WellBeing

05/23/2026

AWARENESS OF ADVERTISEMENTS FOR “MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS”

Mental health content is everywhere these days, but popularity does not always equal accuracy. Psychologists encourage people to approach online content thoughtfully and seek trusted, evidence-based sources.

Learn more: https://at.apa.org/qc9

Mental health content is everywhere these days, but popularity does not always equal accuracy. Psychologists encourage people to approach online content thoughtfully and seek trusted, evidence-based sources.

Learn more: https://at.apa.org/qc9

05/23/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

If you don't understand a loved one's depression. This brave young poet beautifully describes her depression & anxiety for those who’ve never experienced it from the inside out! She does an amazing job summarizing the experience of chronic depression in 3 powerful minutes.

Those of you who DO understand depression…..please know ……… there is an important distinction between:
* “mild",
* "moderate" &
* "severe" states

Additionally some individuals have
* "chronic" (biological / life long) and others have
* "situational" (shorter term).

Why do these distinctions matter?

Treatment.

Diagnosing is NOT about “labeling” …… it's about directing appropriate & effective treatment. A good diagnostician is a must for optimal recovery and resilience!

This video is a long time favorite of mine!!!

You don’t have to understand.... you just have to care!

Take Care, Melinda

05/17/2026

📌⭐️If You or someone you know lives within the map below…. Please share this information. ⭐️📌
VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, D.C., DELEWARE
⭐️Psychiatric Providers
⭐️Lawmakers
⭐️Family Members & Advocates of Individuals with Severe Mental Illness.
🙏 PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR NETWORK 🙏

05/15/2026

🌟 Mental 🧠 Health Awareness Month 🌟

Ever heard of “Toxic Positivity” ❓

Authenticity ? 👍 🙌

Honesty ? 👍 🙌

“Pretending”? 👎 🚫

The goal of licensed counselors is to help our clients externalize their emotions in a healthy manner…. Pretending that some of those emotions are not painful, sad or frustrating it’s not reality ……. and reality is an important part of mental health!

Every May, mental health advocates and organizations join forces to spread awareness of mental illness and strengthen support networks for those living with it. However, the popularity of these concepts can sometimes unintentionally perpetuate the stigma surrounding mental health and ultimately hurt rather than help.

https://bit.ly/4bwyqmh

05/04/2026

Mental Health & Spirituality

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As this 1st weekend of May comes to a close, I want to highlight the importance of how our spirituality impacts our mental health & wellbeing.

I have always been a wholistic practitioner. My initial assessment has always included questions about people’s mental, emotional, social, physical & spiritual life. I came very close to accepting admission to Duke University Seminary prior to entering my Counseling Psychology Graduate School program. I had enjoyed working in the ministry, my faith has always been paramount in my life not to mention…. Duke is a fantastically beautiful campus.

But here is where my discernment brought me… as a therapist… it’s not about MY spirituality…. But it should be about my clients. So, having had completed a 2 year deep dive Bible study and learning about a wide range of Christian denominations…. I embarked on a self guided rudimentary education on world religions. I am tremendously grateful for the depth & breadth that has brought to my life & understanding of others …. Also, an understanding of how much we all overlap.

One of my dearest friends was laid to rest 6 days ago. Last Sunday was my 1st Sunday back in church since arriving to be with her weeks prior. Just being there provided a huge sigh of relief, encouragement & support. Friday night I attended Synagogue with a mutual friend & today I was in the oldest Greek Church in the nation with my recently departed friends family. Each service fed my heart, mind & soul, gave me strength & opportunity to recognize & pray for her souls rest. It was also a reminder of the Faith we shared, despite practicing differently. In our final years, months & weeks… we spent so much time sharing how our spiritual life was sustaining us & bonded our friendship.

That part of my life brings me comfort, peace and a strength & hope that cannot be extinguished. Never forget that you are a multifaceted human & there is a connectedness with all aspects of health & wellbeing. When you nurture one, you nurture them all.

Discover how spirituality boosts mental health—new research reveals its powerful role in reducing anxiety, fighting depression, and creating meaning in life's challenges.

05/03/2026

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

While 1 in 5 people will experience mental illness over the course of their lifetimes, everyone will face challenges that can and will affect their mental health.

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC's) play a critical role in providing care and guidance for those who are struggling with mental health. ACA (American Counseling Association) members all across the country are dedicated to assisting anyone who is struggling with mental health. ~ American Counseling Association

The difference between "Mental Health" & "Mental Illness" is the same as the difference between "Physical Health" & "Physical Illness" .... our society, for some reason confuses the two when it comes to Mental Health & Mental Illness. You can have a Health Condition and not have a chronic illness. Giving care, attention and treatment to health conditions whether Physical OR Mental still has some growth to do in "normalizing".

Similarly, Severe or Chronic "Mental Illnesses" should carry no more stigma than Diabetes, Cancer, Cardiac or any other "Physical Illness".

Please follow ACA this Month to learn more !

Have a specific topic you'd like to know more about or where to find the best resources nationally or in your community? Please drop a comment & if I can't answer it, I promise someone in my network can!

04/20/2026

When a fungus & a bird can more simply describe what we know as “ADHD” than our Diagnostic Manual.

04/10/2026

I had a conversation with a client about this today. I’m choosing to call it “Longitudinal Emotional Regulation”.

 “If your feelings won’t come into words, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

It might simply mean your heart is keeping the doors closed … until it trusts you’ll read the heavy parts at a gentle pace.

Taking breaks when you need them … instead of forcing yourself to swallow the whole story at once.”
~ Poo

01/26/2026

The Body Keeps the Score & Talk Therapy isn’t the “be all end all” when it comes to this. This is why a solid understanding& application of somatic healing is so important in trauma recovery.

"𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀.

You think you've moved on. You've forgiven, let go, done the mental work.

But your body? Your body still flinches at certain tones of voice. Still contracts around specific types of people. Still holds tension in the exact places trauma landed.

Because trauma doesn't live in your memories. It lives in your tissues.

You can't think your way out of what your body is holding. Talk therapy gets you to understanding—but understanding doesn't discharge stored survival energy.

This is why you can intellectually know you're safe and still feel anxious. Know you're worthy and still feel small. Know it's over and still react like it's happening.

Your nervous system is waiting for somatic release, not more analysis.

The body keeps the score. And only the body can clear it.

When you address trauma where it actually lives—in your cells—that's when freedom becomes embodied, not just understood."

- Live In Frequency, GS

01/17/2026

“This demonstrates the strength of our collective voice when we stand together “ ~ 🔱 American Psychological Association 🔱

Exerpt from the article linked below:

“The termination letters that were sent out Tuesday said bluntly that a wide variety of mental health and addiction programs didn't align with the Trump administration's public health agenda and would no longer be funded. This took care providers by surprise.

The [bi-partisan] backlash triggered a series of high-level meetings inside the Trump administration, and by Wednesday evening the decision had been rescinded.

NPR hasn't been able to determine who made the initial decision to cut these funds, nor would sources say who made the decision to restore the money.

👩‍⚕️🧑🏽‍⚕️👨‍⚕️🏥🩺🩻🏥Public health officials around the U.S. described the last 48 hours as chaotic.💥
🏥🩺🩻🏥🧑🏽‍⚕️👨‍⚕️👩‍⚕️”

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5677714/trump-administration-mental-health-addiction-grant-cuts-restored?fbclid=IwZnRzaAPWrUdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEexZKPHyJGklpKrkDBCtgs5zih-Uw0IF5VGzWq_9sbFvNxEW3fJn2nFAgdmoU_aem_OA0dLJtjl_TQUA73HkO28g