The Couch and Pen

01/31/2021

Rest and play...say YES!

01/25/2021

Snow days... who greets you? Boredom, stress, or excitement?

12/25/2020

May the holiday season hug you today and let you know you that you matter and that being you is a gift to this world!

11/26/2020

Whether together with those you love or celebrating from a distance, may you feel connected, wonder about the beauty that surrounds you, and the joy of your inner child today. I am grateful for you!

11/03/2020

Whatever life may bring, find your happy thought for today and let it warm your heart and remind you of all that is possible. My instant happy thought and mood improver is puppies!

11/03/2020

Therapists are people too... Life events, Covid 19, my own unexpected broken leg that put me into a wheelchair, as well as my ongoing time commitment to providing the safest and best 1:1 care possible for my clients led to my absence on Facebook. I apologize for the silence, and I am glad to be back! Trust your journey. Mine confirmed that if life gets too complicated, it will put you on your behind so that you can slow down, take a breath, and enjoy the scenery. Stay tuned for where the Couch and Pen is going next.

05/23/2020

01/17/2020

09/30/2019

Free printable mandala coloring pages? Yes, please!

monday mandala is a website where you can download coloring pages to print and share for free.

09/26/2019

If you’ve ever felt the panic of rising anxiety bubble up in your chest you know how helpless it can make you feel. While talking with a counselor to address the main roots of anxiety is the best way to manage it long term, it isn’t a solution for every episode of anxiety that comes up through everyday life. Try some of these tips when you are caught in one of those unexpected moments.

When you're feeling anxious, you might feel stuck and unsure of how to feel better. You might even do things that unwittingly fuel your anxiety. You might hyperfocus on the future, and get carried

09/24/2019

Sometimes just getting out of the house can be a powerful way to shift a discouraging mindset. The Prescott Highland Games & Celtic Faire might be a great opportunity to be outdoors, to enjoy fresh air, music, and entertainment, and to do all this while also boosting your mood!

09/22/2019

If you’ve ever felt yourself struggle any of these, or see your friends or family struggling with them, you might be witnessing codependency. Codependency is a learned behavior that can be debilitating if not addressed. Fortunately, this is a challenge that can be resolved with therapy.

Codependency is characterized by a person belonging to a dysfunctional, one-sided relationship where one person relies on the other for meeting nearly all of their emotional and self-esteem needs. It

09/19/2019

In a society that values productivity and efficiency over all else, doing nothing is not only an uncommon concept but often viewed as lazy or entitled. However, what if doing nothing sometimes is actually the secret to a happier life?

When the best something to-do is nothing

09/16/2019

If your in school you’ve experienced the pressures of academic pursuits. Carving out some time to talk with a licensed professional counselor like myself can greatly help with managing all of the expectations that come with any learning adventure.

It begins with a reaction. Heart rate increases. Adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine begin to surge. Muscles tense and …

09/14/2019

The Northern Arizona Big Band is playing at the square Friday, September 13 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm! “Research shows the benefits of music therapy for various mental health conditions, including depression, trauma, and schizophrenia (to name a few). Music acts as a medium for processing emotions, trauma, and grief—but music can also be utilized as a regulating or calming agent for anxiety or for dysregulation.”

Research shows the benefits of music therapy for various mental health conditions, including depression, trauma, and schizophrenia (to name a few). Learn more about this powerful form of therapy here.

09/06/2019

I love this quote from Dan Roberts in this article. We all need to feel loved and connected with other people!

“However daunting it seems, remember that you are never too old and it is never too late to let love blossom. We are born ready to love – it’s just the painful experiences we have when young that throw us off the path toward fulfilling relationships”

The importance of secure attachments for mental and physical wellbeing

08/23/2019

People are hardwired for connection; It can be easy to push people away when we feel hurt, thinking it will protect us from those ugly feelings in the future. But having connections to others is crucial to our health. Even just one friend can have a profound impact on our mental health. Today is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the friendships we have or rekindle the ones we have let fade or even pushed away.

Learn about the importance of friendship in supporting good mental health. Find out more about disclosing to or supporting a friend experiencing mental ill health.