Preparing your child for therapy Tip #3

3) Explain the therapy process.

Talk to your child about the specific therapy that they will be receiving. If it is play therapy for example, ask the potential counselor for a fact sheet about his/her practice before your child meets their new practitioner. Research the topic online and try to find Youtube clips or supportive apps that can provide a good explanation to your child about what therapy is. This is also a great time to empower your child to think about what they would want to talk about in their sessions. Many young people feel like they have to keep many thoughts and feelings bottled inside-help them to understand that this is a special time for them to feel free to express their hidden thoughts with someone who wants to listen and help.

NEW GROUP SIGN UP ( Summer Parenting Circle)

Summer Parenting Circle Therapy Group begins June 27th! This workshop/group is designed to help participants to embrace self-care and support. We focus on creative activities, self-help based discussion, mindfulness and overall mental health. This is your day of the week to relieve stress and to find solutions that can help you cope with parenting in a healthy and solution-focused environment. 5 sessions for $120. Sign up here on the side bar. Have questions? Email: info@taramichener.com or call 734-968-4458

SENSORY SENSATIONS

Self-care is one of the first things that gets taken off of the list when people tend to be stressed. My suggestion? Do something easy and quick to spark your senses. A couple of ideas? SENSORY To calm your mind, focus on the sensations around you—sights, smells, sounds, tastes, touch… The present moment can give you a much needed vacation from your worries. A textured blanket can be great to snuggle under while getting computer tasks accomplished. Even the noise from a running faucet or the sound of rain can be true music to our ears. The season is ripe for fireplaces and if you do not have one-go to a nearby coffee shop and watch there fireplace while you feed your taste buds coffee, cider, tea or a beverage of choice. However you decide to treat yourself give your senses full rein and allow them to take part in the process. Would you benefit from a self-care regimen? Email our office at info@taramichener.com Scheduling an appointment to gain insight, techniques and tools can allow you to live a life with self-care strategies that work for you.

Fresh Air can bring fresh thoughts

In my state we have had our fair share of snow. Every season can bring forth great progress but I am glad that today it is sunny and the white stuff is melting. The forecast is warning us that it is not over. I decided that if that is true-I will enjoy today. I will bask in the fact that I can walk in today's puddles that might become tomorrow's ice. So I did. I took a break from paperwork, research and client files and I put on my sneakers. I put off the pending manuscript and I tied my laces. I said to myself that the filing and organizing could wait and I stuck earbuds in my ears. I loved every bit of it. I took a two hour walk. I smiled, I had a chance to catch my breath and I let my thoughts flow. I appreciated the time to myself and with nature. We can't always have sunny days in March but when we do-we have to take advantage of them if we can. Can you take a walk today or just step outside and breath in the fresh air? It might make a difference.

Monday Needs to be your Motivation

Have you heard complaints about Monday? Jokes? We can work together to make sure that Monday is not a punch line but better yet-a starting line. This is the beginning of your week. We should get motivated about having a fresh start, a new beginning and a blank slate. Whatever happened last week might effect your mood but it is up to you to take today by storm and change your future for the better. Are you ready? I am. What can you do to make today better for yourself and better than last week? Make a list and get started.

Self-care Saturdays

What is one thing that you can do to take care of yourself today? Just one. I don't want you to write a list because that will turn into a project. Projects are not bad-but they are not considered self-care. Did you think of one thing? Awesome. Do it! No matter what-make it happen. We have 24 hours in one day. It is okay if you use a fraction of it for you. When you give yourself time to take a walk, a nap or even a minute to indulge in a non-work related magazine you give yourself permission to be cared for. You deserve it! Feel free to share your self-care Saturday experience with us in the comments!

If you have only 1 minute we have thoughts

Welcome to my Mental Health blog! I'm Tara. I wear many hats in my career. I am an author, advocate, entrepreneur and contributing journalist for various publications. The hat that I am very proud of is my role as a private practice therapist. I am able to listen to amazing clients and help them through their personal journey to mental wellness and I consider this a blessing. This blog will be a place for my thoughts, ideas, resources and special events and offerings going on at my practice. It will also be a place for you to take a quick break during the day and get some fresh insight on a variety of topics in relation to mental health. Thanks for stopping by!