The root causes of mental health are not merely biological or psychological but also social, referred to by specialists as the bio-psycho-social paradigm. The biopsychosocial model views health and illness behaviors as products of biological characteristics (such as genes), behavioral factors (such...
Our emotions can work like a compass, directing us to consider and address areas of our lives that require change. Emotions provide information that alerts us to our values, needs, and perceptions of our experiences. Sitting with feelings, without judgement...
The winter months can be challenging for many reasons. We live with shorter days and limited sunlight exposure. We tolerate frigid temperatures that make us want to hibernate and can interfere with participating in activities we would otherwise enjoy. There...
In our society we are bombarded with sexual images and sexual messages. It would appear that we are a sexually liberated society. But how relevant are those images and messages to our own personal sexuality? Are they a true reflection...
Many of us have experienced a romantic connection that can be likened to an addiction to a substance, like alcohol or drugs. These relationships often start on a high where we feel excited, exhilarated, understood, heard, and like we have...
As the holiday season reaches full swing, many of us may find that along with the joyful hustle and bustle can also come pressure, grief, tension, loneliness, disappointment and other heavy emotions. Stress and depressive feelings can be amplified as...
With the holiday season upon us, December can be a time of exciting celebration but also a time of great stress for adults and children alike. Parents often feel a time crunch of competing demands and regular schedules are disrupted...
Conflict is normal in healthy relationships and disagreements occur in our daily lives. Some may see conflict as something negative and try to avoid it. However, managing conflict and developing skills to communicate in a healthy way are skills that...
Winter is a time for hibernation. We spend 90% of our time indoors and away from the cold. I mean, who doesn’t love a day of sitting by the fireplace with a warm cup of tea and cozy blanket? I...
Heartbreak is a painful experience. The pain that a person goes through can be beyond words and explanations. Feeling sad, lonely, and hurt are among a few emotional experiences that one has including physiological sensations such as heaviness in the...