Upward Behavioral Health

03/25/2026

Effective trauma therapy isn’t just about the model—it’s about the skills that bring it to life. ✨

We’re proud to share that Dr. Megan Keyes is teaching a 2-day Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD workshop this summer at in St. Louis.

CPT is a first-line, evidence-based treatment for PTSD in adults—and one of the specialized services we offer at Upward Behavioral Health.

Dr. Keyes brings 20+ years of experience working with adults with PTSD, with a career focused on delivering first-line, evidence-based trauma treatments as a clinician, as well as providing consultation, training, and teaching in these approaches.

This training focuses on the core clinical skills that help clients process trauma and move toward recovery—and reflects our mission at Upward: providing evidence-based care delivered by clinical experts.

📅 June 11–12, 2026
📍 WashU Danforth Campus
🎓 15 CEs | Limited to 24 participants

🔗 Learn more / register here or scan QR code:
https://ce.wustl.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=3703437&parentSite=brown

03/23/2026

✨Mental Health Monday✨

New Blog Alert!

Dr. Susan Rathmell recently wrote a new blog: "Ten Easy-to-Use "Life Hacks" for Adults with ADHD."

Your brain isn’t broken. It just needs a different approach. 🧠💡

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or like “simple” tasks take way more effort than they should… you’re not alone. ADHD can make starting, organizing, and following through feel like a constant uphill climb.

But here’s the good news: small, realistic strategies can make a big difference.
Think:
✔️ starting with just 5 minutes
✔️ creating visual cues that actually work
✔️ building systems that support your brain—not fight it

Because ADHD isn’t about knowing what to do—it’s about making it doable in the moment.

You don’t need perfection. You need tools that meet you where you are.

Ready to make daily life feel a little easier? Check out our latest blog for 10 simple, ADHD-friendly life hacks you can start today. 💙

03/20/2026

This is who grew up and is helping you be the best version of yourself! 🩵

A few of our Upward team members decided to hop on this trend and help you know us more.

Supporting clients. Building meaningful connections. Helping people create lasting change. We were made for this!

To know us more, you can visit our site and go to the "About Us" tab!

03/19/2026

Anxiety is something most of us experience at some point. But when does it become more than everyday stress?

Understanding anxiety is the first step toward managing it. Anxiety disorders can show up in many ways — constant worry, panic attacks, social fear, avoidance, physical symptoms, or feeling on edge most of the time. And they are common, treatable, and nothing to be ashamed of.

If you’ve ever wondered:
• What’s the difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder?
• What types of anxiety disorders exist?
• What treatment options actually work?

This page on ADAA's website breaks it down in clear, practical language and connects you to trusted, evidence-based resources.

Learn more about understanding anxiety here:
https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety

03/19/2026

🌼 Spring is here and with it comes flowers, a little warmer weather, and spring break! Are you staying in Birmingham over the break? We have compiled our list of 50 things to do during Spring Break in Birmingham below!

💚 What are you most looking forward to next week? Tell us below!

https://birminghammomcollective.com/holidays-and-seasons/springbreak/activities-spring-break-birmingham/

03/18/2026

🌱UpWORDS Wednesday🌱

Thanks to for this week's inspo!

We all grow in our own way 🌿

Just like these trees, no two journeys look the same—and that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. In therapy, we honor your pace, your shape, your story. There’s no “right” way to heal, only your way.

Some days you’ll feel steady. Other days might lean, twist, or stretch you in new directions. Every part of that process matters.

Be kind to yourself and others today—everyone is still growing, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

03/16/2026

Paid research opportunity with Yale Child Study Center 💸💸💸

The YAY Lab is looking for participants to study mechanisms and predictors of irritability. Receive up to $660 compensation. Learn more by calling 203-479-0276 or emailing affectiveyouth@yale.edu.

03/16/2026

Can’t move when you wake up? Learn what sleep paralysis is, why it happens, common triggers, and what helps reduce episodes.

03/16/2026

🧠 Friday Fast Facts: Responding to Trauma Disclosure

When someone shares a traumatic experience, how we respond matters. Supportive, validating responses can help people feel heard and reduce feelings of isolation.

This week’s Friday Fast Facts highlights simple Do’s and Don’ts for responding when someone discloses a traumatic experience, such as offering empathy, listening without judgment, and avoiding blame or taking control of the situation. It also includes tips for what to do if you feel like you didn’t respond the way you hoped.

Small moments of compassion can make a meaningful difference.

Learn more and download the infographic: https://istss.org/public-resources/friday-fast-facts/trauma-disclosure/

03/16/2026

At Upward, we provide child and adult autism and ADHD evaluations.

Learn more here: https://upwardbehavioralhealth.com/autism-and-adhd-evaluations

"As Neurotypes, both Autism and ADHD significantly contribute to an individual’s view of themselves and their identity, shaping how they perceive and interact with the world.... Keep in mind that neurotypes are highly personal. These are some common traits of ADHD and Autism, but each neurodivergent individual may not experience all of these traits. Also the presence or absence of a single trait does not define an individual."
Read more (link in bio): https://bit.ly/4bejWdm

03/16/2026

🌟 MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY 🌟

Behind every major scientific conference is a peer-review process that helps ensure the research presented is rigorous, meaningful, and impactful.

We’re proud to share that Dr. Megan Keyes recently served as an abstract reviewer for the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) Annual Conference, which will be held this year in San Antonio in September.

ISTSS is the leading international professional organization dedicated to understanding and preventing traumatic stress and improving care for people affected by trauma. Its annual conference brings together researchers, clinicians, and policymakers from around the world to share the latest scientific advances in trauma and PTSD.

Dr. Keyes has been a member of ISTSS since 1998 and an abstract reviewer multiple times over the years, reflecting a long-standing commitment to staying closely connected to the evolving science of trauma treatment.

Serving as an abstract reviewer is an important role in the scientific process. Reviewers evaluate research submissions and help identify the highest-quality studies to be presented at the conference. This peer-review process helps ensure that new findings shared with the field meet strong scientific standards.

At Upward Behavioral Health, we believe psychotherapy should be grounded in the best available research. Activities like conference peer review allow clinicians to stay closely engaged with emerging science so that the treatments we provide reflect what works.

This is one of the ways we continue working toward our mission: delivering therapy that is compassionate, relationship-focused, and firmly rooted in evidence-based care.

If you’re looking for trauma therapy grounded in research and delivered with care, please contact us to schedule a free 15-minute consultation:

📞 205-983-4063
🌐 https://upwardbehavioralhealth.com/

03/13/2026

Happy World Sleep Day! 😴✨

Good sleep is more than just a luxury—it’s essential for your mental and physical well-being. Poor sleep can impact your mood, focus, and long-term health, but the good news is there’s help available.

Take the first step toward better sleep today—schedule an appointment with Upward Behavioral Health and start your journey to restful nights and energized days. 🌙💤