As children we are naturally playful, it's how we learn about the world ourselves and one another. Curiosity, imagination and creativity drive these interactions and experiences, and we are more apt to live in the present when playing as kids. In the transition from childhood to adulthood a lot of adults lose connection with the playful parts of themselves that seem to come so naturally to them as kids. Adult responsibilities and systems usually take over, and play is something that is not prioritized in many adults and therefore is left behind.

How do you define the word “hope?” Do you define it as wishful thinking or some ethereal ideal that sounds nice, but feels unachievable? The American Psychological Association (APA) defines hope as “the expectation that one will have positive experiences or that a potentially threatening or negative situation will not materialize or will ultimately result in a favorable state of affairs” (www.psychologytoday.com). Notice that the APA acknowledges that threatening and negative situations exist as do the possibility (or hope) that these situations can become better. I would like to suggest that this could be called “informed hope” versus “blind hope.” We can have informed hope which recognizes the troubles that threaten our world while still holding onto the belief that change is possible. 

If you live in Florida, you may be aware of ICE presence. If you do not, ICE is a government run group of people enforcing immigration laws. Because of the increasing presence in the last several weeks, it is important to remember that all individuals in the United States have rights, regardless of immigration status. Here is some information that can help you protect yourself and your family.

Whenever someone comes and sits down in my office we have questions we have to ask, but there are a few that stand out to me when we’re talking about building a foundation for improving mental health. When looking at how to care for your mental wellness in the new year; water is a great place to start.

What do you think of when you think of the word “health?” Do you think about your physical or mental health? These are the first two that come to my mind. However, there are many types of health. Years ago, I spoke with someone who was studying what they called “different types of intelligence.” She talked to me about how someone can be musically intelligent or mathematically intelligent.  In a similar way, there are different types of health. A person may have fantastic physical health, but poor financial health. Or vice versa, someone may have solid financial health, but poor physical health. Just as there are different types of intelligence, there are different types of health. For this piece, we will focus on 8 different types of health. They are: emotional health, social health, physical health, spiritual health, intellectual health, environmental health, occupational health and financial health.