Greta Stone, Mental Health Counselor

08/09/2020

Love this.

05/20/2020

10/07/2019

08/12/2019

Imagine that every child has a cup that can be filled or emptied.

07/30/2019

Compassion and connection, not compliance training.

06/20/2019

"Being bored is a way to make children self-reliant.”

05/15/2019

All behavior has a meaning. This graphic helps us look and think beyond our child's actions so we can better understand their feelings and needs. Children's mental and emotional health is just as important as their physical health.

04/25/2019

www.sollarsassociates.com

11/30/2018

People often look forward to the holiday season, but it can be a source of stress also. Here are some tips to help

Let’s not sugarcoat it: In addition to all the bright lights, shiny packages, eggnog and caroling, the holiday season can be a major source of stress. Follow these tips to manage your stress during the holidays.

11/09/2018

Having Friends and being connected to others is so very important

BY MADISYN TAYLOR

By acting as mirrors, friends help us define who we are by reflecting our selves back to us.

Good friends enrich our lives in so many ways. Through a magical combination of similarities and differences, friends offer us the opportunity to know ourselves as we are and help us grow into who we want to be. Our similarities attract us to each other, comforting us with familiarity when we see ourselves in them. When we are drawn to those we admire, the same recognition is at work, unconsciously acknowledging that these people possess qualities that we ourselves possess. By acting as mirrors, friends help us define who we are by reflecting our selves back to us.

Friends also help us know ourselves through our differences. Differences allow us to see other options and make choices about who we want to be. Sometimes we are drawn to those who appear to be our opposites, and we learn to accept the parts of them we love and the parts of them that don't resonate with us, thus allowing us a valuable learning experience. By expanding our understanding to include others' experiences, friends help us accept others. By understanding when someone's life differs from our own, we can learn about ourselves in contrast. There are times when we see in friends what we don't like about ourselves. That mirror reflection may be hard to take, but a good friend helps us find ways we can change and supports us in that choice.

Part of the joy of friendship is the feeling that we are accepted just the way we are, with no need to change. It is a gift they give us, and one we can give back every day. Ultimately, we choose friends because they make us feel good about ourselves and life. Through tears and difficulties, friends help us find the laughter. When we find those special people who offer us that perfect combination of comfort and stimulus to grow, we are very fortunate. Friends, those wonderful companions that walk with us through life, help us define and refine who we are and who we choose to be every day.