December 1, 2022 was World AIDS Day!  Here is the challenge for you. Let's pledge to talk about HIV/AIDs, participate in an event, or start a candid conversation about this issue.  Remember, someone you know or love is infected, affected, or both by HIV/AIDS.   This disease continues to impact millions of individuals worldwide.    https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/resources.html https://www.hiv.gov ..read more

Breast cancer continues to impact the lives of women, men, and children in the United States and abroad. According the the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), breast cancer is the 2nd most common type of cancer and black women have higher rates of mortality (CDC, 2022). Understanding the physical, mental, and emotional impact of this diagnosis, may be difficult for the individual and those around them. While there is a focus of eradicating the cancer, this does not come without a physical, mental, and emotional price, as individuals must quickly determine the course of treatment with their trea ..read more

Have you ever had a song that played in your head that was reminiscent of good times? The use of music is not a new phenomena and ancient civilizations have utilized music in rituals, social gatherings, and other cultural events. Music interventions may be beneficial to mental health. Quinci et al. (2022) explored changes in the auditory and reward center in the brain after exposure to a music based intervention. There was preliminary evidence that exposure to a music based intervention yielded changes in brain connectivity in cognitively unimpaired adults. Having a music playlist can be benef ..read more

988 is a 24/7 crisis and support hotline that is available 24/7. This is an important resource that may be accessed by cellphone.  You may call or chat for assistance at any time and is accessible in many languages ..read more

If are seeking housing assistance, this may be option for you to consider. You will start the process by entering the zip code that you are interested in residing in to assess the number of available homes. You will build your profile to begin your home search. This process is relatively simple, although you have 7 days for your free trial. You will be billed $49.60 after the 7-day trial period. Please note that the website mentions that you will be billed exactly 7-days after the hour. There is a 3 month membership option. * This is a sponsored link through affliate marketing ..read more

 Mother's Day is fast-approaching and this is the perfect time to honor yourself or your mother.  Our relationships with our parents create the prototype for future relationships.   If your are looking to honor yourself or your mother, there are several ways for you to do so.  Gary Chapman identified the Five Love Languages- Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, and Physical Touch,  and your mother's love may be one these listed below. Words of Affirmation Words of Affirmation are words that express how much you care about your sig ..read more

As black women, you are 15 more times likely as white women and 5 times as likely as a Latino women to be diagnosed with HIV.  HIV is the leading cause of death for black women between the ages of 25-34. In addition to the physical symptoms associated with an HIV diagnosis, there are emotional implications of this condition.   Newly diagnosed people may have questions related to care, support, and basic needs.  Pre-exposure Prophylaxis is a medication for people who are at risk of contracting HIV and can be highly effective and women of color may highly benefit from this treatme ..read more

Relational boundaries are limits or rules that individuals implement in order to take care of themselves. Boundaries may be porous, rigid, or healthy. When boundaries are porous, individuals may be dependent upon others or they may allow others to violate their relational boundaries. Rigid boundaries may impede you from connecting to others and serve as a barrier to intimacy or deep connections. Healthy boundaries are protective but they allow you to connect and develop deep connections to other people who can respect those boundaries. Relational boundaries are rules of engagement and they tea ..read more

 Antidepressants are a common way of treating depression. While this class of drugs can be effective for some people, other people may not realize the full benefits of this treatment and may be treatment-resistant.  Perhaps you have struggled or know other people who have utilized traditional treatments without much success and feel hopeless about your treatment.  There are several classes of antidepressants that include: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (i.e. Fluoxetine, Citalopram, Sertraline, Paroxetine, and Escitalopram) Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibito ..read more

Mental Health Apps can provide benefit for your emotional and mental health.  However, it is important that you discuss the use of these applications with your therapy provider.   Noted below are some "apps" that may enhance your therapeutic experience. Mood and Suicidality  Mood Kit-   Mood was developed by two clinical psychologists and is based on the principles and techniques use in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).  It offers over 200 activities  designed to boost your mood and help change negative thinking. The Better Stop suicide app is designed w ..read more