We are all prone to an occasional irrational thought. For some of us, these happen more consistently, so much so, that they become our automatic way of thinking. One way to combat this type of thinking is to first acknowledge when we are even experiencing it.

As the holiday season is approaching, remember that all foods can fit into a healthy diet. Teaching your children that certain foods are something that they should limit or fear, will not help them regulate it better. It is important to learn how to help your child form a healthy and positive relationship with all foods, including sweets and foods that contain sugar. Learning to help them listen to their body, specifically in regards to their sugar intake, can make a huge impact on their ability to properly nourish their bodies.

There is something extremely unique and special about the relationship a client and a therapist have.  However special that might be, it can also be a scary, daunting first step to take when you choose to go to therapy for the first time.  Not only are you opening up about experiences that have caused you great suffering, you’re also sharing it with a total stranger at first!  I recognize this and will validate…. It’s weird!  So, let’s humanize this experience by talking about some things that therapists wish our clients knew.

Many people categorize their emotions as either “good” or “bad.” Typically, emotions such as anger, jealously, sadness, or frustration are considered “bad,” while emotions such as happiness, joy, love, or excitement are considered “good.” However, there are no “good” or “bad” emotions. Learning how to view your emotions as teachers can make a huge impact on your life.

Appropriate Mental health diagnoses and treatment can be quite the struggle for some individuals, especially with the presence of stigma and misconceptions. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the most misunderstood which can lead to hopelessness, fear and anxiety. To fight that, lets debunk myths vs. facts in regard to BPD!

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a new diagnosis in the DSM-5 and for the eating disorder community. While prevalence in the general pediatric population is not known, rates of ARFID are between 5% and 14% in pediatric inpatient eating disorder programs and up to 22.5% in a pediatric eating disorder day treatment program.1 What’s more, the few studies that have examined ARFID in adults suggest that it may be just as common as the better-known eating disorders.2 ARFID is largely unseen and has been misunderstood for years and, still, there is little research and understanding of the condition. What’s more, because of the myriad of “unknowns” of this condition, health care practitioners may find it increasingly challenging to work collaboratively in order to appropriately treat the disorder.

When you are experiencing trauma, it’s it normal to wonder how you will recover and feel like yourself again.  You may feel like the experience(s) has forever changed you.  The truth is, it probably has.  However, the change you experience can be positive and long lasting.  Through trauma you can experience Post- Traumatic Growth (PTG).  PTG impact most likely won’t be immediate, but over time, you can give your pain purpose and learn to see beautiful again.

Learning to honor and respect your body’s needs in a society infused with toxic diet culture messages can be confusing and at times down right terrifying. We are taught to hold the belief that if only we reached “X “number of pounds we would happier and live a more fulfilling live. Diet culture teaches us to use external factors to guide the eating process (counting calories, timed eating, macros, etc.). Fortunately, with intention and support, we can reignite our intuitive selves. Intuitive Eating is a process in which individuals learn to tune into their internal signals. If you’ve spent years following diets or self-imposed food rules, it can be a challenge to tune inward and trust your body. This process is NOT “perfect”. This process is NOT linear. This process IS powerful and life changing. You CAN let go of the diet culture noise and (re)learn to respect and honor your body and ultimately, “Treasure the Pleasure” of a healthy relationship with food and your body. What diet culture belief can you begin to let go of to embark on your Intuitive Eating journey?

If you notice struggles in communication with your partner, you are not alone, and this blog is for you. Communication difficulties are one of the most common reasons why couples seek out therapy. There is no shame in struggling with this. Real help and solutions are available that can make your relationship stronger, healthier, and happier.

Boundaries are, in fact, loving and we can love deeper with healthy boundaries! When we set clearly defined expectations of ourselves and others, it can result in feelings of safety, security, and respect. It can be truly empowering to set boundaries so, let's commit to setting them together.

One of the amazing things about working with clients is being able to see them come back to themselves. As the layers of the eating disorder are discarded the individual starts to move back into their own. A brightness can return with all of the amazing connections the individual makes now that the eating disorder is being shed. It’s especially at this point that the individual can offer such a great perspective on recovery and their own eating disorder. Below is a piece written by someone who did just that: Moved into recovery and was able to speak so well on the topic. This blog does such a great job reminding us that eating disorders come in many shapes and sizes and that all individuals deserve to get better. Although this writer is not an eating disorder treatment professional she writes beautifully on the topic!

Some people look forward to the holiday season with excitement, but then find themselves feeling melancholy once they are over. The dark mornings and darker evenings can lead to hard feelings often referred to as “the winter blues”.  Briea Frestel, LCSW, CADC gives us all the deets on how to make the gloomy days feel a little brighter.

The team at Lotus Therapy Group have teamed up and shared some of our favorite books to aid in your own crusade for mental health! From guided workbooks to daily journals to poetry and words of wisdom we are certain there is something here for you (or a loved one!).

Social Anxiety Disorder is the third most common mental health diagnosis. Find out how we use exposure therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients overcome this often debilitating condition.

“What are you grateful for?” One of the most commonly asked questions this time of year can be one of the most difficult questions for those struggling with their mental health. How do we take our power back and experience both our emotions AND gratitude at the same time?

Body image very rarely is about our actual body. Oftentimes body image stems from a lack of self-worth and value as well as a perceived loss of control. Diet culture revs up this unhealthy and irrational view of our bodies by creating the fantasy that if our bodies are “fixed” our lives might be fixed as well. Although body image can be deeply rooted and lead to poor self-esteem and even the development of an eating disorder there is hope. Body image is a learned behavior and can be reversed!

As your child(ren) head back to school, you may see them starting to experience an increase in anxiety. For students that face school anxiety the struggle is real.  For parents of students that face school anxiety, the struggle is also real. Here are some quick tips to help your child manage school anxiety/school refusal.  

Food is energy, food is culture, food is comfort. Food has always, and will always, be an integral aspect of life. If you’re feeling stuck in the mindset of “good foods” and “bad foods” I encourage to widen your lens. What other values can you see in food outside of nutritional value? It is undeniable that foods hold sensory values, emotional values, and environmental values. Intentionally incorporate variety in your intake and see what happens when you view food from the context of all of its values. What values feel important to you? By shifting our focus we are able to widen food acceptance and reduce guilt. Who doesn’t want that?!

We are often told that in order to be healthy, we need to be happy. But if we place pressure on ourselves to always feel happy, we are setting ourselves up for an unattainable goal. Let’s take a look at a healthier perspective on happiness and all the other emotions that come along with living fully.

In an age where much of our time is spent online, it’s easy to feel impacted by the people you follow. Although social media has shown vast positive outcomes, we need to talk about the harmful portrayal of perfection, self-objectification, and digital manipulation. Following the never ending diet trends and using filters won’t lead you to a meaningful life, but instead a life of constantly chasing an unattainable standard. At the end of the day, we are just women seeking connection and wanting to feel enough.