Every day we find ourselves in an endless routine of waking up, going to work or classes, coming back home, going to bed, and repeating. Would this be considered a meaningful life for you? A meaningful life is defined as “a construct having to do with the purpose, significance, fulfillment, and satisfaction of life.” But what is a meaningful life? What are the values that make life meaningful for someone, and is it the same for everyone?  In a study conducted by the Pew Research Center across 17 countries, they found the most and least common values of a meaningful life around the world ..read more

Habits are something we all have, good or bad; they are ingrained into our behavior. How habits form is due to constant repetition, enough that our body and mind think it is natural for this behavior. Some habits can become detrimental to our physical and mental health, and it is imperative that these habits change. Understand that your habit may not be the best for you, to do so, consider these methods to change your behavior. Please note that changing habits is not something that can happen instantly; it does take time and effort, but if your mind is determined to change, then it will make ..read more

In Part 1 of How to Maximize Your Rest, we discussed four of the seven types of rest: physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional. In Part 2, we will discuss the last three types: sensory, social, and creative. Sensory rest is a rest we don’t often consider with how dependent we are on electronics. However, our emotions, energy levels, and how we act can be heavily affected by our sensory environments. It is easy to become negatively affected by social media or overwhelmed by all the information around us. To be able to have sensory rest, try the following: Find a quiet place away from distr ..read more

Burnout is prevalent these days as we continue to push ourselves to work and work without any rest, but we forget that rest is important for us to function properly. It was Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith who found that her patients often reported the lack of seven different types of rest: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, and creative.  Physical rest is one most are familiar with; it is allowing your body to get an adequate amount of sleep while also allowing your body to recover from daily activities, exercise, or physical strain. The obvious signs that you are not gett ..read more

October is the month of autumn and Halloween, but it is also the month of Breast Cancer Awareness. While the number of deaths has declined, breast cancer is still considered the second-leading cause of cancer in women. It is important to be aware of any signs of breast cancer in yourself and your family members. For those afflicted by or know of someone who has breast cancer, know that you are not alone and that you will be able to fight it. It may seem bleak at first, but there are many doing their best to find new and effective treatments. There are many who have dedicated themselves to hel ..read more

In part one, we talked about how to stop being a therapist to a friend. Some methods discussed were to set boundaries with your friend in order to fix and maintain a more equal relationship. For part two, let's talk about the opposite, "Am I treating my friend as my therapist?" This question can be more difficult to answer. No one wants to admit they have taken advantage of their friend, but it is best to see the signs and admit it, for the sake of your friendship. Are you treating your friend as your therapist? Ask yourself these questions, “do you… “Mostly reach out to your friend when y ..read more

We all have had situations where a friend needs to vent to you or the time you need to vent to them. It is normal to talk to someone close to you when faced with bottled-up emotions and stress, but something we do not consider is “Am I being treated as only a therapist for my friend?”  Friends can unintentionally treat their friends as their therapists, especially those who are “a good listener, nonjudgemental, trustworthy, and empathetic.” Yet there are many reasons why friends are not therapists and should not be for their friends. Sometimes, friends “lack objectivity, neutrality, and ..read more

If you have questions about mental health, therapy, and the ins and outs about wellness, this class will answer your questions. Mastering your mental health masterclass is for those who are seriously considering therapy but have some questions about how, when, and how much.  This masterclass is a great resource as your prep before taking the next step.     You will learn: The true meaning of mental health Common mental health conditions What to expect in therapy How to seek therapy How to best use your health insurance More ..read more

The history of burnout dates back to the 1970s when it first became mainstream after being featured in Bob Dylan’s song “Shelter from the Storm.” The lyrics resonated with undergraduate students, post-graduate students, and even those well-established in their careers. As the emergence of burnout came to the forefront in the early 1970s, it marked a "critical transition point in the history of work in America." Before this, burnout was branded as "increased productivity" for workers to earn wage increases. As for college students, it created a hierarchical system and an ex ..read more

As a noun, the word "mask" refers to a covering for all or part of the face that is worn to conceal one's identity. As a verb, to "mask" means to disguise, hide one's intentions, to cover or conceal. And the third, less obvious societal reference, are the masks we all wear to:  Fit In  Hide Our Fears  Avoid Embarrassment and Rejection   Suppress Our Sincerity and Vulnerability  And the LONGER we wear these societal masks and the MORE people we wear them for, the more TIRED we become! Are you tired of being constantly concerned about disappointing s ..read more