Paul James, Ph.D., Licensed Professional Counselor

03/22/2020

I wanted to share a resource that may be especially helpful to those who find their anxiety higher than usual at the moment. Calm.com is a great site that provides access to meditations and mindfulness exercises that can help with everything from slowing down a busy mind to helping you get to sleep at night. Here is a link to some free resources they have made available during the COVID-19 crisis:
https://www.calm.com/blog/take-a-deep-breath?utm_source=lifecycle&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=difficult_times_nonsubs_031720

Without a doubt, many of us are feeling anxious as we navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19. We're feeling it too, and we wanted to share some of the tools we're using to take care of our minds and stay grounded.

03/20/2020

I think it's safe to say that these last few weeks have been rough on us all; unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though things will be back to normal for a while. I want to let those of you out there feeling overwhelmed that tele-counseling is an option that is available to you during this time. I will be offering this service to my established clients, and a lot of insurance companies are allowing for exceptions to their normal billing protocols during this crisis. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need to talk with someone!

06/12/2019

Just a friendly reminder that the start of the journey towards becoming the best version of yourself is remembering that you are someone who DESERVES care and compassion.

03/20/2019

If I could only communicate one essential point about therapy, it’s that change only happens because we believe in ourselves enough to think we deserve it. Love. Compassion. Empathy. Positive Regard. Whatever you call it, make sure the person you choose to guide your recovery journey cares about you and believes in you too!

An internalized sense of being loved by one's therapist has immense potential to transform how a person sees themselves and the world, leading to healing.

02/18/2019

Taking care of yourself is something that’s often easier said than done; however, simple steps like setting boundaries and taking care of yourself are the building blocks of resilience and empowerment. Take some time to evaluate how much you value and care for yourself this Monday. You’re worth it!

01/01/2019

As you start this new year, remember that you are not and never have been missing any essential pieces that make you worthy of love or good enough. You have ALWAYS been worthy and enough. Sometimes you just have to sort through all the noise and find yourself again. Happy New Year to you all! May 2019 lead you closer to rediscovering your worth.

11/03/2018

The longer I do this work, the more I realize that the recovery journey does not look the same for everyone, but it almost ALWAYS looks like trading in shame and fear towards yourself/past choices for a sense of love and belonging that settles within your mind, body and spirit. It can take some time, and the journey can be rough; fortunately, the reward lasts a lifetime.

10/11/2018

This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! If you’re looking for ways to support survivors, one easy way is by wearing purple each Thursday this month. This small action can show that you support survivors you may know and that you are an ally in their efforts to break the cycle of domestic violence. (1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men are victims of intimate partner violence). Other ways you can act in support of survivors of domestic violence are to give your time, energy or money to your local Domestic Violence Shelter, which for Oklahomans can be located through the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Their website is www.ocadvsa.org

10/04/2018

I am so thankful today for those loved ones who have been rainbows on cloudy days of my life. What a gift we receive from those who share in our journey and lift us up in our dark moments. Their love never leaves us and reminds us that we are worthy of love and belonging.

09/24/2018

We are all just trying to sort things out as best we can. If we center ourselves in that idea, maybe we could be a bit more generous, hospitable and kind to one another.

09/09/2018

Our culture sends the message: To be worthwhile you must be productive! It’s not bad to want to make good use of your time, but sometimes we need a reminder that REST is sometimes the BEST use of our time. Take care of yourself this Sunday. You are worth it!

Be bold and take a nap this weekend.

(Image via Brené Brown)