PeachTherapy

04/29/2020

Great article!!! 🌻🌻🌻

https://forge.medium.com/to-survive-the-quarantine-change-your-metrics-e345d79be14b

To survive quarantine, you need to change your metrics

04/25/2020

Another wonderful message to kick off your weekend. The sun is shining today ☀️ try taking a minute to stand outside with your eyes closed and l i s t e n 👂 to the world around you. Soak it in, wherever you are. It will be a grounding experience for your brain, body, and emotions. It’s okay to not be okay right now. We at have got your back. If you need the extra support, we are here to lift you up.

“hard days are real because this is hard.”

I believe all of these things are true. I believe grace and rest are key. Feeling and owning our own s**t instead of working it out on others is key. When we slip up, apologizing to the people we offload on is key.

And, when we hit that wall, sometimes courage looks like scaling it or breaking through it. AND, sometimes courage is building a fort against the wall and taking a nap.

For those of us with kids, I don't think we pretend that the wall doesn't exist.

Rather than sucking it up and pushing through, we name it. We help them understand that invisible wall that they will run into hundreds and hundreds of times in their lives. We model what it takes to recognize it and how tough it can be to choose the right strategy: scaling, reaching out for a lift, and/or resting. Naming, modeling, and not having answers is how we help them feel less alone or scared when they face their own wall.

Hard days are real because this is hard.

Stay awkward, kind and brave enough to rest and feel,
BB

04/18/2020

To all the multi-tasking parents out there trying to find balance between work/home/e-learning/family time...WE SEE YOU ❣️

04/17/2020

Personally struggling with #8 💜 just a reminder that we at are here for you. Please reach out if you or anyone you know is struggling during this time. http://www.peachtherapy.com

04/08/2020

In emotionally trying times, we recognize the value of a good laugh. Here’s hoping this brings one to you today. Wishing all of our very valued clients and their families safety and health during this time!

03/26/2020

03/25/2020

“If we name it perhaps we can manage it”.

Excellent read about the many emotions people are currently experiencing.

https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=hbr&utm_medium=social

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a collective loss of normalcy.

03/20/2020

These are...strange times we are living in, friends.

Many of you, or those you love, may be experiencing some stress, anxiety, depression, or just a sense of uncertainty while we navigate through these tense and unpredictable times. It’s easy to succumb to fear in the face of uncertainty and unpredictability.

Here are some suggestions to help manage your discomfort/cabin fever...in between washing your hands of course 😉

1. Limit where you get your information.
—> are you noticing your heart rate goes up when you turn on the TV? Scrolling through Facebook? Are you finding yourself glued to every news article and report on COVID-19? If so, take a break. Step back. Pick one (reliable) avenue to get your information and check it only a few times a day. Too much exposure to everyone’s opinions may only worsen any negative emotions you are experiencing.

2. Take up a hobby.
—> that puzzle that’s been sitting in the box since your Aunt gave it to you 3 Christmases ago? Take it out. Read a book. Try to cook something new. Bake. Color. Paint. Find that dusty trumpet in your basement storage and see if you can still play. Watch nature. Go for a walk around your neighborhood. Clean out the closet. Fix the sink and all the other little tasks you have been putting off. W**d the garden. Put some relaxing music on, or crank up the tunes and have a dance party. No one but your “roommates” will be judging you anyway 😉

3. Keep a schedule.
—> try to get out of bed at the same time every day, and go to bed at the same time. Routines are critical for feeling in balance and add stability and organization to an otherwise endless day. Have kids at home? They benefit from a schedule as well.

4. Speaking of kids...
—> children are exceptionally vulnerable to experiencing anxiety and stress during this time. Remember, they hear everything. They see everything. They are little sponges that soak up every aspect of their world around them. Even my 3 year old made a comment about “the sick people” to me today. I had no idea he had any clue why we were home together every day. Watch the information they are exposed to, check in with them. Ask them questions, and answer them honestly. It’s okay that we don’t have all the answers right now. It’s okay if Mom and/or Dad is a little anxious. Show them they can feel their feelings AND manage them. Also, this is a quick reminder to monitor all teenagers social media and internet access. Predators are also currently stuck in their houses with nothing else to do...

5. Be prepared, but don’t panic.
—> be smart. If you are low on TP and bottled water, go grab a pack. Don’t grab five. Leave some for others. Stock up on your essentials to limit unnecessary trips to the store, and leave out the items you don’t really need.

6. Check in on your neighbors and the elderly.
—> offer to drop off groceries on the front steps for your neighbor who has the newborn baby, or the 75 year old down the street. Call and check on Mom, Dad, Grandparents. They may be experiencing some loneliness while stuck inside.

7. Ask for help.
—> connect with friends online. FaceTime. Zoom. Reach out if you are feeling lonely or disconnected. Don’t forget, we at PeachTherapy are only a quick phone call or video chat away. Help is available.

8. Remember: this too shall pass.
—> don’t let your fear and anxiety become a pandemic, too. We will get through this, together. There will be a day when we are able to get back to some kind of normalcy. Until then try to slow down and soak in every minute this surprise stay-cation brings.

We are sending all of our clients thoughts for health and safety during this time. Please reach out to your counselor if you need them, and for anyone experiencing suicidal or life threatening thoughts, please call the National Su***de Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 or go to your nearest emergency room for support.

Post by: Tara Falcone, LCPC
Child & Adolescent Therapist

03/13/2020

Experts agree, when talking to your children about COVID-19, it is important to regulate your own emotions/fears and stay calm. Children will react and feed off of your emotions.

As of now, remains open with our regular business hours. In the event this changes, you will be notified. We are committed to providing emotional support to our clients in the face of this health crisis and are diligent about cleaning our office space to ensure both our safety and the safety of our clients. Please do your part: wash your hands prior to coming in and out of our office, and in the event you are not feeling well please stay home.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-coronavirus/2253218/%3famp

As more schools announce closures and cancel events, parents are having to decide how to talk to their children about the coronavirus

03/11/2020

Wondering how to talk to your kids about COVID-19? The image (and link) below may help.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

03/05/2020

Monday March 2nd was Theodore Seuss Geisel’s (aka Dr. Seuss) birthday. In honor of the late legendary American author, here’s a favorite quote.

On this Thursday, let’s all try to “laugh at life’s realities” and seek out a moment of joy amidst any stress or tribulations we may be going through. And remember, if you or anyone you know needs extra support, we at are here for you.

03/02/2020

A little humor on this Sunday evening. But seriously...wash your hands.

02/29/2020

🚨 Read. Read. Read. 🚨

Share with anyone you know who may have a child with a cell phone.

As a Mom of two tiny people, I’m already dreading the not so distant day when they start asking for a phone/device. I’m literally dreading every moment of this inevitable fight.

I hear both sides to the argument on a regular basis: parents want to give their children freedom & space to grow; and kids struggle with wanting to fit in. It’s really hard feeling like the only person who doesn’t have an online presence when all of your friends do, and you feel left out when everyone is talking about the latest meme/snap story/IG post and you have no clue what they are talking about.

I have only been a parent for 3.5 years, so I still consider myself to be new at this whole parenting thing; however, I view my #1 job is to protect my children as much as I can while still allowing them the space and freedom to learn and grow. It’s a scary world for parents these days, and the internet is the place where predators have the easiest access to our children. Additionally, research has shown (see the link in the comments 👇🏼) that children (‼️ this includes teenagers) lack a fully developed self-control system in their brains. In other words, they are more likely to make impulsive decisions without thinking through long-term consequences. Therefore, it becomes our job as their parents to watch, monitor, and control what they do and have access to on the internet. Know what your kids are doing, educate yourself on the latest apps, read reviews, set parental controls, be restrictive, be cautious, and be smart. Your child may be frustrated, angry, and push back against your authority; however, they will be safe.

To quote the article linked, “NOTHING GOOD EVER HAPPENS ON THE INTERNET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. IT IS BY FAR THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE OUR STUDENTS GO EVERY DAY.”

Post by: Tara Falcone, LCPC
Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

He posted the most epic open letter directed at parents of kids with cell phones. "It's your job to get in the way of your child's cell phone."

02/22/2020

Just for fun...you know we 💓 our Enneagram at PeachTherapy!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=PbtS0f7mfoY

Churro carrier? Fast-Pass coordinator? Queen of the coaster? What is your Disney World enneagram type? Thanks to City Mom Collective, we got to take the trip...

02/22/2020

💖

02/08/2020

12/10/2019

“We need to remind ourselves just how hard the hidden stories around us might be, and to approach each person as a delicate, breakable, invaluable treasure—and to handle them with care.”

A well written reminder that the holidays can be challenging for many. In the words of the author, go easy. Show kindness and spread love.

The day my father died, I was at the grocery store buying bananas. I remember thinking to myself, “This is insane. Your dad just died. Why the hell are you buying bananas?” But we needed bananas. We’d be waking up for breakfast tomorrow morning, and there wouldn’t be any bananas—so there I...

12/06/2019

It’s holiday season again which for some of you may be bringing up some big emotions. Here’s a link to a post one of our therapists, Tara, wrote last year. We hope it resonates with someone today. Remember, help is there if you or someone you know is struggling. Sending all of our loved clients warm holiday wishes this year.

As a society, we have this misconception that the holidays are a happy and uplifting time for everyone. People are smiling, purchasing gifts for one another, festive music fills the air, holiday cheer abounds. Except, what if it doesn’t? In fact, many people feel lonely, sad, anxious, and depressed at this time of the year.

For me and many others, the holidays are a time to sit back and reflect on the last 12 months. What have we done? What has changed? Where are we? Was it good enough? Was I good enough? Tough questions with sometimes even tougher answers. Suddenly we find ourselves in the midst of all these questions, swirling around, swallowing us up like quick sand.

There are many reasons for the spike in anxiety and depression during the holiday season. For starters, we find ourselves with less daylight during the day. This really does impact us and primes many of us for a depressive episode. Most individuals in this country have inadequate levels of Vitamin D, and that deficit only gets larger in the winter months when we are holed up inside, with less exposure to the sun, eating foods that are low in nutrients and high in carbohydrates and sugar. Lower levels of Vitamin D = increased risk for depression.

In addition to being predisposed for a depressive episode, there are other factors impacting many of us. Remembering past holidays, remembering loved ones who are no longer with us; loneliness. In my family, Christmas is often clouded by the memory of my grandfather, who passed away December 18, 2013, 7 days before Christmas. 4 months before my wedding. It’s impossible to not sit back and reflect on what’s missing from our dinner table every year.

Whether consciously or unconsciously, we all have a tendency to reflect during the holidays, and like most things in life, we get stuck on the negative, finding ourselves longing for those happy moments of times past. Add in the pressure from society to be “jolly” and “merry”, and we have the perfect recipe for feeling not good enough. When did the holiday season become so filled with pressure to be the perfect family, create the perfect, “magical” moments? It does not have to be this way. You have the ability to rise out of this cloud of depression, and overcome this. You can beat the “holiday blues”. But how?

Regardless of the challenges you may currently face, there are blessings in your life. Take stock of the positives you do have, whether small or large. As I sit here and write this, my household is asleep. I have a steaming hot cup of coffee next to me and I am relishing the silence, the warmth from the cup as I take a sip. If any of you are parents of little people, you will understand how magical this tiny moment is. Drinking a hot cup of coffee is something I use to not think twice about. Now, with a two year old and 8 month old at home, it is a blessing. Today I challenge each of you to go about your day and look for the blessings that surround you. They may be small, they may be large, but they are there waiting to be seen.

While there may not be a quick, easy fix to how you are feeling, you are not alone. This holiday season choose to prioritize you. Put your emotional and mental health before purchasing all the gifts, wrapping all the presents, and creating all the magical memories for your children. Get off social media. Stop comparing yourself to others. Relish the tiny moments and find your joy. Reach out and ask for support if you need it. Say it with me: YOU are good. YOU are enough. YOU are good enough.

08/06/2019

“Routinely blaming mass shootings on mental illness is unfounded and stigmatizing,” read a statement the American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued on Aug. 4, after the Dayton tragedy. “The rates of mental illness are roughly the same around the world, yet other countries are not experiencing these traumatic events as often as we face them. One critical factor is access to, and the lethality of, the weapons that are being used in these crimes. Adding racism, intolerance and bigotry to the mix is a recipe for disaster.”

Within the world of psychology and mental illness there is a tendency to label and blame which only further perpetuates stigma. We at PeachTherapy believe in healing, in recognizing that every human has its flaws but there is hope for a better world, and we try to create an atmosphere where those who are struggling feel safe to seek the help they need. I am proud of the APA for taking a stand and refusing to label, shame, and discriminate against people with mental illness.

This post is in no way a reflection of political stance, but personal belief that we as a society can do better to shift the narrative around mental health. If you are struggling with mental health, please know that you are not alone and there is help available.

For those who would like to read the full press release from the APA: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2019/08/statement-shootings

APA President Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD, ABPP, says in a statement about the mass shootings in El Pase, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, that hate + guns = public health crisis.

07/19/2019

because we are all m e l t i n g 🥵 so we might as well laugh about it.

07/18/2019

Words of wisdom from today.

07/06/2019

Hope everyone had a safe and relaxing fourth!

In a classroom full of students, a professor asks:

If you had $86,400.00 and someone stole $10.00 from you, would you:

Throw away the $86,390.00 you still have to try and get your $10.00 back?

Or would you just let it go?

They all said they would let it go.

Then he told them, you have 86,400 seconds every single day.

This time is so much more valuable than money.

You can always work for more money, but once a second passes you can never get it back.

Ever.

Every time someone upsets us, it probably took 10 seconds, so why do we throw away the other 86,390 seconds worrying about it or being upset?

We all make this mistake.

It is time to start letting the little things go.

😊

06/24/2019

Summertime depression, often referred to as summertime sadness, is a real thing many don’t acknowledge because its sunny and warm outside, we aren’t suppose to feel bad, right? We are linking an article with 7 tips on how to cope. If you, or someone you know, is struggling please reach out. We are here to help and support you!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.self.com/story/summer-depression-tips/amp

06/20/2019

Little humor this Thursday evening 🤪

06/16/2019

Enjoy your day! 🎉

06/14/2019

Sometimes we like to break up our serious posts with a little humor. Wishing everyone a peaceful week and for those who are celebrating, a wonderful Father’s Day weekend.

06/10/2019

Anxiety, stress, all kinds of negative emotions look different in children than adults. Recently, I attended a childhood trauma workshop and learned an interesting research fact: verbal abuse (yelling, name calling, sarcasm, indirect criticism, rejection or threatening abandonment, threatening bodily harm, scapegoating or blaming, berating someone else) impacts and influences our brains more than ANY OTHER form of abuse and increases the likelihood for experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms. It lingers with us, and over time can actually impact how our brain functions! In children, verbal abuse can impact self-esteem, damage the child’s ability to trust others and form meaningful relationships, and negatively impact academic and social skills. : go out of your way to fill someone’s cup today. It will make them feel good, you will feel good, and over time may positively impact your brain.