New Hope Counseling, LLC

09/18/2025

Honestly, coping skills come in all shapes and sizes—some of us just happen to be really funny about it. 😂

In all seriousness, humor is a great coping tool… but just like any hobby, it’s best enjoyed in balance. Sometimes it’s worth putting the jokes down for a minute and letting yourself feel the feelings too. 🧘

Photo and post courtesy of Jonathan Edward Durham

09/16/2025

September is National Su***de Prevention Month. 💛
This month is about breaking the silence, reducing stigma, and reminding each other that we don’t have to carry the hard stuff alone.

Checking in on someone can make more of a difference than you realize. A simple, “How are you really doing?” can open the door to connection and support. And if you’re the one struggling, know that your voice matters and your presence matters. You deserve help, hope, and healing.

Together, we can create a culture where conversations about mental health are safe, supportive, and stigma-free.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone. Here are some resources (also on the last slide):
📞 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.)
💬 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
🌍 Find international hotlines: https://findahelpline.com

You matter. Your story matters. 💛

Slides by Mental Health Coalition

***dePreventionMonth

Global vetted directory of helplines, hotlines and crisis lines. Chat, text or phone support with su***de, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, gender& sexual identity and more.

09/11/2025

“Underneath my outside face… a whole lot more like me.”

Masking and people-pleasing can protect us, but they also keep others from knowing the real us. Healing means gently letting the mask slip and allowing safe people to see who we truly are. 😊

Quote from Shel Silverstein’s “Underface” poem.

09/09/2025

🚦 Big feelings, but no roadmap? Here’s one.

Here’s a simple tool to help: the Emotion Regulation Flow Chart by Lindsay Braman - Therapist & Psychoeducator. It breaks things down step by step — from checking basics like food, water, and rest to using skills like “checking the facts.”

This flowchart can be a grounding resource when emotions are in the driver’s seat and you’re ready to take back the wheel. 🧠💡

Find this resource and more on Lindsay Braman’s socials or her website [https://lindsaybraman.com/]

09/04/2025

✨ Hypersensitivity & the Senses ✨

When our nervous system is on high alert, everyday sensations can feel overwhelming — bright lights, strong smells, background noise, textures, even how our body feels inside or moves through space. This heightened sensitivity is common in trauma, anxiety, and neurodivergence.

💡 The good news? There are gentle ways to help ground yourself when your senses feel “too much”:
• Sight 👀 → soften lighting, look at something calming, or close your eyes briefly
• Sound 👂 → noise-canceling headphones, white noise, or slow humming
• Smell 👃 → grounding scents like lavender, peppermint, or neutral air
• Taste 👅 → a mint, tea, or sipping cool water slowly
• Touch ✋ → weighted blanket, soft textures, or holding something grounding
• Interoception (body cues) → pause to notice: am I hungry, thirsty, or needing rest?
• Vestibular (balance) → rocking gently, stretching, or slow movement
• Proprioception (body awareness) → pressing feet into the floor, squeezing a stress ball, or gentle exercise

🌱 Small, simple steps can help your nervous system settle. Pay attention to which senses soothe you the most — those can become your go-to grounding tools.

Graphic by Lived Experience Educator

09/02/2025

Labels can shape how we perceive ourselves and others. Too often, terms like “narcissist” or “ADHD” are used casually—so loosely that they lose meaning and can cause harm.

In the linked Psychology Today article, Dr. Mosley suggests a better way:
• Educated labeling (only using labels when we truly understand them)
• Contextual labeling (applying them thoughtfully in the right situations).

When done consciously, labels can empower: they help us articulate inner experience, build community, and pursue meaningful growth. But misused, they can become excuses or cages—keeping us from evolving.

The key? Use labels wisely—grounded in empathy, accuracy, and the recognition of everyone’s inherent complexity.

Article Credit: Sterlin L. Mosley, Ph.D at Psychology Today [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/deeper-empathy-lasting-change/202508/when-labels-hurt-and-when-they-heal?utm_source=newsletter.thedailywellness.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=peace-over-drama&_bhlid=7b8b258ec2c367ca3bcd4a71423e0e27835b757d]

08/28/2025

🦪 Trust takes time.
In therapy, it’s normal to feel cautious about “opening up”— especially if you’ve been hurt or misunderstood before.

Unlike the cartoon oyster’s therapist, we’re not here to grab your “pearl” the second you crack open. 😉
We’ll move at your pace, respect your boundaries, and never take advantage of what you choose to share (or not share).

Therapy is about building safety, not rushing the process. 💛

Cartoon by Skeleton Claw

08/26/2025

Sometimes the best mental health tips aren’t the serious ones… they’re the weird, random, and surprisingly effective ones. 🦖✨

From stomping like a dinosaur to brushing your teeth with cotton candy toothpaste — these hacks may sound ridiculous, but they just might work.

Your turn — what’s the most random mental health trick you’ve tried or heard of?
Drop it in the comments ⬇️

08/21/2025

Parenting your inner child isn’t about being childish — it’s about finally listening to the parts of you that were once unheard.

Sometimes our thoughts and feelings don’t seem to make “logical” sense. But logic isn’t the language of a child. When you stop pushing those feelings down and start embracing them with gentleness, something shifts.

Talk to your inner child.
Offer the comfort, patience, and kindness they may have missed.
Let them know they’re safe now.

You might be surprised what healing begins to unfold when you stop silencing them, and start parenting them.

Images by: nasimehbe

08/19/2025

Your anxious thought: “Everything is going to go wrong.”
You: “Hmm… let’s slow down and check the evidence.” 🕵️‍♀️

Anxiety loves to make bold, exaggerated claims — like a news anchor that never fact-checks.
The trick? Challenge those thoughts.

🧐 Ask yourself:
• What’s the actual proof this will happen?
• What’s the best-case scenario?
• Has this fear come true before? (And if it did… how did I survive?)

When you play detective instead of passive listener, anxious thoughts lose a lot of their power.
So the next time anxiety starts narrating your day, fact-check it. You might just find the real story is a lot less scary.

Image byUnearthed Comicss

08/14/2025

Tomorrow is National Relaxation Day 🛋️✨

We’ve all heard the usual relaxation tips — meditation, warm baths, yoga, nature walks… 🌿
But here’s the thing: sometimes it’s not that easy to actually relax.

For some, relaxation brings up guilt (“I should be doing something productive”) or anxiety (“I’m wasting time”). If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone — and there may be brain-based reasons behind it.

According to , here are 5 reasons your brain might resist relaxation:
1️⃣ Craving that dopamine rush.
2️⃣ An overactive emotional brain.
3️⃣ A sympathetic nervous system stuck in overdrive.
4️⃣ Stressing about the act of relaxing.
5️⃣ Feeding your brain distressing information.

Their blog also shares tips to overcome these roadblocks so you can finally unwind without guilt.
💡 Read the full post here: [https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/5-reasons-your-brain-and-you-cant-relax/]

Which of these sounds most like you? Drop it in the comments ⬇️

“I almost don't feel comfortable being relaxed.” That’s what “Pretty Little Liars” actress Tammin Sursok recently told Dr. Daniel Amen in an episode of Scan My Brain, a video series featuring high-profile individuals who share their brain SPECT scans and open up about their mental health.

08/14/2025

Tomorrow is National Relaxation Day 🛋️✨

We’ve all heard the usual relaxation tips — meditation, warm baths, yoga, nature walks… 🌿
But here’s the thing: sometimes it’s not that easy to actually relax.

For some, relaxation brings up guilt (“I should be doing something productive”) or anxiety (“I’m wasting time”). If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone — and there may be brain-based reasons behind it.

According to , here are 5 reasons your brain might resist relaxation:
1️⃣ Craving that dopamine rush.
2️⃣ An overactive emotional brain.
3️⃣ A sympathetic nervous system stuck in overdrive.
4️⃣ Stressing about the act of relaxing.
5️⃣ Feeding your brain distressing information.

Their blog also shares tips to overcome these roadblocks so you can finally unwind without guilt.
💡 Read the full post here: [https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/5-reasons-your-brain-and-you-cant-relax/]

Which of these sounds most like you? Drop it in the comments ⬇️

Image by