Counseling Conejo Valley

06/20/2025

Trauma isn’t one-size-fits-all.
What deeply affects one person might not even register for another.
What matters is how you experienced it—especially if you felt scared, overwhelmed, or alone.
Your pain is real. Your healing matters.

06/13/2025

07/10/2023

DEPRESSION TIPS:
Shower. Not a bath, a shower.
Use water as hot or cold as you like. You don’t even need to wash. Just get in under the water and let it run over you for a while. Sit on the floor if you gotta.
Moisturize everything.
Use whatever lotion you like.
Unscented? Dollar store lotion? Fancy 48 hour lotion that makes you smell like a field of wildflowers? Use whatever you want, and use it all over your entire dermis.
Put on clean, comfortable clothes.
Put on your favorite underwear.
Cute black lacy panties? Those ridiculous boxers you bought last christmas with candy cane hearts on the butt? Put them on.
Drink cold water.
Use ice. If you want, add some mint or lemon for an extra boost.
Clean something.
Doesn’t have to be anything big. Organize one drawer of a desk. Wash five dirty dishes. Do a load of laundry. Scrub the bathroom sink.
Blast music.
Listen to something upbeat and dancey and loud, something that’s got lots of energy. Sing to it, dance to it, even if you suck at both.
Make food.
Don’t just grab a granola bar to munch. Take the time and make food. Even if it’s ramen. Add something special to it, like a soft boiled egg or some veggies. Prepare food, it tastes way better, and you’ll feel like you accomplished something.
Make something.
Write a short story or a poem, draw a picture, color a picture, fold origami, crochet or knit, sculpt something out of clay, anything artistic. Even if you don’t think you’re good at it. Create.
Go outside.
Take a walk. Sit in the grass. Look at the clouds. Smell flowers. Put your hands in the dirt and feel the soil against your skin.
Call someone.
Call a loved one, a friend, a family member, call a chat service if you have no one else to call. Talk to a stranger on the street. Have a conversation and listen to someone’s voice. If you can’t bring yourself to call, text or email or whatever, just have some social interaction with another person. Even if you don’t say much, listen to them. It helps.
Cuddle your pets if you have them/can cuddle them.
Take pictures of them. Talk to them. Tell them how you feel, about your favorite movie, a new game coming out, anything.

12/07/2022

Good reminder for this holiday season.

10/01/2022

Uncertainty and change can cause us to feel anxious. Practice reminding yourself that feelings are temporary, even the most unpleasant feelings will end.

08/22/2022

You are not alone. There is help for postpartum anxiety.

Anxiety and intrusive thoughts can be exhausting, but they aren't uncommon. There is help available and treatment can include medication, therapy and other lifestyle changes. Chat with your healthcare provider about how you're feeling and get the help you need today.

08/20/2022

Conversations with Mom will resume at the Thousand Oaks library on September 13th at 10:45am. Come join us for support and connection.

https://counselingconejovalley.com/conversations-with-mom/

06/06/2022

Tomorrow is our last group for the summer. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

10:45-11:45am at Brimhall Library in Thousand Oaks

06/02/2022

Another great reminder from Nicole Cruz registered dietician
https://nicolecruzrd.com

“Mommy, I want you to go swimming with me.”⁠
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⁠Have you ever been asked this question and instead of jumping straight in the water, thought about your body? Your child might notice things about your body, but what’s really important is that they want you to be with them. They wants to spend time together. They want you to engage. They want to share experiences with you in this life.⁠
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I know that society makes us believe we should be smaller, and our bodies should be flatter and harder.⁠
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And our culture also makes it harder to live life in a larger body. I’m in no way trying to discount those sad and frustrating truths.⁠
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But what I also know to be true, is that when we step back and think about our kids, those little humans that we likely value the most in this world, that we want to have the strongest and most loving relationships with, they don’t care.⁠
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They want us to be present and engaged in life. They want us to share the food. They want to look back and have pictures with us in them. They want to snuggle into comfort and welcoming arms.⁠
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They’re not interested in whether you have the *best* body or eat *right*. They just want you! ❤️

05/12/2022

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is now LIVE! The Hotline, funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and operated by Postpartum Support International, is available 24/7, 365 days a year, in English or Spanish, and other languages by request. The Hotline is available for pregnancy, postpartum, and post-loss support. Call or text us anytime to connect with a Hotline counselor for confidential conversation, support, understanding, and resources. You do not need a diagnosis to reach out for help – we are here for you. 1-833-943-5746

03/13/2022

We need to lead by example. Our children look to us on how to be. It’s okay to show them that we have emotions and we make mistakes.

It’s important to label our emotions for our children, “I’m sad and crying right now and I will be happy again soon”