Our Latest Blogs

Art Therapy Is More Important Now than Ever During the COVID-19 Pandemic

family art time

Art, by definition, is the expression of human creativity and imagination. Visual art can take many different forms and express a multitude of emotions. Whether you are creating art for the first time or returning to practice, it can be a powerful way to cope with stressful times. At the time this article was written, […]

Online Counseling Will Likely Continue Beyond COVID-19 – Here’s Why

online counseling on phone outdoors

During this pandemic, you’ve likely seen half a dozen online counseling services advertised on your social media and TV. From BetterHelp to TalkSpace and others, these applications offer therapy sessions that take place wherever you are – at home, at work, in the car, or even outside. COVID-19 has forced many of us to stay […]

Does Mindfulness Help ADHD?

young woman mindful meditation

ADHD, which is usually characterized by a display of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity, has an incidence of 4 percent in the adult population. Both children and adults with ADHD experience two common and persistent daily challenges in their lives – maintaining self-regulation and paying attention. This highlights the fact that any attention training that helps to […]

EMDR Therapy for Trauma Recovery

trauma recovery image

If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it is how very precious, and how very fragile, our health is. But all the physical strength, stamina, and well-being in the world mean nothing if you don’t also have peace in your mind and tranquility in your spirit. Unfortunately, for far too many people, that kind […]

Why You Shouldn’t Be Embarrassed to Consult a Therapist

young woman on life path

Living in peace and harmony with ourselves is all we strive for as humans. In the end, our goal is to maximize our happiness and develop an intrinsic understanding of who we are. The question is, how will we ever start doing that without putting in the active effort? The simplest answer is, we won’t. […]

What to Expect from Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment

supportive friends

When someone has made the essential first step to recovery and begun to seek out treatment options for eating disorders, the choices can be overwhelming. There is no one-size-fits-all way to treat an eating disorder, but choosing to obtain treatment on an outpatient (also known as day treatment) basis offers several advantages. Among the most important of these advantages […]

The Reality of a Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Stay for Adolescents

Many adolescents who need eating disorder treatment, and their families, have a sense of trepidation when it comes to re-enrolling in a residential program.  A residential program disrupts school, activities and social life.  Prospective patients might want to create some kind of cover story for their absence, to avoid their peers and teachers knowing they’re […]

Can Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Help Treat Eating Disorders Like Bulimia Nervosa?

A prominent eating disorder which is defined by binge eating episodes that are followed by purging (for example, self-induced vomiting) to avoid gaining weight, bulimia nervosa affects almost two percent of adult women in the United States at some point in their lives. Although bulimia nervosa, like all other eating disorders, can become deeply ingrained […]

8 Best Mobile Apps for Mental Health

apps for mental health

One in four people in the entire world will be affected by mental illness or neurological disorders at some point in their lives – World Health Organization (WHO) Yes, let that sink in. With mental health affecting the lives of millions, and individuals not seeking help due to the associated stigma, it also remains one […]

Teen Rehab: Stigma vs. Need

addicted teens

Drug rehab is considered so universally uncool that there’s even a top 10 hit song about it. 2006’s “Rehab” was written and performed by Amy Winehouse, a musician who struggled with illicit substances throughout her short life. And in 2011, Winehouse tragically lost her battle with addiction. She was just 27. It was Winehouse’s former […]

What It’s Like to Get Ketamine Infusions for Depression

smiling young woman

When I couldn’t keep my medication history straight anymore, I found myself heading toward a low point in my depression. I had moved home after graduating from college and, hoping to make my mental health a priority, began the process of finding new providers. I soon discovered that I could not remember the timeline of […]

Looking for Help with a Mental Health Problem? Consider Trying Group Therapy

group therapy room

When it comes to substance abuse or mental health problems, you may have looked into the benefits that therapy can have for you. However, you may have overlooked the positive impact  group counseling can have on your situation and your psyche When you are looking for help for a substance abuse or mental health problem, […]

How TMS Worked for Me, Even When It Didn’t

TMS Therapy

Nothing was working. Nothing could seem to break depression’s hold on me. Its fingers gripped my neck, choking me at every turn — invisible hands pulling me even deeper down into despair. Eleven years. That’s how long I had already suffered at the hands of depression. By this point, I had already tried seven medications, […]

Online Therapy Platforms Provide Quick and Easy Access to Help When You Need It

Benefits of Online Therapy Platforms

Mental health requires continuous care. It’s easy to take advantage of those times when you feel happy and days are going your way. The thing is, though, that those days aren’t going to go on forever. Life is full of setbacks and letdowns. Mental illness can creep back up at any moment and it’s up […]

Behavioral Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Mental Health

Behavioral Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Mental Health

This article focuses on two distinct psychological approaches to human behavior: behavioral psychology and cognitive psychology. Although the disciplines are widely considered irreconcilable, there is much to be learned if we can understand the everyday implications of the differences between these disciplinary perspectives. In other words, this article focuses on how we can understand ourselves […]

Supportive Mental Health Services for College Students

If you’re heading off to college, no doubt you feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. However, if you live with a mental health disorder, you may experience greater anxiety than other students. You probably have a host of questions, too. Where can you turn if you find yourself in crisis while on campus? How […]

How Can Supplementing Your Medication Routine with TMS Finally Kick Your Depression?

depression hope

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects millions of people globally. Meanwhile, managing MDD is sometimes difficult — even for those who use medication. How Is Medication Used to Treat Depression? Antidepressant medications are among the most common depression treatments. They are prescribed by doctors and help patients alleviate depression symptoms, such as: Anxiety Irritability Lack of concentration […]

Therapy for Therapists: My Struggle as a Mental Health Professional with a Mental Illness

Therapy for Therapists: My Struggle as a Mental Health Professional with a Mental Illness

When I got into the mental health field and became a therapist, I knew that it would be hard. I have bipolar disorder II and PTSD, and I was aware that working with people with similar diagnoses might be difficult for me to handle. I wasn’t prepared for working in a psychiatric hospital. In the […]

6 Treatments For Depression Based on Biology: A Look at the Science for Laypersons

6 Biological Treatments for Depression

Looking for 2019’s hottest new depression treatments, but tired of one-off non-reproduced experiments, industry-biased interpretations, and overstatement from tenure-chasing university faculty? Then bring some meta-science into your life. Below, a list of 6 biological treatments for major depressive disorder, and the systematic reviews & meta-analyses that (kinda) tell us whether they work. SSRI’s Psychiatry’s go-to […]

Catatonic Depression: Signs, Causes, and Recovery

catatonic depression

Depression is a major disorder that affects a person negatively and causes impairment in daily life. Many people have undergone depression at some point in their lives. Depression can be identified and treated. However, there are severe stages of depression that change a person’s life completely. Catatonic depression is one of the severe kinds of […]

How to Plan an Alcohol Intervention: Tips from an Expert Interventionist

intervention planning

By Ken Seeley, Founder and CEO, Ken Seeley Communities   As a seasoned interventionist, I have been involved in facilitating a wide array of groups of people who desired to motivate a loved one to seek treatment for a substance use disorder. Managing an intervention effectively takes planning, practice, and knowledge of the features associated […]

World Health Organization Reports CBD Oil Is Generally Safe

Cannabidiol (CBD) has recently gained a lot of traction for its many purported mental and physical health benefits. And anecdotal evidence to support these claims is strong. People tout the products for helping with pain, sleep, and even skin conditions. The issue is that scientific proof is hard to come by. Clinical research is limited […]

5 Quick Ways to Use Your Body to Rescue Your Mood

body positive

If you feel anxious and depressed, it will come as no surprise that no matter how you try, you can’t simply think your way into a better mood. But what can you do to help yourself when you feel stressed, down, worried, or hopeless? Just a basic understanding of Polyvagal Theory, the work of Stephen […]

Equine Therapy as a Rehabilitation Tool

woman with therapy horse

Once patients treated for addiction leave rehabilitation, there is still a long road ahead. Recovering from an addiction is a long process with many challenges and set-backs. Individuals who have left a rehabilitation center still need support to stay on the straight and narrow path. Equine therapy is an effective tool that has benefitted some […]

Sectioning Psychosis: Life After a Psychotic Episode

person in sections

Every year over 100,000 people will experience a psychotic episode for the first time, and there is a 3% chance that any one of us will experience psychosis during our lifetimes (source). It can be triggered by drugs/alcohol, trauma, or an existing mental illness, and can cause a serious and dramatic shift in a person’s […]

6 Scientific Ways to Help Your Brain and Feel Happy When You Are Depressed

We live in a world where we are constantly on the go. Almost every minute of every day is jam packed full of loud noises, bright lights, and a near constant state of hustle and bustle. And when you combine that with a whole lot of life-related stress, well things don’t end up so good. […]

5 Ways to Make Therapy Affordable

Affordable Therapy

The modern world has become aware of the potential benefits that come with many types of therapies. From chiropractic care to counseling for mental health, therapy has come to command a strong reputation as a viable solution to addressing the challenges of life. However, while a therapist may offer a solution to physical and mental […]

Hypnotherapy in Mental Health Treatment – How Does It work?

Hypnosis for Anxiety | Hypnosis for Depression

Medical Hypnotherapy can be a powerful method to treat various mental health conditions. By creating a calm and controlled environment, it allows patients to focus on their deepest disruptors. What is Hypnosis Treatment? Medical hypnotherapy works through its ability to remove all distraction from the mind of the patient, and speak clearly and directly about […]

Depression, Anxiety, Mental Health and Chiropractic Care

Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Anxiety

If you’re dealing with depression and/or anxiety, chiropractic care may help. Generally speaking, chiropractic care involves a mind-body approach that favors adjusting physical symptoms in order to improve mental ones. A chiropractor is well-equipped to take a holistic approach to your mental health, looking at all possible ways to make you feel better. New studies […]

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: An Effective Treatment for Depression

sunlight light in forest

Despite the prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in the United States, mental illness and its treatment still have a stigma attached to them.  Due to this stigma, people are willing to consider various possibilities for symptoms they are experiencing while overlooking the possibility of a mental health problem.  To further complicate the picture, […]

Do I Need a Life Coach? How to Determine If It’s Time to Seek Help

In life, often you find mentors to guide you towards the right path and to help train you for what’s needed to get to the final destination. We start with our parents to help us out, and then we have our siblings to help us navigate our social lives. A life coach can also help […]

Why Summer Camp is Good for Kids with ADHD

Each year, millions of children eagerly look forward to summer camp, where they can play freely, make friends, and be themselves.  Parents of children with ADHD want the same opportunity for their children, but may worry about them fitting in and finding success.  They may also feel their child needs to spend the summer focused […]

Doctor, Heal Thyself: Training to Be a Counselor When You Have Mental Health Issues

When you are living with mental illness, such as depression and anxiety, the idea of becoming a counselor might seem counterproductive. How can you possibly help others with their issues when you’re battling your own demons? The fact is, though, that a significant number of mental health professionals are drawn to the field because of […]

Concussions in Teen Sports: Why they Happen, What to Look for, and What to Do for Positive Mental Health

Concussions occur when the brain hits the inside surface of the skull. This sudden impact makes the brain “dance” inside the skull and, in so doing, nerves and/or tiny blood vessels may get damaged. About 90% of concussions do not lead to loss of consciousness and MRIs or CAT Scans taken after the impact will […]

Creativity and Recovery: The Mental Health Benefits of Art Therapy

man doing art therapy

Art – no matter whether you choose to create it yourself or simply observe and enjoy it – is a relaxing and inspiring activity for many people. However, the particular benefits of artistic expression go much further than relaxation and enjoyment. Studies suggest that art therapy can be very valuable in treating issues such as […]

Three Evidenced-Based Treatments for Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health disorders in the world. But despite the number of people (both children and adults) who experience these disorders, the majority of cases still go untreated. While anxiety disorders are quite common, we should not overlook the adverse effects they have on many people’s lives. In children, anxiety […]

What You Need to Know About Anxiety Medication: Pros and Cons

Anxiety is a broad term used to describe a naturally occurring phenomenon in the human body.  Stress, worry, and anxiety are all natural reactions to the problems of life. And while a healthy amount of anxiety can be helpful motivation, for some, it can be a recurring hindrance to productivity rooted in a biological condition […]

Online Therapy for Your ED (Eating Disorder) Toolbox

There are many environmental factors and personality traits that combine to create risks for an eating disorder. Eating disorders (EDs) occur during early adolescence through late adulthood. According to the ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Related Disorders), EDs are a growing national concern, as more than 30 million people in the US are […]

Recommended Treatments for Panic Attacks and Depression

Panic Attacks It is estimated that at least 18% of the US population suffer from panic attacks. Panic attacks are different from other anxiety disorders due to their relatively short and sudden nature. Panic attacks affect people differently, although they can still be treated effectively with a variety of methods as described below. Cognitive Behavioral […]

How to Find the Right Therapist for You

Finding the right therapist can be an intimidating task. You may be wondering where to begin, where to look, or what to look for. You may fear that you won’t know who is or isn’t a good fit for you and your particular needs. I’ve been there; I have had to navigate this process both […]

College Students with Mental Health Challenges Now Have Options to Help Them Stay in School

The first big learning for me when I began my career in mental health more than thirty years ago was how many lives had been derailed by mental illness and how unnecessary that seemed to be.  I decided to specialize in the rehabilitation and recovery side of mental health because I believed that people with […]

6 Reasons to Contact a Resource Specialist for Free Mental Health Help: Part 1 – Getting the Right Diagnosis

woman in therapy

Are you concerned that you or someone you care about has an untreated mental health problem that needs attention? Or perhaps you are worried that the treatment provided isn’t helping. Effective treatment and the path to recovery begin with a careful assessment of the problem. That’s why an accurate diagnosis is so important. There are […]

Evaluating Outcomes: 5 Signs Cognitive Therapy is Working for Someone with Schizophrenia or Other Mental Illness

happy-in-therapy

When someone has a serious mental health disorder such as schizophrenia we always seem to know when things aren’t going well. It can be much harder to tell when things are going right. This final installment in our series on cognitive therapy looks at the results of treatment and how to know whether it is working. […]

Cognitive Therapy for Treatment of Psychosis: Choosing the Right Provider

teen-in-therapy

  Often when young people and their families visit Laurel House, the top question on their minds is how a “psychiatric rehabilitation” program like ours can help people with serious mental illness have a better life. The concept of mental health rehabilitation can be hard to understand at first. But people usually get it when […]

7 Signs You or a Loved One Can Benefit from Cognitive Therapy

men in therapy

In my first article in this series on cognitive therapy, I explained Why Cognitive Therapy Works for People with Schizophrenia and Other Serious Mental Illnesses. In Part 2 of the series, I give some examples of problems cognitive therapy can help with and who can benefit. Key Points from last week’s post on Why It […]

Why Cognitive Therapy Works for People with Schizophrenia and Other Serious Mental Illnesses

female-student-struggles-to study

Part One in a four-part series on the benefits of cognitive therapy for people who experience psychosis. Forty years ago, there were two basic treatments for schizophrenia: medication and long-term hospitalization. Traditional psychotherapy was not usually offered because it did not help people with the most obvious and disturbing symptoms of psychosis: paranoia, delusions, and […]