Children, Teens, & Adolescents, Mental Health Topics, Parenting Kids Should Exercise at Their Own Pace: Doing So Improves Their Ability to Learn by Taylor Bennett on Dec 21, 2017 Some of my favorite memories from grade school wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for P.E. class: tackling Holiday-themed obstacle courses, learning how to play my soon-to-be favorite sport (soccer), and crab-crawling across the floor in a fit of laughter alongside friends. I had a blast in gym class and looked…
Mental Health Topics, Parenting What Is Coddling? Is It Harmful? by Taylor Bennett on Dec 21, 2017 When people go off to college, they’re essentially “leaving the nest.” For the last 18 years they’ve lived in arm’s length of their parents, and then suddenly… it’s time to fly solo. This rang mostly true for me: upon moving into my dorm, I embraced a newfound independence. But I…
Children, Teens, & Adolescents, Mental Health Topics Air Pollution Contributes to Bad Behavior Among Teens, Study Says by Taylor Bennett on Dec 21, 2017 If you live in the city—or even a slightly urban area—you can probably look to the sky and point out a cloud of smog: funneling from factories or just hanging out on the rooftops. This is the most obvious and familiar form of air pollution… but it’s not the only…
Beginning Therapy, Mental Health Topics I Want Counseling, But My Nerves Are Getting the Best of Me by Taylor Bennett on Dec 18, 2017 Therapy—whether it be a more traditional approach like psychotherapy or an abstract approach like art therapy—is designed to help individuals work through their problems and adapt healthier behaviors. Here at Thriveworks, we believe that everyone can benefit from counseling or coaching: a woman whose just been diagnosed with OCD; a…
Mental Health Topics, Self-Care Journaling About Gratitude Makes You Less Selfish by Taylor Bennett on Dec 15, 2017 Journaling has always been a favorite pastime of mine. When I was a kid, I wrote in this rainbow paneled notebook every single night before bed—sure to jot down every little detail of my day. And a few years later, in the heart of my teenage years, I picked up…
Feelings & Emotions, Mental Health Topics Protect Your Mental Health Through the Dark, Dreary Winter Days by Taylor Bennett on Dec 15, 2017 We are just about halfway through December, which means winter is in full effect! Some delight in this snowy season, while others spend these cold months counting down the days until the warmth returns. Either way, it’s smart to protect yourself from the potentially harmful effects winter can have on…
Mental Health Topics, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Beliefs About Losing Control Can Worsen/Improve OCD Symptoms by Taylor Bennett on Dec 15, 2017 Just this morning, as I was walking out of my apartment building, I froze at the bottom of the stairs. Did I turn the stove off? Like every other morning, I made scrambled eggs for breakfast. And again—like every other morning—I worried that I forgot to turn the burner off….
Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health Topics 5 Abstract Therapies, Explained by Taylor Bennett on Dec 14, 2017 When you hear the word “therapy,” you probably picture a patient lying down on a couch, with a psychiatrist sitting opposite of them. And the psychiatrist, of course, has glasses atop their nose and a notepad in their lap. This is a common and conventional depiction of therapy—and sometimes it…
Coping Skills, Mental Health Topics Grief and the Loss of a Pet by Selena Tyler, LPC on Dec 13, 2017 When a pet dies, it is a loss that feels just as big and real as losing a friend or family member-sometimes it is bigger and more real. Pets and animals give us a type of love that humans usually don’t. When a dog follows us around, and waits on…
Media Use, Mental Health Topics, Research Contrary to Popular Belief, Social Media Can Have Positive Effects on Our Mental Health by Taylor Bennett on Dec 13, 2017 Social media has gotten a bad rap lately: it’s been blamed for growing feelings of low self-esteem, loneliness, and bouts of depression. And not without warrant. Not only have users of the platforms reported these negative effects, but studies have shown that social media is, indeed, a likely culprit of…
Mental Health Topics, Self-Improvement 8 Ways to Be More Decisive by Taylor Bennett on Dec 13, 2017 When asked my biggest flaw, the first thing that comes to mind (if I’m being honest) is my indecisiveness. This issue dates back to when I was just a little kid. I experienced extreme distress over choosing between the chicken nuggets or the mac & cheese and could never pick…
Children, Teens, & Adolescents, Mental Health Topics, Parenting How to Manage Your Teen’s Rebellion, According to the Pros by Taylor Bennett on Dec 13, 2017 It’s no secret that the teenage years are often characterized by rebellion—there is, however, an ongoing argument about how parents should properly handle this phase. Should they step in or back off? Do they need to crack down on the rules or prove their trust? What’s the most effective approach?…