Just a poem that casually contemplates existence — One day I tripped and fell through a crack in the earth into a cave below the surface where my lungs turned to dirt and my veins became long tangled worms that swam in twisted knots while my heart was baked in black, molten tar that bubbled and erupted through…

How am I supposed to become a writer if I never write? — How am I supposed to become a writer if I never write? If I never have the time or space to dive into my unfiltered thoughts? To put chaos onto paper or my imagination into words? It’s not that I don’t write. It’s that I am writing for people. I…

No one thrives when they’re backed into a corner — As a mental health counselor, I see Choice as one of the most impactful concepts in my work with clients. I have seen how acknowledging the choices we have within our experiences begins to offer a mental release that lends itself to an increase in well-being. Confusing? Stick with me. …

What to consider when seeking out mental health support — Mental health counselors are licensed professionals who treat individuals struggling with psychological, emotional, cognitive, or behavioral concerns. Counselors are there to offer support, guidance, and tools to individuals whose mental health is preventing them from fully engaging in life. It can be challenging to know whether or not it is…

What to say when someone is struggling and nothing seems to work — I work as an individual counselor, so I don’t see families or couples very often. But, when I do schedule a family or couple’s session, it is typically for one reason — to help teach loved ones ways to support my client. Every human has their default method for supporting…

Focus your attention on one goal and see what a difference it makes. — For a long time, I have been fighting for more. I wanted to produce more art, write more pieces, and be accepted into more magazines. I wanted to do more in hopes that, then, my dream of becoming a full-time writer would happen faster. Do more, get more — was…

I am a mental health counselor who is seeing a trend of over-identification with personal struggles, which is leading to a decreased desire to heal. — I work with clients who struggle with mental illnesses and, even through processing, skill building, and psycho-education, they remain stuck. I beginning to explore one reason why this may be the case. More Comfortable with Struggling I had an interesting conversation with a client last week about being stuck in their mental health recovery…

What makes people feel at peace? — Noisiness, busyness, and too-much-ness have been common themes among the dozens of people I have worked with during my time working as a professional counselor. …

A search for how to live a healthy life — I’ve been working as a professional mental health counselor for only a few years, but before that, I spent years in and out of treatment facilities and therapist’s offices. Through my experience, I have met and worked with hundreds of people crippled by mental illness. Whether that be an eating…