We know social isolation can be... isolating! We are social creatures. We thrive in community. And we like to know what to expect. This makes the current call for social distancing quite challenging. Here’s what we're learning so far - 10 Tips to Survive Social Distancing with Your Mental Wellness Intact.

Head & Heart therapist Caroline Thomas was so excited to be featured on 9&10 local news! We shared information on:

• Anxiety: When to get help, and what you can do yourself to feel better now.

• Seasonal Affective Disorder: What’s the difference between feeling down in the winter and “SAD”, when to get help, and how to feel better.

We teach our brains and hearts with our actions. Teaching ourselves that there is always someone out there to listen is a key component of life-long self-esteem and healthy boundaries in relations

Our happiness and our health is dependent on us feeling connected, but how do we achieve that? 

Good news: many parents see an increase in warmth, connection and positive behaviors by learning simple playtime tools to focus attention on positive behaviors. Using the PRIDE Skills (Praise, Reflect, Imitate, Describe, and Enjoy), we take a quick break from all the correcting and directing of everyday parenting and learn new ways to call attention to desired behaviors, nurturing and reinforcing the good stuff we see from our kids.

Anxiety puts puts our kids at risk of missing out on life experiences as they will develop the tendency to avoid new or challenging situations. So how do we balance supporting our kids when their alarm bells are firing, without reinforcing their anxiety?   We use a “Wise Minded” approach and implement our best DBT skills!

Just in time for the transition back to school, let’s talk about how to help your child manage anxiety! Changes are hard and anxiety is a powerful force, but we can support our kids as they face the back-to-school jitters using evidence-based tools.

Praise is a cornerstone of most parent’s daily routine. And with a few minor tweaks, you can substantially boost the impact of your praise. These strategies for praise really work to increase positive behaviors all while improving your child's self esteem and increasing the warmth in your relationship. How good is that?

Dads are so important. This Father’s Day, let’s work to change how we talk about their role in the family. In our families, we can allow space for “masculine” to include the qualities of being nurturing, attentive, and gentle. The qualities of fathers.

Parents practice the first step in Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) every day. We explore the world of dialectics: seemingly opposing forces that co-exist, rather than exclude one another. The secret is the "and": I love my son in a deeper way than I can describe and if he doesn’t stop whining immediately I might lose my mind. In DBT, we allow that every perspective is accurate in its own way and holds a kernel of truth. Freedom exists in this grey area; I am free to acknowledge that parenting needn’t be either joyful or challenging. The truth is all of the above. 

Just like you want to invest your finances wisely, you also want to invest your Parenting Currency wisely to get the strongest dividends. Shifting how you invest your attention dramatically increases your parenting joy, improves your relationship with your child, and promotes positive behaviors

Our perspective shapes our reality. Our kids don’t need perfect parents who beat themselves up about parenting. They need loving parents who practice the same patience and compassion for themselves as they do their friends and family.  You can challenge any thoughts creating emotional distress and embrace a more joyful and compassionate approach to parenting