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Life Kit podcast ran a fascinating episode this week on the key to happiness, featuring an expert who made the distinction between choices that “makes us feel right” and decisions that “makes us feel happy”.  She offered the example of going to visit a sick friend in the hospital.  We know that this act probably will not bring us joy or a sense of peace. We don’t expect the hospital environment to boost our mood, and we don’t equate being there with being happy.  We equate it

The recent news of the strikes initiated by the U.S. and Israel has left many of us feeling a profound sense of heaviness. As we watch the conflict unfold, it’s hard not to feel that our society—already brittle from years of economic strain and the lingering shadows of the pandemic—is being pushed to a breaking point. When global giants clash, the ripples don’t just hit the stock market; they hit our living rooms, our sleep, and our collective peace of mind. War forces us i

Have you ever caught yourself doom-scrolling? You open Instagram or TikTok for a few minutes, and before you know it, you’ve gone down a rabbit hole of watching everyone else live their best life. You see vacations, engagement announcements, fitness transformations, new homes, promotions, perfectly decorated spaces, and “that girl” morning routines. Somewhere in between all of that, questions start to pop up in your head: Why am I not there yet? Why don’t I look like that? Sh

Subtitle: Examining how emotional regulation supports resilience, decision-making, and well-being during high-stress moments—and how therapy can help individuals build steadiness when life feels overwhelming.   One of my favorite parts of being a therapist has been learning about the ways that other people think about and understand their emotions, especially when they experience them as extreme, heightened, or intense.  Many of my clients struggle to regulate their emotions

I have always had a complicated relationship with “mindfulness”.  Many people have framed mindfulness in a variety of ways.  Some described it as an inner calm characterized by a lack of thought.  As a designated ovoverthinkerI am skeptical at best.  Others describe a state of being in the moment fully and without distraction.  I live to multi-task.  My rabbi framed it as an appreciation of the small, quotidian joys in life.  I have had a gratitude practice for years, so? “M

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, […]