Blog
The Dangers of Toxic Positivity
Often, toxic positivity creates a feeling of guilt for experiencing negative emotions at all. It can be trivializing to others’ experiences. If you are having a rough day, sometimes relying on positive vibes are enough to make you feel better. However-with depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses-thinking positively does not make the symptoms go away. What this attitude does, instead, is imply that mental illness is simply a mindset that someone can get over.
Savoring: A New Mindfulness Method
What if we could find a way to be fully present (mindful) and it feels as though we are getting to do something? Guess what? You can! You can do this by intentionally looking for moments to savor throughout the day. Savoring is when we attempt to fully feel, enjoy and extend a positive experience. Savoring has been shown to have many of the same benefits of mindfulness including improving mood, leading to greater life satisfaction and increasing feelings of gratitude and appreciation.
Be Informed in a Healthy Way
Everyone likes to be informed. It keeps us aware of what’s happening in the world and lets us discuss current issues with others. However, just as the old proverb assures us, sometimes having no news is good for us. But we have to work at it in an age where we are bombarded with real-time updates from around the world.
Empty Nesting
Empty nesting can be scary, and many parents experience symptoms concurrent with grief. Like any period of change, time needs to pass to adjust to your new lifestyle. Your relationship with your child has changed, you may have a changing relationship with your partner, and your relationship to your own life may be changing as well. Feelings of sadness, worrying, and anxiety are completely normal and expected during this time.
So what can you do to help yourself?
How to Stop Overthinking: Tools to Quiet Your Inner Critic
Do you ever feel like your mind won’t stop talking? Maybe you lie in bed at night thinking about something you said, something you did, or something that might happen tomorrow. That is called “overthinking”, and it can make you feel very tired, sad, or even scared.
You’re not alone. Lots of people overthink. The good news is, you can learn to quiet your thoughts and feel more calm. Let’s talk about what overthinking is, why it happens, and some simple ways to help your brain slow down.
Let’s Talk About Apps
It is nearly impossible to stay current on all the apps that are presently available, let alone keep up on what is trendy, but “being in the know” is one way to protect your children online. As we continue our social media blog series, let’s tackle getting familiar with the apps and platforms teens and children are using.
Sleep and Mental Health
When we don’t have the energy to get out of bed, we may feel lonelier and more isolated. Stress can also exacerbate these problems. What is truly amazing is that, although rest is so crucial, is that humans often struggle with it so greatly. So what do we do when sleep alludes us? As most of us know, sometimes you just can’t fall asleep.
Child-Led Play at Home: Strengthening Parent-Child Bonds and Boosting Emotional Regulation
If your child has been facing challenges like outbursts, difficulty managing emotions, or behavioral concerns, it’s natural to want them to develop coping skills through therapy. As a parent, you might wonder: Why are they just playing in therapy? It might seem like they're just having fun, but in reality, play therapy is far more than that. It’s a powerful way for children to learn important skills that help them better regulate their emotions and build resilience. And guess what? You can bring this type of play into your home for even more positive impact.
My Insurance is Changing - Help!
As many of us in the Champaign/Urbana community know, Health Alliance is closing its doors at the end of 2025. While this leaves many of us confused, surprised, and saddened, it also brings up a lot of questions for those of us who have Health Alliance insurance, and some general questions. What happens now? What insurance provider will I have? Will my medical providers be in network? What even is a deductible?
It's Not Defiance: Understanding and Supporting Children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is not an official diagnosis in the DSM-5, but it’s a pattern of behavior seen in some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ADHD. Kids with PDA often appear “defiant,” but this behavior usually comes from anxiety, stress, and feeling out of control.