Health
All around us, people raise awareness for and celebrate their physical health. We celebrate with those who make a weight loss plan and reach their goal. We raise awareness for Type 1 Diabetes and Childhood Cancer. We cheer on friends when they train their bodies for a race and cross the finish line. We...
Continue readingHelp for Parents as Kids Start School During COVID-19
Everything continues to feel uncertain these days, especially when it comes to the 2020-2021 school year. Some school systems are having in-person classes, while others are choosing to begin the school year virtually. Other schools are offering the choice of virtual or in-person schooling. In the Savannah area, we are seeing a varied approach...
Continue readingSavannah Sees Uptick in Mental Health Issues During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to plague our country, and in most areas of the United States, the number of COVID cases continues to increase. In Savannah, masks are now required, and the number of COVID hospitalizations in all 3 of our city’s primary hospitals is steadily rising. As the pandemic rages on, many people...
Continue readingWhen you are Stuck, Get Up
Everytime my 3-year-old says a word, it is like a party at my house. You will find my oldest daughter and me doing a dance, screaming, and giving high-fives to my youngest one. The reason being that she is speech delayed. She works hard to get words out. Though she does not say much,...
Continue readingEat an Oyster a Day to Keep Anxiety at Bay!
You read the title correctly – oysters are medically proven to help with anxiety. Wow! You have an excuse to eat yummy oysters, guilt free. Dr. Drew Ramsey is a psychiatrist and associate professor at Columbia University. He spends his time studying brain development and the effect of foods on one’s mental health. For...
Continue readingPostpartum vs. Baby Blues
If you have ever had a baby, then you more than likely know about the “baby blues.” When people talk about the “baby blues,” they are referring to the weeks immediately after delivering a baby in which the mother experiences a drastic change in hormones. The hormones Estrogen and Progesterone quickly drop after delivery,...
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