Beyond World Cancer Day: Where Personal Connection Meets Professional Passion

Written by: Becky Morales, LCSW-S, Licensed Therapist

World Cancer Day is held every year on February 4th. This international day is focused on raising awareness and education, in addition to calling on individuals and governments worldwide to promote health equity. By the time you’re reading this, it’ll be well after February 4th - and yet, I’m honored to have the opportunity to share a little bit about the impact of cancer on my life and why I choose to focus on supporting others impacted by cancer in my work.

THRIVING IN DIVERSITY: THE POWER OF MINORITY-MAJORITY ORGANIZATIONS IN MENTAL HEALTH

Written by Kayla Childs, Marketing & Digital Communications Manager at Colors of Austin Counseling

In an industry, culture (and nation) that is primarily ran by the majority, Colors of Austin Counseling stands as a testament to the power of the minority and how organizations like us can have a lasting impact in the mental health landscape. Here’s what it’s like working in a minority-majority organization…

EXECUTIVE (DYS)FUNCTION: DEMYSTIFYING DECISION-MAKING AND FOCUS CHALLENGES

Written by Kim Jenkins, LMSW, Licensed Therapist

Sometimes it’s really hard to do things!

With the winter holiday season upon us as I write this, it feels to me like we’re at a perfect moment to think about executive (dys)function. This particular stretch of weeks can be extremely demanding and overstimulating, not to mention charged with complex emotions, memories, and relationship dynamics. Facing down tasks like visiting with family members you don’t often see, navigating various social expectations, buying groceries during the busiest retail season of all, and generally tying up the loose ends of the year can be utterly exhausting. For these reasons and more, maybe it’s become fairly socially acceptable to voice feelings of overwhelm and burnout during this time of year.

THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE: AN INTRODUCTION TO NATURE-BASED THERAPY

Written by Alyssa Ray, LMSW, LCSW-Associate, Licensed Therapist

The holidays are quickly approaching which can be a stressful time for many of us. It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season and forget to give ourselves the self-care we need. When we are in busy seasons it can be difficult to prioritize self-care or feel like we don’t have the resources available to us to practice our usual self-care but there is one thing we always have access to: nature.

Nature-based therapy is a holistic approach that incorporates components of the natural environment to provide relief for mental and physical health issues. It incorporates talk therapy and elements of nature to help individuals work through their feelings. It is versatile and can be used in many different settings; virtually or in person, individually or with groups, inside or outside. It can involve activities such as hiking, gardening, sitting outside, or using nature-based metaphors to provide emotional relief.

REWRITING THE NARRATIVE: LESSONS FOR MY YOUNGER SELF ON EATING DISORDERS

Written by Marissa Lecaros, LMFT-Associate, Licensed Therapist

As we approach the Holiday season, it is important to be mindful of language used towards food and body as there could be someone you love struggling with disordered eating or body image issues. Holidays can bring up this eating disorder “part” or “voice” in some individuals that will be hyper aware of comments made, and then yell at this individual to resort back to disordered eating behaviors to protect them from sadness, judgment, shame, fear, etc.

As a Latinx woman, I can understand how culture plays a role in language used and how at times it might not be intentional to make shameful comments towards someone, and yet I challenge you to consider breaking the norm for yourself or for someone else who may be struggling. When I was young my body was often commented on, and I remember being told right before college by many “don’t get the freshman 15”. Although I am aware of my body privilege, those comments led to me believing I had to keep up and continue being as thin as I could be to receive love and be worthy of affection and care… Which then led to restrictive eating, compulsive exercise, labeling foods as “good” and “bad”, yo-yo dieting, etc. People did not have to straight up tell me “when you are smaller I like you more”, it is just what my brain and society created me to believe. Eating Disorders & Body Image issues can show up for any one - there is no weight or body requirement, no specific race or ethnicity, no specific gender… It can happen to any human being. Which is why it is so important to be mindful of the actual behaviors and not body size or weight.

5 Steps To Enhance Your Relationship

Written by Julie Walder, LPC

It’s happened, your relationship has officially gone from HOT, to NOT. It happens… to everyone. Relationships take work, especially the longer you are in one. For some, you don’t see the decline for years but for others you see the decline 6 months in. Relationships are different from person to person, culture to culture but one thing is the same, they all have their ups and downs. Once you are officially out of the “pink cloud” phase of the relationship, reality sets in and the real work starts. Don’t be scared, I’ve got a few tips to help you out.

Step 1: GET TO KNOW THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU

How well do you really know the person in front of you? When we are in the “pink cloud” phase, we have tons of happy chemicals in our brain that sometimes cloud everything else around us. All we can think about is how happy and in-love we are. We don’t want anything to ruin those feelings… why would we?! But the reality is that often those feelings of joy and excitement blur the rest of the relationship. You need to understand your partner’s inner world to really understand the person in front of you. Learning about your partner’s inner world will make your partner feel like you are truly interested in who they are which can be a great way to enhance feelings of connection.

Questions to ask your partner can be anything personal such as: “Hey Honey, what music group/artist are you into right now?”; “Babe, what is your favorite childhood memory?”; “Love, what are your hopes and dreams?” “What are your top 5 favorite movies?” “If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?” WARNING! If you’ve been in a relationship for a long time, don’t be surprised if your partner’s answers have changed. Over time our preferences, likes and dislikes change. That is why is it so important to ask personal questions like the ones above. Try to make it a point to get to know your partner again and again. You can ask these questions every few months, to once a year, but don’t wait too long. If you are having a difficult time thinking of questions to ask, I suggest downloading the Gottman Card Decks from the Gottman Institute onto your phone. The app is free and has every question you can think of!

Step 2: USE THE INFORMATION TO THE BENEFIT OF YOU AND YOUR PARTNER

Okay, now that you know the person in front of you, the next step is to take action! Your partner just told you personal information that you can use to plan for future dates, gifts, and trips. Using the questions in Step 1 as an example: plan a date night with the new information. Play your partner’s favorite music group during a meal together. Make a meal (take out is fine) based on the part of the world your partner would love to live. Plan a date where all you do is watch your partner’s favorite movies. The point here is that you are making an effort! Not only did you make an effort to understand who your partner is, but you listened to them and put their words into action. Imagine how your partner must feel now. 😊

Step 3: BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORDS

So your partner works 50 hours a week and you work 60 hours a week. Or, you and your partner work, have 2 kids, and a dog. In today’s society, we are busy every minute of the day. This often leads to relationships having decreased communication. One day, you might get an hour of time with your partner, another day you get 5 minutes. Or you might feel like two ships passing in the night. However long you get to communicate, talk with your partner… MAKE IT COUNT! Take advice from Don Miguel Ruiz’s ‘4 agreements’, “Be impeccable with your words.”

Whether the only mode of communicating at that moment is through text, or just sitting on the couch, make every word count. Make sure you convey honesty and integrity. It is a difficult concept to consider on a daily basis, but the more you practice, the easier it becomes. And don’t get down on yourself if you slip up, you’re only human.

Step 4: COMPLIMENT, COMPLIMENT, COMPLIMENT

When was the last time you gave your partner a compliment? When was the last time you told your partner you appreciated something they did? This step goes hand in hand with Step #3. Find time to compliment or praise your partner. Over time and as our schedules get busier, compliments start go out the window. Giving a compliment takes 5 seconds. “Your hair looks great today!”; “Dinner was delicious!”; “You have a beautiful smile." You can even take it one step forward and tell your partner something you appreciate. “I really appreciate it when you watched the kids this morning so I can sleep in." It feels good to receive compliments and appreciations. You are acknowledging something personal and/or something positive they did. It helps boosts self-esteem in your partner and the relationship.

Step 5: THE COUPLE THAT PLAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER

Couples need to have play time. It is so important to have fun, be silly, have adventure, and play. It keeps the relationship alive and helps you connect with your partner even more. If you followed the steps above, you should have a really good idea what your partner considers fun. Now that you know your partner’s interest, match it up with an interest of yours because if you plan an outing to a heavy metal concert when your partner likes classical music, chances are he/she is not going to have fun. If you are having a hard time thinking of something, look to the past… reenact your first date, replicate a day trip you took to wine country. What ever it may be, make sure you do it as often as you feel is necessary to keep the relationship fun and playful.

I'd love to hear what happens when you try one or all of these steps. Please share!

Warmly,

Julie