Wellful Psychiatry

11/15/2025

11/14/2025

Happy Friday 😎

I hope you get outside & enjoy the summer-like sunshine today! Have a great weekend!

̇day

11/14/2025

Thank you Ben & crew at Viking Roofing and Construction for the gutter install! No more getting dripped on when walking into the office. 👏🏼

11/11/2025

Thank you, veterans, for your selfless service to our country and for our freedoms 🇺🇸

11/09/2025

85 days & counting! 🏖

*Please plan ahead* — I will be out of the office & away from my computer from noon on February 3rd through February 9th. I will return to the office/my computer on February 10th and will do my best to get caught up on medication refills and return phone calls.

As always, I appreciate you all!

🏝 ☀️

11/01/2025

Regardless of your opinion on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), many people in our small towns utilize this essential service in times of need. These individuals & their families are often working but struggling to make ends meet, battling illnesses, disabled, or elderly. With SNAP benefits on hold due to the government shutdown, Iowa food banks will ultimately see a rise in need.

Wellful Psychiatry serves individuals from Allamakee, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard, Mitchell, and Winneshiek counties and beyond. If you are in need of assistance or feel called to serve others, the infographics below highlight county-specific food pantries with their contact information & hours of operation.

For more information, visit https://www.neifb.org/find-help/services-in-your-area

Proverbs 22:9 "Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor."

11/01/2025

Wellful Psychiatry is hosting a non-perishable food drive throughout the month of November!

Items needed:
▪︎ Canned meats (chicken, tuna, salmon, spam)
▪︎ Applesauce in plastic jars
▪︎ Peanut butter
▪︎ Nuts
▪︎ Canned fruits & vegetables
▪︎ Rice & beans
▪︎ Crackers
▪︎ Cereal, oatmeal, & granola bars
▪︎ Pasta & pasta sauce in cans or plastic jars
▪︎ Canned soups, stews, & chili
▪︎ Condiments & cooking oil
▪︎ Pantry staples: flour, sugar, dried herbs & spices
▪︎ Instant mashed potatoes
▪︎ 100% fruit juice
▪︎ Shelf-stable stock, broth, or bouillon cubes
▪︎ Jellies and jams
▪︎ Personal care items: toilet paper, bar soap, wet wipes, kleenex, feminine hygiene products
▪︎ Cash donations are also accepted

Food products should be safely stored, in good physical condition, and within all expiration dates before being donated. When in doubt, donate what you would be most excited to eat.

Donations can be made inside the entryway of Wellful Psychiatry (520 W Main Street in Waukon) during regular business hours. A tote will be placed outside for donations made after hours.

Donated items will be dispersed to local food pantries in Waukon, Lansing, Postville, Decorah, & Cresco.

10/29/2025

With daylight savings this weekend, I wanted to discuss light therapy. 💡

Light therapy uses a special lamp to mimic sunlight, which helps regulate your body's internal clock and can improve mood and energy levels during months with less daylight.

How to use light therapy
Time: Use it first thing in the morning to regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
Duration: A typical session is 20 to 30 minutes, but this can be adjusted based on your needs.
Position: Place the light box 16 to 24 inches in front of you or slightly to the side. You can do other activities like reading or working while using it.
Intensity: The light box should provide about 10,000 lux of light.
Consistency: Use it every day, especially during the fall and winter, to get the most benefit.

What to expect
Improved mood: It can increase serotonin levels and reduce symptoms of depression, with many people noticing improvement within a week or two.
Increased energy: It can help combat seasonal lethargy.
Possible side effects: Some people may experience headaches, irritability, or sleep pattern changes. These can often be managed by adjusting the duration of use or the time of day you use it.

Important considerations
Choose the right light box: Not all light therapy boxes are equally effective. Ensure the one you buy is certified and provides the correct intensity (10,000 lux) while emitting minimal UV light. The Center for Environmental Therapeutics website can provide guidance on selecting a device.
Not a cure-all: While effective for many, light therapy may be more successful when combined with other treatments like psychotherapy or medication, especially for more severe cases.

10/27/2025

With mid-week holidays quickly approaching, my schedule is filling up. My recommendation: don't wait until the last minute to book your appointment.

||Wellful Psychiatry will be closed||
▪︎Thursday, November 27th 🦃
▪︎Wednesday + Thursday, December 24th + 25th 🎄
▪︎Thursday, January 1st 🎉

>>Additional heads up: I will be out of the office the afternoon of February 3rd through February 9th for vacation! 🌞

10/13/2025

Check out adhddd.com! There are so many relatable comics I could have shared them all. 🙈 Also, check out the website's anti-planner digital resource list - so good! 👏🏼 Thank you, !

10/10/2025

World Mental Health Day is observed every year on Oct. 10. The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) established the date in 1992 to raise global awareness about mental health issues and mobilize efforts in support of mental health.

October 10th is more than just a date; it's an annual global opportunity to unite in raising awareness about mental health and wellbeing. As Julie Millard AM, WFMH Board Director, eloquently states, it's a day to "get people talking and to reduce stigma and discrimination towards people living with mental health challenges and for their families and communities." The more we engage in open dialogue, the more we can foster resilience and combat the pervasive issues of social isolation and loneliness.

This year, and looking ahead to 2026, the World Federation for Mental Health has sharpened its focus on a critically important theme - “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.”

The WFMH advocates for:
▪︎ Integration of mental health into all emergency response frameworks.
▪︎ Training of frontline workers in psychological first aid.
▪︎ Community-based approaches that respect local cultures and resilience.
▪︎ Investment in long-term recovery and trauma-informed care.

As the WFMH declares, mental health is not a luxury - it is a lifeline.

10/06/2025