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It started with a lunch invitation. Ten years ago, Jane Fowler and I were coworkers at a private practice, slated to help open a second location. We were colleagues, acquaintances really, but we weren't yet partners. One afternoon, Jane asked me to lunch. I expected a strategy meeting about our employer's new office. Instead, she looked me in the eye and presented an idea that stopped me in my tracks: "We can do this ourselves." I was shocked. Becoming a business owner was no

Secular ritual is simply the practice of including structured, symbolic, and repetitive actions into your day that help center you and meet your emotional and psychological needs. Many ritual habits are simple.  I like to cuddle with my dog every morning before getting out of bed. 

Among the Al-Anon literature, there is a book titled Hope for Today, which is a collection of reflections written by adult children of alcoholics who are on their own path to recovery from the trauma and experiences of their childhood. The writers reexamine and reconsider their relationships with their parents through the lens of maturity […]

For two decades, I’ve had the privilege of working with countless individuals—from high-powered executives to dedicated parents—all striving to be more efficient and effective in their lives. And in the present day, there’s a new challenge that keeps surfacing, a silent but significant drain on us to live out our best lives: digital fatigue. You […]

When you hear the word “ADHD” (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), what comes to mind? Maybe you picture a restless child, bouncing in their seat, blurting out answers in class. Teachers scolding them to “sit still” and “focus.” That’s the stereotype most of us know. But ADHD doesn’t vanish the moment you turn 18. Instead, it […]

When I started my career as a therapist, one of the first trends I noticed with my clients was how difficult it is for many of them to understand the distinction between a feeling and a thought. Feeling and cognition have become synonymous for many of us, leading to a pattern of conflating emotions and […]

After nearly 20 years in the field of mental health, I’ve seen firsthand that effective therapy must be a deeply personal journey. It’s a story told between two people, and for that story to lead to true healing, the teller needs to feel seen, heard, and understood on multiple levels. This is the heart of […]

Over my years as a therapist, I have come to understand that there is a popular concept of PTSD that often looks very different from the actual disorder. When my friends talk about a trauma response, they often reference what I like to call “Hollywood PTSD”, which is the image of the disorder that has […]

I have never been a huge fan of New Year’s Resolutions. From a young age, I understood the reality that there are the plans we make, and then there the events that life sends us that derail those plans. My approach to building a direction for my life has been more about picking a “vibe” […]

As Memorial Day draws near, we pause a moment to salute the brave servicemen and women who gave their ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. It’s a day filled with reflection and heartfelt thanks. For many veterans and their families this day becomes a bittersweet reminder of those ongoing challenges which remain long after […]

Mental healthcare is a fundamental right, not a luxury. As a private practice owner, I’ve dedicated my career to breaking down the financial barriers that too often prevent individuals from accessing the support they desperately need. It’s a passion that stems from a deep-seated belief: money should never be the obstacle to taking care of […]

Back in my previous life as a college professor, I had to teach a course titled “Fundamentals of Quantitative Data Analysis”. This is a fancy way of saying “statistics”. I was teaching statistics. To social science majors. The first day of class, I was usually met with a crowd of faces displaying the kind of […]

Prior to the pandemic, most of us had the same relationship to telehealth that we had to driving a Lamborghini. We knew it was an option, but most of us hadn’t had the opportunity to try it. Over a few weeks, that changed suddenly, and we found ourselves relying on telehealth for everything from routine […]

Alright, settle in folks, Jenai Tidwell, LPC-S is about to climb onto her soapbox – a very comfortable, plush soapbox, mind you, because we prioritize comfort in these parts. I’ve been in this mental health game for nearly twenty years. Two whole decades wading through the beautiful, messy, and utterly human landscape of the mind. […]

Have you ever wondered why hugging a baby, snuggling your pet, or laughing at a really funny video can make you feel so good? That warm, happy feeling isn’t accidental-it’s your brain doing what it does best! Your brain has a powerful reward system that depends on natural chemicals, neurotransmitters, to make you feel good, […]

I have been hearing the word “burnout” a lot in sessions lately. Clients are burnt out at work. They are burnt out by media and digital overload. They are burning out on the constant lack of certainty that seems to be the new normal. They are scared of feeling burnt out by parenting and caregiving. […]

Most of us know that stress is bad for us. We have been told continuously, from childhood on, that controlling stress is an important part of maintaining physical and mental health over the course of a lifetime. This is due to allostatic load, or the cumulative impact of chronic stress on our bodies […]

Bipolar disorder isn’t just one thing; it’s a spectrum of experiences, marked by those dramatic mood swings we often hear about. Let’s break it down, focusing on how it shows up in adults and kids, because it’s surprisingly different. First, the types: Bipolar I Disorder: Think of this as the “classic” version. It’s defined by […]

I think of sleep as the salt of mental health. Without proper seasoning, food tastes bland, and that lack of nuance, texture, and flavor immediately becomes all we notice when it is not there. Without proper sleep, our brains fixate on the lack of resilience, focus, and flexibility that results when we are not properly […]

From scrolling through TikTok to binge-watching Netflix, screen time is an inevitable part of modern life. We use screens for everything—work, entertainment, social connections, and even relaxation. But how much is too much? At what point does screen time stop being a harmless distraction and start affecting our mental health and well-being?