Today, my family and I remember the passing of my father two years ago. It’s been a long road of grief, as we watched for years as his body slowly deteriorated from spinal stenosis and eventually glioblastoma. Anniversaries and seasons are tough, particularly baseball season. The consummate Houston Astros fan, he passed weeks before they […]
Ever had that awkward moment when you yawn while listening to someone? Try being a therapist. It can make for really awkward moments. Have you ever yawned and watched others yawn back? In high school, a friend and I used to walk in front of our geometry class and yawn loudly, while the other counted […]
As a therapist, I’m often asked, “How do I know I (or someone I love) need(s) therapy?” Here are the signs I usually give folk to consider. Understand, this is not a comprehensive list, THERE ARE MANY MORE REASONS, but these are for people wondering if they should consider therapy and the answer isn’t […]
In 2008, a video surfaced on YouTube entitled Where the Hell Is Matt? Almost 52 million views later, it still brings me boundless joy to watch. If you want to know more about it, here is the website. https://www.wheretheheckismatt.com/ The song resides on my playlist and I return to the video often when I need […]
by Flo Paquet Warning, a highly tragic news story is about to be mentioned. On May 7th a woman from our neck of the woods – Seymour, TN, was found, wrists scratched, and with her two infants unresponsive in the bath tub. I hear this story on the coattails of many others first hand, this […]
Do you ever struggle to communicate with others? A spouse? Children? Co-Workers? Effective communication precludes healthy relationships. However, it requires work and effort to succeed in communication. After a long day or a stressful situation, who has the energy to do the work required to communicate effectively? To help, use a scale (1-10) to help […]
Did you know the brain was social? Positive social interaction promotes brain health and overall wellness. Dialogue exercises our language skills, which helps to keep parts of the brain connected to other neural structures. It requires social interaction, nurturing our brain’s social functions. It all helps to slow the decline of cognitive abilities. Conversing […]
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Whoever came up with that phrase didn’t know what they were talking about! Physical pain can often heal eventually. However, words have the power to build up or destroy a person for a lifetime, especially if it isn’t addressed with a therapist. […]
Have you ever wondered why you are so anxious? Your vagus nerve may be to blame. Vagus, baby. Vagus! The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the cranial system and regulates your parasympathetic nervous system. Not to be confused with the other Vegas, in which you lose your inhibitions and a lot of money […]
If you haven’t noticed, the world is full of negativity, fear, and hate. There is a solid reason for it. Our brains require it for survival. Blame it on your amygdala. It thrives on negativity because that is its function. In fact, it is instinctual. It constantly scans the environment for things that will destroy […]