Have you geared up for the New Year, ready to dive into a fresh chapter of self-improvement and growth? As the calendar flips, it's natural to contemplate the resolutions that might define the next twelve months. But before penning down those goals, take a moment to consider a few crucial points. Setting New Year's resolutions in Westchester isn't just about aspirations—it's about crafting a blueprint for success. In this blog, we'll explore three essential factors that can m

In short: Complex trauma comes from repeated or prolonged trauma, often in childhood or close relationships, and can affect emotions, self-worth, and relationships. Simple tools like slow breathing, bilateral tapping, and short, trauma-sensitive meditation can help calm the nervous system between therapy sessions. (Updated October 2026) If you’re old enough, you probably remember the way technology was not always so wireless, neatly designed, and aesthetically pleasing. You k

Starting college or returning to school after a break can be an exciting yet daunting journey. It's a time of new beginnings, fresh opportunities, and personal growth. However, along with these positive aspects, life transitions can also bring about significant changes in mental and emotional well-being. In this article, we'll explore the impact of life transitions on college students' mental health and provide valuable tips to help ease the process and ensure a smooth transi

In short: Music helps us heal because it directly affects the nervous system, mood, and memory. Listening to or making music can lower stress, help us feel understood, and give painful emotions a safe outlet, which makes music one of the most accessible coping skills available. (Updated October 2026) It’s common these days to hear someone preface any information they’re about to share with the fact that it’s from a study. And sometimes this is necessary to distinguish opinion

I’ve written before about some of the spoils of the modern world and their effects on our mental health. We trade quality nourishment for time with the foods we eat, unique memories for story posts and external validation that we do, in fact, attend events, and healthy human curiosity for instantaneous misinformation from search engines and social media. Unfortunately, we also trade decisiveness for the abundance of choice, which leads to what is known as decision fatigue. By

Checking in with your mental health: Life can feel like it's moving at such a fast pace that sometimes we forget to check in with how...

In short: LGBTQIA+ people face higher rates of anxiety, depression, and trauma, not because of who they are, but because of minority stress such as discrimination, rejection, and having to hide. Affirming therapy, supportive community, affirming healthcare, and good self-care all protect LGBTQIA+ mental health. (Updated October 2026) One of the most pressing and important topics facing the LGBTQIA+ community today is mental health. Mental illness disproportionately affects th

Are you ever overwhelmed by all the things on your to-do list and feel like you'll never get it done? We've all been there, especially if goal setting seems overwhelming. The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way. By breaking down big goals into smaller tasks and stacking healthy habits, you can make larger strides in achieving the things that are most important to you without feeling discouraged or burned out. Let's explore how goal setting and stacking healthy ha

The what, why and how of the window of tolerance & 3 ways to practice widening your window of tolerance What is the window of tolerance? The “window of tolerance” is a term coined by Dan Seigel, MD. It is defined as: "the optimal zone of 'arousal' for a person to function in everyday life". It is the autonomic nervous system state in which we can tolerate and function through certain experiences, emotions, and situations. Being in your window of tolerance does not mean that y

We’ve all heard the expression “fake it till you make it”. We might be describing the process of going through the motions at work until we clock out for the day. Or maybe its drinking corporate Kool-Aid to appear to be a more engaged employee. In social settings, it may involve wearing a more extroverted mask to flow with the occasion. But whichever way the expression is used, it always indicates some form of pretending to be experiencing something that we are not at that mo

One of the latest trends in mainstream society is the Ancestral Lifestyle. Its followers broadcast a simple message – to do as our early ancestors did and rise above the blanket of depression and anxiety that covers every part of the modern world. Our ignored primal instincts do in fact echo loudly in our minds in the form of negative thoughts, self-hatred, crippling anxiety, and unnecessary violence today. And based on evolutionary psychology, much of what we perceive to be

The end of summer is fast approaching (sad, I know), which means it's time to start thinking about getting your kids back-to-school ready. This isn't an easy task for anyone and the kids certainly dread it, but getting organized before you start, can make this transition a bit easier. Here are six tips to help make the transition a little smoother: Routine is key: Helping your child get back into a regular sleep and wake schedule a few weeks before school starts is important.

You don’t have to be an expert on trauma or psychology to know that there is a strong correlation between emotional pain and creativity. Trauma can lead to a hyperactive right brain hemisphere, and the ‘mind’ (left hemisphere, or the ‘storyteller’ of the brain) will always work to symbolize what the inner brain/body have endured. If words can’t explain a visceral experience, our minds have the automatic inclination to search for other methods to express the feeling of what ha

We are more than half way into the year, and that means it's time for a mental health check in! Just like you would schedule a doctor's appointment, your mental health should be a priority as well. Taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body, and this is a perfect time to do a check in with yourself, see how you're really doing and assess if something needs to be done. A mental health check in can help you reset. Here are some Mental Health check

Every now and then, we need a little help explaining things to kids. Trying to change the language to kid-appropriate lingo can be hard at times and there’s no shame in needing a bit of help! Mental health is becoming more prominent in our society and parents/care-givers want to teach their children about mental health issues earlier in life and sometimes don't know how (which is totally understandable and relatable).There are tons of books explaining emotions, coping tools,

I want to start by saying: all emotions are good emotions. Yes, some are more uncomfortable to experience versus others- but each emotion...

In short: Difficult conversations are uncomfortable, but they are not always bad. Handled with care, they build trust, clear up misunderstandings, and help you speak up for yourself. Listening to understand, suspending judgment, using "I" statements, and pausing when emotions run high make them easier. (Updated October 2026) When we think of the word “conflict” often times our thoughts jump straight to: “How can I avoid this?” or “It’s fine-It's not a big deal anyway”. These

5 Tips to Improve Emotional Intelligence What Does it Mean to be Successful? Success is a subjective term. Most people hear successful and immediately think wealthy. But everyone has their OWN version of what it means to be successful in their own life. But in order to BE successful (any type of successful), it takes a lot more than just pushing yourself. Hustle culture is REAL. And while there is some truth to being able to push yourself, that’s only PART of the equation.

Have we turned into Human "Doings"? One of the ways the technological revolution has created difficulty for human beings to experience joy is by stripping away the awareness to also be human doings. Scientists have proven that instantaneous reward, tightly woven throughout society, has fundamentally shifted the machinery responsible for dopamine production and maintenance. This was demonstrated by classically conditioning subjects to expect a taste of sweet fruit juice upon t

A New Way to Think about New Year Goals