Latest posts
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The Science of Happiness: How to Boost Your Four Feel-Good Brain Chemicals
Happiness Isn’t Random. It’s Chemical One fascinating aspect of the brain is the way it produces different chemicals, often referred to as neurotransmitters, that play a significant role in regulating our mood, behavior, and overall well-being. Our brains are actually wired for happiness! The four main ‘happy chemicals’ are: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. By
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Underground Calm: What Exploring Some Caves Taught Me About Slowing Down
It was a typical Florida day, the kind where it’s 90 degrees by 10am, with the humidity at 400% and me wondering why I even bothered to do my hair. So when my boyfriend suggested checking out the Dames Caves in Lecanto, FL, I thought it sounded like something interesting to do, so I said
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How to Build a Coping Toolkit (That Actually Helps When Life Gets Messy)
If you’ve ever found yourself spiraling and thinking, ‘I need something to help me calm down, right now,’ that’s exactly where a coping toolkit can help. Emotional ups and downs are inevitable in life, but the tools you have to deal with them can make a difference. We can’t stop the chaos, but we can
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The First Time I Saw a Manatee (and Why It Stayed With Me)
The very first time I went paddle boarding, I had the unexpected gift of seeing some manatees. Not off in the distance. Not swimming by. They were directly under my paddleboard before I even realized they were there. If you’ve never seen a manatee in real life, here is something important to know. They are
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How to Create a Bedtime Routine That Actually Helps You Sleep
The struggle is real. If you’ve ever scrolled yourself straight into insomnia, congratulations. You are part of a very tired club. For years, I told my therapy clients to create calming bedtime routines, but mine looked like ‘answer one more email and fall asleep to Netflix.’ It took me a lot of time and trial
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A Therapist’s Guide to Self-Compassion: 5 Practical Ways to Be Kinder to Yourself
Most of us find it easy to be kind to others. offering empathy, understanding, and forgiveness when they struggle. But when it comes to ourselves? The tone changes. We become critical, impatient, and demanding. As a therapist, I’ve seen this pattern in nearly every client, and I’ve lived it myself. We think being hard on
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How to Start the New Year with Grace, Not Guilt
Every January, it seems like the world collectively decides that we should all be “better.” Healthier. Happier. More productive. More organized. The pressure of resolutions and “new year, new me” culture can feel like a full-time job. Then add in social media with everyone’s highlight reels of motivation and vision boards, and it’s easy to
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Journaling Prompts for the End of the Year
There’s something about the end of the year that makes us want to pause, reflect, and maybe panic-clean our emotional closets. I’ve been journaling since I received a diary for Christmas when I was 9 years old. Thankfully, I still have all of those old journals and love to skim through them again every now
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What Paddle Boarding Taught Me About Anxiety (And Life)
The first time I went paddle boarding, I was terrified to even try to stand up. I sat for the first half hour because I was convinced I would fall off the board immediately and maybe even get eaten by an alligator (it was fresh water in Florida after all). My brain immediately went into
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How to Protect Your Peace During the Holidays
(When “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Feels Like Chaos Wrapped in Tinsel) Ah, the holidays, that magical time of year when family drama, financial stress, and unrealistic expectations come gift-wrapped in twinkly lights and sprinkled with guilt. Don’t get me wrong, there are parts I love: cozy lights, watching my dogs stare at