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Written by: VERONICA SALCIDO RODRIGUEZ, MA Being the primary caregiver to a person with Alzheimer’s or another dementia can be very difficult. It is a hard job seldom ask for but falls on the lap of the next to kin and closest loved one to the person who needs the care. Often, these responsibilities are an unplanned, yet a necessary part of life. Being a caregiver means that you care for the person you love the most and you watch them go through their own and sometimes heart wrenching difficulties and t[...]

Written by: JEAN PIERRE BRAVO, MA The therapy process can easily be compared to a bridge. Just like therapy, a bridge has a beginning, a middle and an end. We all face challenges throughout our lifespan and may encounter many bridges within our lifetime. There will be bridges that you can cross yourself, but there will be times when we need extra support and guidance to accomplish this task. As a mental health clinician my job is to guide my clients through the bridge that they are currently having challe[...]

Written by: JEAN PIERRE BRAVO, AMFT Art Therapy is a mental health field that improves the lives of individuals, couples, families, and communities. Art Therapy is facilitated by a professional Art Therapist who uses psychological theories to improve cognition and sensorimotor functions, foster self esteem, raise awareness, cultivate resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce conflicts and distress, and promote societal and ecological change. Art in therapy engages the mind, body, and spir[...]

Written By: Raquel Martinez, MSW We live in a society in which perfection is what is deemed ideal. The standards are high, and we seem to forget that no one is perfect. We have unrealistic expectations of ourselves and when unmet, we internalize the ‘failure’ and move further away from self-acceptance. When it comes to focusing on our mental health, we must first work on accepting ourselves. The thing about mental illness is that people want you to behave as if you do not have one. Therefore, you live[...]

Written by: CLARICE STOUT, MA Exercise has so many benefits other than the physical parts of it and making your body healthy. There is much research on how even just moderate exercise can really help with symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, and traumas. All in all, with some form of exercise it is known to help with mental health by boosting your mood, creating a better sleep pattern, and boosts self-esteem and thinking. According to Mikkelsen et al., (2017), they reprot that being in tune with your bo[...]

Written by: Leya Worcester, MSW, LCSW   Anger is an emotion word that conjures up distaste. You may be thinking, “I’m not an angry person.” Or, if you are less skilled at managing anger, you may be thinking, “I act like the Incredible Hulk when I’m angry.” What’s interesting about these polar opposite reactions is that in both cases, both individuals feel anger. We can’t avoid it. Anger is an emotion we all feel, and we all feel anger for a reason (Lerner, 1985). The problem with[...]

Written: BRENDA LIRA MIRANDA, MSW There is a lot of information and discussion around exercise as a way to lose weight, enhance body aesthetics, and/or for medical health benefits. However, there is little awareness or information that focuses on the connection between mental health and exercise. In my personal and professional experience, physical exercise improves mental health, medical health, and quality of life.  It is very common for individuals who are experiencing mental health illness suc[...]