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Learn more about the variety of methods, settings, and styles we use here at the Center for Connection and Wellness for therapy sessions.
š§° 6 Regulation Tools for Parents of Sensitive Kids
Support that works when everyoneās running on empty.
Parenting a sensitive or neurodivergent child can feel like holding lightning in your arms.
Theyāre brilliant, big-hearted, deeply feelingāand often easily overwhelmed.
And if youāre carrying your own history of anxiety, trauma, or burnout?
Even the smallest moments can feel like too much.
Youāre not doing it wrong.
This is just really hard.
š Here are six gentle tools that can support both your child and your own nervous systemāno perfection required.
šæ Parenting While Healing: When Your Child Triggers Your Own Childhood
You love your child.
You want to be the safe, steady presence they deserve.
But some daysā¦
Their meltdowns make your chest tighten.
Their clinginess overwhelms you.
Their big emotions feel like too muchābecause deep down, they echo your own.
If youāve ever thought, āWhy am I reacting so strongly?ā or āWhy is parenting so hard for me?ā
Youāre not alone.
š§ What Is Inner Child Work? A Gentle Approach to Healing Old Wounds
Maybe you've heard the term beforeāāinner child workāāand wondered what it actually means.
Is it about rehashing childhood memories? Pretending to be a kid again?
Not exactly.
Inner child work is a therapeutic process that helps you connect with the younger parts of yourself that may still be holding onto pain, unmet needs, or old survival strategies. These parts show up not just in memories, but in how you feel, react, and relate to others today.
šæ High Masking, Low Energy: The Hidden Strain of Performing āOkayā
You smile when youāre supposed to.
You show up on time, meet deadlines, say the right things.
Maybe youāre the dependable one. The high-functioning one. The friend others lean on.
And yet... you're exhausted.
Not just tired, but bone-deep wearyālike your nervous system is holding its breath all the time. Like one wrong question or flickering light might undo you.
But no one sees it. Because from the outside, you look āfine.ā
šæ You Are Allowed to Change (Even If People Around You Donāt)
Maybe youāve felt it lately.
That subtle shift insideāthe quiet awareness that something isnāt working anymore. Youāre starting to say ānoā when you used to say āsure.ā Youāre craving peace over pleasing. Youāre noticing what drains you.
And when you begin honoring that inner voiceāsetting boundaries, resting more, stepping back from chaosāit doesnāt always go over well.
People might say:
āYouāre not the same.ā
āWhy are you being so sensitive?ā
āYou used to be fine with this.ā
š” Hereās the truth:
Youāve grown.
And youāre allowed to growāeven when others donāt.
š Healing Begins with Connection: Adoption, TBRI & the Heart Behind Show Hope
Adoption is an act of love, but itās also a journey of healing. Behind every adoption story is a complex tapestry of loss, love, identity, and hope. And for many families, that journey needs more than good intentionsāit needs support, trauma-informed tools, and community.
Thatās where holistic care makes all the difference.
šļø Anticipatory Grief: Coping When the Loss Hasnāt Happened Yet
Grief doesnāt always wait until after the loss. Sometimes it begins quietlyābefore the goodbye. This is called anticipatory grief, and itās a very real, very valid experience that deserves support and understanding.
Whether you're watching a loved one decline, preparing for the end of a relationship, or caring for a beloved pet nearing the end of life, anticipatory grief can feel like living in two worlds: one where everything is still intact, and another where everything is already slipping away.
š§ ⨠Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy & Mental Health: A Powerful Healing Duo
In the world of mental wellness, the mind and body are deeply connectedāand healing often happens on multiple levels. While talk therapy helps people process thoughts, emotions, and experiences, another tool is gaining traction for its ability to support the brain and body from the inside out: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).
But what is HBOTāand how can it help with mental health?
šæ Feeling Stuck? Hereās How Holistic Counseling Can Help You Move Forward
Ever feel like youāre stuck in a cycle that no amount of venting or journaling can fix? Youāre not aloneāand youāre not broken. Life gets messy, and sometimes healing needs more than a checklist or coping skill. Thatās where holistic counseling comes in.
Unlike traditional therapy that often focuses solely on symptoms, holistic counseling looks at the whole personāmind, body, and spirit. Because letās be real: your emotions donāt exist in a vacuum. They live in your nervous system, your relationships, your habits, and even your gut (yes, your gut!).
š§ ⨠Rewiring the Mind Naturally: How Neurofeedback and Holistic Counseling Work Together
Ever feel like your brain is on overdriveāracing thoughts, difficulty focusing, or constantly feeling āoffā? Thatās not just in your head. Itās often the brainās way of signaling a dysregulated nervous system. Fortunately, thereās a powerful, non-invasive way to help restore balance from the inside out: neurofeedback. š§āāļøā”
From a holistic counseling lens, neurofeedback isnāt just a tech toolāitās a bridge between brain science and emotional healing. When used alongside holistic therapy, it creates a deeper path to regulation, self-awareness, and whole-person transformation.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Trauma: Working with Inner Parts for Lasting Change
š§ š§š£ļøš
Ever felt like one part of you wants to move on, but another part is still stuck in fear or shame? That inner tug-of-war is more common than most realizeāand itās exactly what Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is designed to explore.
IFS is a trauma-informed, compassionate approach that helps people understand and heal their āinner partsāāthe protective, wounded, and wise aspects of the self that show up in daily life. From a holistic lens, IFS recognizes that healing isn't about eliminating parts of ourselvesāit's about listening, understanding, and building trust within. šæ
š§© Is It Really ODD or PDA? Or Is the Child Just Trying to Feel Safe?
When a child shows extreme resistance š£, anger š”, or shuts down completely š¶ in response to everyday expectations, the behavior is often described using labels like Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). These terms can be useful in identifying patternsābut they may not tell the full story.
šæ In many situations, these behaviors are not signs of a disorderātheyāre signs of a child trying to feel safe, meet an unmet need, or protect themselves from something they may not even have the words to explain.
šµ Unplug to Recharge: Why a Digital Detox Could Boost Your Mental Health š§ āØ
Letās be honestāour devices are always there.
They wake us up.
They remind us what to do.
They connect us to the world.
But sometimes, that connection becomes a chain. š
Between constant notifications, endless scrolling, work emails at midnight, and the pressure to keep up with social media, our brains rarely get a break. And thatās taking a serious toll on mental health.
Today, weāre diving into why a digital detoxātaking a break from screens and techāmight be the best thing you can do for your mind.
Understanding Sensory Issues: How Occupational and Mental Health Therapy Work Together
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by sounds, textures, lights, or movements that others seem to ignore?
For individuals with sensory challenges, this overwhelming feeling is an everyday reality ā and it can impact every part of life, from school to work to relationships. š
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and other sensory integration challenges affect how the brain interprets and responds to sensory information. While this can feel isolating or confusing, thereās great news: both occupational therapy and mental health counseling offer powerful, complementary approaches to help individuals thrive.
š Grief HurtsāBut You Donāt Have to Go Through It Alone š¬
Grief is something we all experienceāyet it can feel incredibly isolating. Whether itās the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, losing a job, or facing a major life change, grief shakes us to our core. š„ You might feel like the world keeps spinning while youāre standing still. And thatās okay. š°ļø
The good news? Youāre not alone, and you donāt have to "just get over it." Counseling can help you move through the pain and start to feel like yourself again.
Understanding Eating Disorders: A Journey to Healing š
Letās talk about something that affects millions of people but often stays hidden in silenceāeating disorders. These are not just āphasesā or āattention-seeking behaviors.ā They are serious mental health conditions that deserve compassion, support, and proper treatment. š±
Whether youāre struggling yourself, know someone who is, or just want to learn more, this blog is a safe space to explore what eating disorders are and how healing is possible.
š§ Mold & Mental Health: The Hidden Link You Need to Know š š
Did you know that mold in your home might be affecting your mind as much as your lungs? š·ā”ļøš§ Mold exposure doesnāt just lead to sniffles and coughsāit can seriously impact your mental health, triggering issues like brain fog, anxiety, and even depression. Letās break down the science and real stories to see how mold might be messing with your mood.
Natureās Secret to Better Mental Health: Why You Need to Spend More Time Outside
Letās be realālife can get a lot. Between work, school, endless to-do lists, and the general chaos of adulting, itās no wonder we feel overwhelmed sometimes. But what if the secret to feeling better wasnāt in another app, podcast, or productivity hackābut just outside your front door? š¤Æ
Yep, nature has some serious healing powers. Whether you're taking a stroll through the park, hiking a trail, or simply sitting under a tree, the great outdoors isnāt just prettyāitās powerful for your mental well-being. Letās unpack why stepping outside might just be the best self-care move youāll make today
Brainspotting: A Unique Way to Heal Trauma and Find Peace
Have you ever noticed how looking in a certain direction can make you feel different? Maybe it brings up memories or helps you focus better. Well, what if you could use this idea to heal emotional wounds? š¤ Thatās the concept behind Brainspotting, a therapy thatās been gaining attention for its potential to help people process trauma and emotional pain. Letās explore what Brainspotting is, how it works, and how it can help you heal. š
Graduation Stress Is Real ā Hereās How to Deal With It
Graduation is supposed to be one of lifeās biggest celebrations. The finish line. The moment you toss your cap in the air and ride off into a bright, shiny future.
But what if youāre not feeling that celebratory?
What if instead, you feel⦠anxious? Lost? Overwhelmed?
You're not the only one.