by:  Beth Lewis, Yoga & Mindfulness Instructor Touch is one of the most basic and important forms of communication in our everyday lives.  The benefits and importance of touch (or haptic communication) are often underestimated. While reading The Ethical Use of Touch in Psychotherapy, I was fascinated to learn that in the developing fetus “the skin and the nervous system...[ read more ]

by Amanda Smith, LCSW There are so many fantastic resources for self-care out there today. But combing through it all can sometimes be overwhelming. Sometimes, when I'm scouring the internet for these types of resources, I feel like I'm in self-care overload mode. Quite honestly, it can get a little exhausting. So to save you lots of time, energy, and...[ read more ]

by Spencer Lee, MSW Intern  A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a meeting that was kicked off with a mindfulness exercise. The leader of the exercise told us to notice our bodies. So, naturally, I did just that. I noticed that my back was really sore, and there was a lot of pressure. I tried my best to not...[ read more ]

by Amanda Smith, LCSW Self-care isn't as complicated as we make it out to be. I can't tell you how often I hear people express legit anxiety about not feeling like they practice enough self-care. The thing we do to help alleviate anxiety somehow becomes the thing that stresses us the most. It's pretty counterproductive if you think about it....[ read more ]

by Mercedes McLaughlin, CMSW, LCSW “Ten more steps, just ten more steps… Five breathe in, four, three breathe out, two, one now exhale. Ok just ten more steps again, you can do anything with the power of ten.”  These thoughts rang clear and loud in my head as I ascended my first strenuous hike in over a decade. Flash backward...[ read more ]

by Amanda Smith, LCSW When it comes to self-care, knowing ourselves is the key. We are all uniquely designed with various values, interests, habits, and hobbies. So it makes sense that not all types of self-care work for everyone. For those of us who are creatives, there are many opportunities to find self-care in the things we already love and...[ read more ]

by Amanda Smith, LCSW What I find most annoying about the idea of "self-care" is that it has to be expensive. There is way too much noise out there telling us that taking care of ourselves means spending a lot of money on a lot of stuff. Sure, it's healthy to treat yourself every once and a while, but there...[ read more ]

Self-Care applies to every aspect of our life. It isn't one specific thing or activity; self-care is a concept. It's a lifestyle. It's how we take care of ourselves.  Self-care is a multifaceted practice. Not only do we have physical needs, but also social needs and emotional needs. Each aspect of health requires a unique approach. Identifying our needs in...[ read more ]

by Amanda Smith, LCSW I don't know about you, but I have a serious love-hate relationship with the whole "New Year's Resolution" thing. Every year it's the same thing- I set out to x and perfect every single aspect of my life, and within 30 seconds of the stroke of midnight, I've already screwed something up. We don't even get...[ read more ]

By Jessica King   Have you ever heard the phrase, “Listen to your heart, because it knows the way”?  According to research and a new tool Stillpoint will soon be offering, this couldn’t be more true. Heart Math has 25 years of research and technology that believes in the heart-brain connection as well as the influence it has on our...[ read more ]