Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that was developed in the 1960’s by a psychiatrist, Dr. Aaron Beck. In addition to identifying problematic thought patterns, the clinician helps patients understand how those thoughts affect their feelings and behaviors. 

Mindfulness is defined as “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.”

Postpartum Support International, an organization dedicated to promoting awareness, prevention and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing in every country worldwide, has declared the first week in May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness week.

Every April the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Connecting the Dots: Opportunities for Recovery.”

March is National Self-Harm Awareness Month.  Self-harm is a topic that is rarely talked about, but is an important one to address. Non-suicidal self-harm or self-injury is when a person intentionally and repeatedly harms him/herself without the intent to kill him/herself. 

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines a personality disorder as “a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time.”

In the mental health world, people often refer to “therapy,” however, there are countless types of therapy. How do you know which approach is right for you? Here are four common types of therapy used to treat mental illness and addiction. 

When you meet someone new, chances are the question “what do you do?” comes up within the first five minutes of your conversation. In the United States, we put a great deal of value on our jobs; sometimes to the point that we define ourselves by our job title. This may not seem like a big deal, but when your identity is your career, it can negatively impact your mental health. 

The holiday season is upon us and it is a time of celebration with friends and family.  It is important to use forethought when thinking about all of the people who will be coming and going at your home for holiday parties and get-togethers.  When opening your home to loved ones, always remember to keep the holiday celebrations safe as it could be an entrée to the use of prescription pain medications.  

It seems like as soon as we take off our Halloween costumes, we fast forward into the holiday season. Before you know it, all of the relatives will be gathered around the holiday table. While this time of year is supposed to be joyful and fun, many people feel like pulling the covers over their heads until the New Year.