Southpark Psychological Services-Dr. Joy Boatman

11/09/2024

11/09/2024

If you’re feeling despair try a small dose of hope.

02/06/2024

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2023/collective-trauma-recovery?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=apa-stress&utm_content=stress-in-america-2023

APA’s survey data suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic, global conflict, racism and racial injustice, inflation, and climate-related disasters are all weighing on the collective consciousness of Americans

12/21/2022

Brilliant poet puts it perfectly: “It doesn’t always look like darkness… “


・・・
It doesn’t always look like darkness
Disheveled
Discombobulated
Sometimes it looks like dance
Like joy
Like syncopated rhythms
Like grace
Like choreography channeling
Ancestor’s dreams
Powerful
Successful
Enviable

Sometimes we get so good
At the act
At the entertainment
At wearing the mask
That we can fool ourselves
A little bit
Long enough for the public
To believe
That we
Have it all together
That the airbrush portrait
Is real
The Instagram smile
Is permanent
That the steps aren’t automatic
That happiness 24/7 isn’t toxic
But the truth is
Living is hard
Lonely is real
Grief is too heavy to hold
People don’t check
On the strong friends
The smiling friends
The dancing friends
The friends who look like
They are on top of the world
Looks are often liars
Hopelessness can grow
Like weeds in the most beautiful
Garden
It doesn’t always look like
Darkness
And it’s so hard to say the words
Out loud
“I need help
This is too much
I don’t want to try anymore”
Because we clap for stunning
Clap for the performance
And ignore those in pain
It doesn’t always look like darkness
Sometimes it just looks like
Our reflection
In the Mirror
Sometimes it’s just too hard
To stay in the light

If life feels like it is too much
to take one more step
let someone hold your hand while you walk
You aren’t alone
You aren’t the only one
I’ve had those thoughts too
You are not alone
I promise

National Su***de prevention life line 1-800-273-TALK or call 988.
su***depreventionlifeline.org

***deprevention

We can all help prevent su***de. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

11/30/2022

Patience visited me
And it reminded me
That good things take time to come to fruition
And grow slowly with stability

Peace visited me
And it reminded me
That I may remain calm through the storms of life
Regardless of the chaos surrounding me

Hope visited me
And it reminded me
That better times lay ahead
And it would always be there to guide and uplift me

Humility visited me
And it reminded me
That I may achieve it
Not by trying to shrink myself and make myself less
But by focusing on serving the world and uplifting those around me

Kindness visited me
And it reminded me
To be more gentle, forgiving and compassionate toward myself
And those surrounding me

Confidence visited me
And it reminded me
To not conceal or suppress my gifts and talents
In order to make others feel more comfortable
But to embrace what makes me me

Focus visited me
And it reminded me
That other people’s insecurities and judgements about me
Are not my problem
And I should redirect my attention
From others back to me

Freedom visited me
And it reminded me
That no one has control over my mindset, thoughts and wellbeing
But me

And love visited me
And it reminded me
That I need not search for it in others
As it lies within me.

Words by Tahlia Hunter

Artwork by Jungsuk Lee

11/15/2022

It’s scary to let go of the comfortable and “hope” for a new unknown possibility. But it’s where all real growth comes from.

This parable was written by the late husband of a good friend of ours. How does a trapeze artist learn to pry their fingers off the familiar bar and leap to

11/15/2022

To reach for something new you have to release the old. It can be a scary but powerful experience.

This parable was written by the late husband of a good friend of ours. How does a trapeze artist learn to pry their fingers off the familiar bar and leap to

10/17/2022

Beautiful article on how to face your fears.

In just six images, Cécile Carre captures what therapy for fear and anxiety can do.

08/18/2022

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/17/the-most-successful-people-have-these-mental-muscles-says-psychologist-and-brain-expert.html

There are five mental strengths that help boost our emotional intelligence and resilience, says psychologist and brain expert Jody Michael. Do you have them all?

07/28/2022

https://nedratawwab.bulletin.com/the-truth-is-forgiveness-is-freedom/

Learning to release the things that are weighing you down

07/19/2022

https://www.facebook.com/1691003244/posts/10208359745746511/?mibextid=plIg07&fs=e&s=cl

03/23/2022

Listen to this brave young man talk about his mental health struggles.

https://www.today.com/health/health/former-ohio-st-football-player-delivers-powerful-message-anyone-strugg-rcna20822

"I would just say hope is just pretending to believe in something until one day you don’t have to pretend any more," former Buckeyes player Harry Miller said.