The Aspen Center for Counseling and Consultation, LLC

What are the kids into these days? Meet the finalists from NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge.

Listen up! Here are the finalists of the 2022 Student Podcast Challenge The 2,400 podcast submissions for NPR's contest offer a rare glimpse into the minds of young people.

"Learning that schizophrenia was not something I could conquer with logic, even though that had worked for every other challenge in my life, I gave up control and asked for the right help."

The Biggest Surprise After Being Diagnosed With Schizophrenia I never had a hearing problem until schizophrenia surfaced in my life. Medically, my ears were completely functional. One day, I heard knocking sounds from my front door ...

Honoring those lives that were lost at the tragic and senseless shooting in Buffalo this past weekend.

What we know about the victims of the Buffalo shooting Grandmothers, charity volunteers, a former police officer, and a devoted sister. These are some of the stories of the people killed at a grocery store in Buffalo.

Here are some comforting words to remind you that you're not alone. Which one resonates with you?

40 Inspirational Mental Health Quotes Here are some comforting words to remind you that you're not alone.

Alicia Keys Opens Up About Mental Health and Work-Life Balance: 'I Value Myself Now'"We don't invest in the whole being. We invest in the physical. But we don't invest in the mental." Alicia Keys discusses how her mental health journey has evolved and how she makes it a priority for the staff of her multiple businesses.

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Alicia Keys Opens Up About Mental Health and Work-Life Balance: 'I Value Myself Now' 'The fact that mental wellness is a privilege is horrible,' Alicia Keys said in a new interview with Fast Company magazine about working to make mental wellness a priority

"The war in Ukraine is not just a battleground; it is a hunting ground for human traffickers. The uprooting of many people and the creation of refugees make a war zone ideal for recruitment into human slavery."

The War in Ukraine: A Magnet for Human Traffickers Traffickers deliberately target disaster areas.

From comes , an exploration of what integration really looks like in the most diverse place on the planet (literally): Queens. Check out the first episode, here.

Why a 'diverse' school district erupted in chaos when chosen for a diversity plan : Code Switch In 2019, a school district in Queens N.Y., one of the most diverse places on the planet, is selected to go through the process of creating something unexpected: a diversity plan. Why would the school district need such a plan and why were some parents so adamantly opposed?

Grounding: You’ve heard of it, but what does it really mean? When we feel stressed or anxious, it can be a really overwhelming experience. is all about calming down and bringing you back into your body to get reconnected with yourself. Check out some tips on grounding here.

How to use grounding exercises to deal with stress, anxiety, and PTSD Grounding exercises include both mental and physical exercises that can help control and minimize stressful or anxious thoughts.

It doesn't take a lot of exercise to fight depression, study says
We all know that exercise benefits both the mind and the body. But exactly how much should we be getting? New data suggests that even small doses of physical activity can substantially lower the risk of depression.

It doesn't take a lot of exercise to fight depression, study says Exercise improves mood, but just how much activity do you need to do to see a benefit? A new study sheds light.

"As we highlight people who are underserved in the mental health care system, I implore us all: Listen."
Let's all agree to listen and learn this because cultural competency is important.

Stereotypes and Seeking Care in a Racialized America | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness We are more alike than we are different, so why do these stereotypes and assumptions keep getting in the way?

Today is Cinco De Mayo, For many of Americans this holiday has to do more with partying than the Mexican history or culture. Learn about Cinco De Mayo and its history here:

What Cinco de Mayo Is Really About. And, No, It's Not Margaritas In the US, critics say, today's holiday has more to do with partying than Mexican history or culture.

Reproductive rights are human rights, and impact people of all genders. Everyone should have access to quality medical care.

How the reversal of Roe v. Wade could impact the transgender community Rights groups are afraid that reversing Roe v. Wade could have consequences for same-sex marriage, access to contraception, and transgender rights. And now they're mobilizing.

How can grief shape a family? In a recent episode of Fresh Air, NPR’s Dave Davies (in for Terry Gross) talks with CNN anchor Zain Asher about grief and loss, family relationships, and the power of paying for every phone call to a friend. Her new memoir is Where The Children Take Us.

Fresh Air for April 26, 2022: CNN anchor Zain Asher Hear the Fresh Air program for April 26, 2022

Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! Check these great reads!

10 Books To Read for Mental Health Awareness Month May is Mental Health Awareness Day. Recognize it by picking up some of these nonfiction and fiction titles about living with mental illness.

Parents of anxious children may not be aware how they are accommodating and increasing their child's anxiety!

The Risks of Accommodating a Child's Anxiety How to foster resilience and self-regulation in kids instead.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Together for Mental Health!

Mental Health Month | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness Show support with NAMI by participating in several annual mental health awareness events. Learn more about the events.

Learn the difference between depression and burnout & advice on treatment options for both.

Depression vs. burnout: The symptoms of each, and how to recover Burnout has become more commonplace, especially among working parents, and those who work in fields like nursing.

Feeling Burnt out and struggling to find work-life balance? Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. writes about setting boundaries at work and following the "Four-Way Wins". "Stewart suggested that rather than seeking work-life balance, we instead look for “Four-Way Wins” that benefit and enrich ourselves, our family, our community, and our work. "

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https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/functioning-flourishing/202204/is-the-pursuit-work-life-balance-burning-you-out

Is the Pursuit of Work-Life Balance Burning You Out? Here are three evidence-based ways to set better boundaries at work.

Happy and ! Neurodivergent poets share what makes poetry more fully embodied and collaborative. Plus, check out Hannah Emerson’s recent debut The Kissing of Kissing, and Adam Wolfond's The Wanting Way, which comes out later this year.

For neurodivergent, non-speaking poets, collaboration is the basis of language Poet Adam Wolfland identifies as neurodivergent and autistic. He says poetry is in his body — he types and moves to communicate and his poetry is multidimensional.

Self Care is essential!

4 Self-Care Habits That Involve Doing Less Self-care advice to do more might not be what you need.

Keep up to date with Russia's war in Ukraine. It's still is going on and deserves our attention! Be careful to not over consume media about it!

Live updates: Russia's war in Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any country interfering in Ukraine would be met with a "lightning-fast" response from Moscow. Meanwhile, heavy fighting continues in the eastern regions of Ukraine. Follow here for live news updates.

Today could use a little more poetry. We love this recent episode from Poetry Unbound and Pádraig Ó Tuama (), featuring a poem by Denise Low ().

Denise Low — Walking with My Delaware Grandfather | The On Being Project Denise Low recalls her mother, her grandfather, his mother, and herself in conversations that include the living and the dead.

Understanding the symptoms of anxiety to watch out for can help you to address the root cause sooner. Here, we are sharing five warning signs of angst that people often aren’t aware of

5 symptoms of anxiety that no one talks about Understanding the symptoms of anxiety can help address the root cause sooner. Here are five warning signs that people often aren’t aware of

It’s ! In this episode of Poetry Unbound, listen as Pádraig Ó Tuama () unpacks these beautiful verses by Divya Victor ().
https://onbeing.org/programs/divya-victor-first-petition/

Divya Victor — First Petition | The On Being Project A poem about border-crossing, boxes, forms, delays, and waiting; a poem about love and mothers and seven years.

Today is Earth Day 🌎 Learn more about it here:

What is Earth Day? Everything to know about the holiday, its history and this year's theme Earth Day is the most widely observed secular holiday worldwide. Amid the climate crisis, increased action and environmental advocacy are crucial.

This episode of from the talks about the situation in Mariupol.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0c29pwx

Ukrainecast - No surrender - BBC Sounds A commander in Mariupol makes his troops'

Communication is important in any relationship. Learning to be Assertive part 2: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/two-minute-shrink/201006/learning-be-assertive-part-ii

Learning to Be Assertive -- Part II Using guided imagery/desensitization techniques to help with assertiveness.

Need to be assertive w/ communication? This 2 part article will help:

Learning to Be Assertive -- Part II Using guided imagery/desensitization techniques to help with assertiveness.

“My a-ha moment: I was anxious because I was scattered. My routines were gone, and distractions were everywhere. Managing work and life was a tricky balance of time management – never my strong suit. ADHD has been there my whole life. It just took a back seat and waited for me to recognize it again.”

“Did the Pandemic Give Me ADHD? No – It Was There All Along” “My a-ha moment: I was anxious because I was scattered. My routines were gone, and distractions were everywhere. Managing work and life was a tricky balance of time management – never my strong suit. ADHD has been there my whole life. It just took a back seat and waited for me to recognize it ag...