Breathe Easy Counseling

01/10/2025

Music has long been touted as a soothing balm, but can it also heal? When did you last let loose and dance to your favorite song, sing your heart out, or simply smile and sway to the rhythm, lost in a cherished memory? Music's transformative power can clear mental fog and shift our mood in an instant. Next time you're feeling down, try playing a beloved song and watch your energy lift.

06/26/2024

Sometimes being single can feel like a curse. You may find yourself wondering, "What's wrong with me." If you've never been married, are widowed or divorced there's NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU!!! Lean into this time and begin living the life you dream of TODAY. Trust me...you won't regret it🖤

The more you work on creating a meaningful life for yourself while single, the more you'll have to bring to the table when the right partner does come along.

06/02/2024

Happy Sunday! Posted thus on my personal page and thought I'd share here!

I'm over the false narrative of Black women being invincible!! I am strong because I never had a choice! I'm strong because I've only been protected by one man, my father. I'm strong because I saw noone was going to save me, and I had to save myself!!

I've never heard any other race of women called strong. Have you ever heard strong White woman, strong Asian woman? Think about this and realize we've been lied to. No woman is suppose to do all things. Black women do all things because we've had to. If and when given the chance we'd love to be protected, loved, comforted, treasured, and made to feel safe.


https://www.facebook.com/share/p/aFYwgg8sehdyoZgv/?mibextid=oFDknk

It's time to change the narrative and debunk the myth about "resilience" in Black women to increase their mental health treatment.

01/29/2024

Is a healthy school environment important? Yes it is. Here's an article from the CDC discussing ways and things a school and/or teacher can foster an emotionally healthy, friendly, and safe environment.

Healthy Schools, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

01/26/2024

With rising numbers in stress and anxiety numbers in the classroom how do you assist your students? Do you prioritize their mental wellness and yours? Do you believe academics come first? If you are one of many who believes academics comes first you'd be sadly mistaken. When a child is thinking about things going on at home such as; dad leaving, food scarcity, domestic violence, drug use (alcohol included), grief, and the list goes on. Please know they are not thinking about learning unless it's a form of escapism.

A few things you can do to incorporate SEL in the classroom:

1. Start each day with a student check-in
2. Create opportunities for partner and group work
3. Nurture a culture of kindness
4. Build social-emotional vocabulary
5. Include reflective writing
6. Incorporate a "calm down" corner and model using it
7. Allow time for talking
8. Teach being present in the hear and now
9. Encourage expression through art
10. Teach students to work toward a common goal

11/02/2023

Deb jj Lee's book In Limbo is great!!! It's a graphic novel memoir, and it takes you on a journey through childhood and life's struggles as an adolescent youth trying to find themselves. As a children's/family therapist it's a must read. She's at Carpenter Library now discussing this book, and her work.

10/29/2023

https://instituteofchildpsychology.com/conference-registration/?fbclid=IwAR2un1g7r2RlyS-Lg1MDqqO-7wm54KB00OTfuyhApqIWEwjSYbQS8JFeb9g

09/22/2023

Suicidal behavior also has a far-outreaching impact:

There were 46,412 su***des among adults in 2021.

But su***des are just the tip of the iceberg.

* For every su***de death, there were about:
* 3 hospitalizations for self-harm
* 8 emergency department visits related to su***de
* 38 self-reported su***de attempts in the past year
* 265 people who seriously considered su***de in the past year

09/13/2023

In 2021: 48,183 people died by su***de in the United States. That is 1 death every 11 minutes.

12.3 million adults seriously thought about su***de

3.5 million adults made a plan

1.7 million adults attempted su***de

09/09/2023

Su***de is one of the leading causes of preventable death in our nation today. We lose an average of more than 125 young people each week to this tragedy that can be prevented.

Every day in the U.S. there are an average of over 3,703 attempts by young people grades 9-12. If these percentages are additionally applied to grades 7 & 8, the numbers would be higher

Su***de does not typically have a sudden onset. There are a number of stressors that can contribute to a youth’s anxiety and unhappiness, increasing the possibility of a su***de attempt. Some are listed below:

Depression, mental illness, and substance abuse
Aggression and fighting
Home environment
Community environment
School environment
Previous attempts
Situational crisis
Eating disorders

Remember: Never be reluctant to get involved and always take any child/adolescent’s desire or intent to harm themselves seriously. If you suspect a young person of suicidal ideation, get them to professional help immediately. Su***de is Preventable. ***depreventionawareness

09/09/2023

Words can transmit stigma. Studies have shown that people with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders often feel judged, outside and inside the health care system. This can lead them to avoid, delay, or stop seeking treatment. The way we talk about mental health can change lives – in either a positive or negative manner. Use this guide People Matter, Words Matter to practice safe and compassionate care. ***depreventionawareness

https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2021/03/PMWM-people-first-language.pdf