Blog
Personal Boundaries When Your Parent is Addicted: Why They Matter
By Elizabeth McMahan
Personal boundaries are the limits and rules you establish for yourself in relationships. Whether or not you’ve heard of or engaged in personal boundary work before, you’ve probably unintentionally set a few at some point in your life.
For instance, when you were younger, you and your sibling may have had an unspoken rule where the two of you take a few minutes apart after a big fight.
Live What You Learn After Your Session: How to Push the Reset Button
By Elizabeth McMahan
Therapy usually leaves you feeling great, right? You learn new skills and tactics, you get to focus on yourself, and you figure some things that you may not have been able to on your own. The only downside is you can’t keep your therapist in your pocket at all times…so you have to find ways to live what you learn when your session is over.
Make Self-Care A Lifestyle? Why And How
By Elizabeth McMahan
Life. It’s full of beauty, full of fascinating discoveries, full of surprises… and full of responsibilities.
Your education, your job, your bills, your family. Everything is jumping, screaming, and begging for your attention.
And more often than not, those things get your attention first—before yourself.
In the end, your life always revolves around other people and other things
Have A Voice That Counts ... Why It's So Important To Speak Up
By Elizabeth McMahan
For many of us, speaking up and making our voices heard is difficult. While it’s human nature to care about what others think, worrying about this too much can stop you from living your life.
The following is just a brief list of reasons to make your voice heard.
Gratitude With Mindfulness And Intention: 8 Ways To Embrace It
By Elizabeth McMahan
Gratitude: “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.”
Mindfulness: “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.”
It seems these two terms have been fluttering around the therapeutic community a lot recently.
Be Alone, It's Okay! How Self-Care And Solitude Go Hand In Hand
By Elizabeth McMahan
We live in a “go! go! go!” society. One that seems to have trouble slowing down or places much value on being alone.
Today’s kids often march through the day, advancing from school to sports to tutoring to bed. Interaction with teachers, peers, and coaches happens constantly.
Friends and Happiness - Why More Isn't Necessarily Better
Long before friend became a popular social media verb, it was the noun that described our most significant non-family relationships.
Friends and happiness are a long-cherished combination. We’ve made incalculable movies and TV shows about friendships. And, who knows how many friend-related songs and books exist?
But, having friends is more than just a part of our cultural life. It’s also good for your health!
Stop Being Hard on Yourself: Put Your SELF Back Into "Self-Compassion"
By Elizabeth McMahan
“You don’t make enough money! You’ll never get that promotion! You don’t spend enough time with your kids! You always snap at them! You’re eating way too much! You’ll never lose that weight! You need to have some control! You’re no good! You don’t deserve compassion!”
Have you ever been told things like that?
Could it be the one talking to you so harshly you isn’t someone else, but you, yourself?
9 Mindfulness Exercises and Practices to Help You Manage Your Anxiety
By Elizabeth McMahan
To manage anxiety, it’s important to activate the body’s natural relaxation response. Deep relaxation is a powerful way to help bring your whole nervous system into balance.
But relaxation doesn’t mean you slouch on a couch and zone out watching TV. True relaxation requires a conscious effort to refresh your body and mind. It calls for focus and regular practice.