Autumn leaves are now falling…but how are you doing?

This is the time of year that nature (or a good amount of trees) shed themselves for the winter to prepare for the regrowth and blossoming of spring. Of course we have all heard of “spring cleaning”, but I think there is something to be learned from the way that Mother Nature takes care of herself. How are you doing? Honestly, do you think to ask yourself this question very often? Most of us have automatic emotional or behavioral responses to life’s good and bad events, but we can often times neglect to check-in on our own emotional well being outside of these specific events. Below are a list of questions that may prompt your own understanding of your current state and how you can

By Lyndsey Perry, M.A., LPC-Intern|Tags: self-care|

Self-Care SOS

Holidays can be wonderful and joyful! And they can be overwhelming and bring up many emotions which we may have been avoiding all year. What better time than now to engage in some primo self-care, right as the new year starts? When you find yourself in need of tending, here are a few ideas to contemplate. Consider this a self care menu, which you can alter to fit your needs. Experiment to see which things you find helpful for you. There are no rights or wrongs, and there is nothing to achieve. Stay curious about what works for you, which will no doubt change over time! Do a walking meditation. I like this one: https://www.wildmind.org/walking/introductionJournalMy favorite holiday moment from childhood - sights, smells, sounds, feelings,

By Brandie Sellers, M.S., LPC-Intern|

Vision Boards: Setting Goals and Intentions for the New Year

I just hosted my 2nd Annual Vision Board party in my house, with friends who are eager to set their life wheels in motion, and manifest big, amazing goals! Many people set goals this time of year, and I personally think while goals can be set all throughout the year, there's no time like the present to get into the groove and put yourself on the path of attaining exactly what you want. I hear some people say they don't like the words "resolution" or "goals" and have requested they not be used because they just sound too staunch and concrete. So, I've resorted to using words like "vision" or "intention". What we put out to the the world, the world gives back to us. What we

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan|

A New Year: How to Make “You” Time Part of “Family Time”

When every day is a flurry of bills, traffic and deadlines, it can be tough to find some me time with your family. The easy solution? There isn’t one. If you find yourself and your loved ones losing touch with each other, start reconnecting by scheduling some me time with family time. Here’s how: Set Aside Some Time Our lives are often full and busy to the brim that it’s easy to forget about making the people in our lives feel special. One way to prevent you losing touch with each other is to set aside family time. Set a firm policy against doing anything during ‘Family Hour.’ It can be as simple as playing a game of Scrabble, PSP or playing doubles in badminton.

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan|

Don’t Wait for The Turkey: Top Tips for Showing Gratitude to Your Spouse All Year

With Thanksgiving approaching, it is easier than ever for most people to reflect on what they’re thankful for. When talking about your life partner, most of us can think of myriad ways that our spouse has made our life easier, better and more enjoyable. Do we take the time to show them our gratitude? Dallas-area counselors like those at I Choose Change say there is no reason to wait for the turkey to hit the table to show your spouse how thankful you are for their presence in your life. It is important to make an attitude of gratitude something you strive for every day in your marriage, as well as in other important relationships. Why Thankfulness Should Not Be Dependent on the Calendar The

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan|Tags: Allen family counseling|

Trick or Treat? Removing Your Relationship’s Mask before Saying “I Do”

You decide who you want to become for the night. You prepare your outfit, plan your approach and hope to end the night with a little sugar. You dream of treats, but primarily hope you don’t end up with a trick. It may sound like the average Halloween night, but this concept sadly applies to a first date. This process of masking yourself with hopes of getting treats over tricks may actually continue far past that first date. Over time, though, the relationship may grow to a point where you want to get married. Here is how you can remove the “mask” from your relationship before your big day.Trick Know Yourself without the Mask The key is to know who you are first without the

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan|

Carving Season: Pumpkins and “Me Time” (Strategies for Self-Care)

Here we are, smack-dab in the middle of October. There’s talk about Halloween costumes, carving pumpkins, and the upcoming holidays. With that, now is a fantastic time to carve out time for yourself and engage in self-care strategies. [Hehe] “Yeah, sure, sounds great in theory, but, Lyndsey, I don’t have the time. Like, at all. I’m maxed out.” I hear you. I do. But let me tell you, work FOR yourself, not against yourself. I’ll explain what I mean shortly. Sometimes, life feels like it’s going faster than what we can keep up with, while other times, we may feel like there is nothing to do or maybe we feel like doing nothing. This phenomenon happens in large part because we are not placing high

By Lyndsey Perry, M.A., LPC-Intern|Tags: me-time, priority, relax, self-care|

7 Ways to Know You’re an Awesome Mom

Being a Mom is tough work, we Moms know that. There are times we don't live up to the expectations we have for ourselves, and as a therapist, I find myself needing to let Moms know just how awesome they are. So, I put together a list of ways to know that you are an awesome mom! The most important thing about being an awesome mom is knowing who you are and what you are becoming. You are so much more than Just-a-Mom. Your life is way more than the identifying work, "Mom." You juggle so many things in your life, from being an Kid-Uber driver to rockin' it at the office. Pantsuit by day, messy bun by night, and what you have in between is

By Amanda Myers, M.Ed., LPC, RPT|Tags: awesome mom, parent coaching, parenting is hard, screwing up my kids|

Suffering

Recently, a fellow cancer survivor friend was asked by a publication to write a piece about an experience that she had with her journey through cancer. She agreed, always happy to spread more awareness of the challenges of this devastating, harrowing feat that many go through. She poured her heart out, speaking authentically about both her challenges and her triumphs, but she quickly received feedback from the editors. They wanted a more "positive" piece, and wondered if she could simply edit out some of the struggle? Simple? No. Absolutely not. My Cancer Journey As a cancer survivor myself, I have frequently been put in a position where others have expected me to minimize, or even ignore, my lived experiences in order for them to feel

By Brandie Sellers, M.S., LPC-Intern|

Listening to Your Gut: How To Handle “Off” Situations

We have likely all experienced a time when we’ve noticed something “off” about someone we care for. It can often be unclear as to what our role is when we make this observation, but when our gut gets moving, I think it's important to take action! It could be something simply, like your friend is having a bad day. Or, it could be that this person is genuingly in trouble and thinking of something like suicide. Do you say something? Do you leave them alone to handle what they need to? Depending on your relationship with the person, you may say something immediately or wait until later. The fact of the matter is, we don’t know until we ask how we may be of help

By Lyndsey Perry, M.A., LPC-Intern|Tags: Friends, helping, support|