John Whitaker, LMHC

I see this post blowing up aaaaaannnnd...
I had originally shared this image because I have been (and still am) in a major transition at this point in my life...that being said, I want to just give credit where credit is due and double down on the original artist who also happens to have an oracle deck that is on my wishlist soooooo:

[Artist Credit]
Ramin Nazer - Rainbow Brainskull
https://raminnazer.com/

This is a powerful article that I know many of my clients will relate to.

How to Let People in So You Can Feel Seen, Heard, and Supported - Tiny Buddha Having the courage to be seen in a vulnerable place isn’t easy; however, it is necessary if you long for connection and authenticity.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/24/health/bad-vibes-nora-mcinerny-wellness/index.html

Stop trying to fix yourself, this expert says | CNN Nora McInerny's new essay collection offers a cutting and comedic retort to "our aggressively, oppressively optimistic culture" and "obsession with self-improvement." She suggests honesty and underachievement as goals better suited to reality.

“Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely. Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”
~Carl Jung~

When defensiveness shows up, it can quickly become a self-perpetuating horseman. While it may be perfectly understandable to put up a defense when approached with a complaint or criticism, it rarely has the desired effect. Blame, excuses, or playing the victim can easily be interpreted as not taking the complaint—or your partner—seriously. That can escalate the conflict even further or bring additional horsemen into the conversation.

We can support them, but we can't do it for them.

"If someone is not ready to address their trauma, we cannot force them to heal. If someone carries heavy baggage from their past, we cannot pry that baggage from their hands. We can support their journey and assist along the way if they have the willingness to grow. But we cannot plant a seed of willingness for someone else."

Codependency Recovery Coach Hailey Magee offers tips to help you create healthy boundaries on the : https://bit.ly/3HeosqI

Please note: this post is not meant to address situations of abuse. For immediate support, please contact thehotline.org.

What is a Keystone Habit? 11 Examples of Keystone Habits in Life What are keystone habits? Keystone habits are habits that impact other habits in important ways. See how these essential good habits can change your life.

As says, “Feelings are not facts.”
So we’re never trying to convince a person that they’re feelings are wrong.

When we feel something we are taking it in through our personal experiences and perceptions of what is happening for us in the moment.

They’re are as many unique feelings about something as there are people in the world.

So never try to talk someone out of their feelings, because all feelings are valid and it is never our place to judge another person’s feelings.

Instead we must be willing to meet them where they are, allow someone to work through what they’re feeling, and be there without judgment or impatience.

When we move through feelings we begin to understand this reassuring truth that no feeling is ever final. ❤️

www.ymhc.ngo
to donate to our dedicated book donation campaign, go to ymhc.ngo/mhr

[ID: white text on black background. Text reads:
"In order to empathize with someone's experience you must be willing to believe them as they see it and not how you imagine their experience to be"
- Brené Brown]
This is

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/10/world/pandemic-mens-mental-health-wellness/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1gqjEDXuo8WxdqSEUDIaBd0sOouk0PFgqCUdC7SXifys3HOudRU-NfuYA

The pandemic is highlighting a crisis in men's mental health The pandemic has heightened the sense of isolation that many men were already feeling, but it may also be helping men become more aware of their mental health and needs.

This is not the objective. :)

Always remember no feeling is ever final. You can recreate, course correct, and take new actions as you walk your path.
Nothing stays the same, life is pleasure and pain, so when you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed, take several deep breaths, and repeat this affirmation, "This too shall pass."

When your mind wanders to past regrets or future worries, pause, take several deep breaths, and gently come back to the present moment.
Worry never helps it only takes away your energy, and clear thinking, for taking the appropriate action when something happens.
You can train yourself to stop worrying by using an affirmation like, "All is well in this moment."
This affirmation reminds you that right now everything is fine, and when you are called to take an action later you have what you need to do so.
You have the strength and wisdom beautiful friends. ~ xoxo Michelle & Barb

This is some crucial information on the importance of sleep for our mental, emotional, and physical wellness.

https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_walker_sleep_is_your_superpower?fbclid=IwAR2KDNcH9iJUqqrLVLtHdNQNFiJnopggyLGog2NkqLjj_3OYNIZY0e16Now

Sleep is your superpower Sleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker. In this deep dive into the science of slumber, Walker shares the wonderfully good things that happen when you get sleep -- and the alarmingly bad things that happen when you don't,...

Be kind. Restore someone's faith in humanity.⠀ ⠀ #tinybuddha #quotes #dailyquotes #quotesdaily #quoteoftheday #wisdom #wisdomquotes #wordsofwisdom #bekind #choosekindness #kindnessquotes

John Whitaker, LMHC updated their business hours.

To my current and former clients, I would love to hear your feedback and I would be incredibly grateful if you could take a couple of minutes to write a quick Google review for me. This will allow me to improve my services and let others recognize the value I provide. Your feedback is highly appreciated and important to me.

Click on the link below to leave a review and/or comments. I look forward to reading them!

John Whitaker, LMHC, LLC would love your feedback Post a review to our profile on Google

John Whitaker, LMHC updated their website address.

I used to panic when I didn’t know what to say during a session. As a student, I would often pause the role play during an intense practice session and ask, “but how do I respond to this thing this person just told me when I don’t know how to make it better?” It took a while for me to learn that the goal really isn’t to “make it better.” Yet, we hear it all the time. “I don’t want to feel sad anymore” or “I want to get rid of my anxiety.” Progress isn’t always a lack of something. Sometimes it’s acknowledging the unwanted pieces of ourselves and asking how we can take care of those pieces, rather than “make better” or “get rid of.” It’s in these moments when I feel the pressure to fix that I now step back and observe my client, and myself. I wonder, what emotions are coming up? Where are these emotions being held in the body? What thoughts are ruminating? What fears? Judgements? And I focus on these processes. Because there’s so much more power offered in practicing and teaching mindfulness than there is in problem solving.
Once I realized that I could just be myself in these uncomfortable moments and explore what comes up, I became more comfortable in the discomfort. The nerves never really went away and the desire to provide relief is always present, but I have direction. Just as worries and sadness may never fully go away. However, if we can explore how to love them and sit with them when they do come up, they can’t control as much or as often. Sending love on this - Dr. Autumn
P.s. This topic feels familiar and like we’ve done it a few times...but it’s where my head is today. I guess it’s just that important 👀

Mental Health Workers: The Invisible First Responders in this Pandemic A place where words matter

The Key to Helping a Person Who Is Depressed This is what it's like when I'm depressed, and this is what I really need from the people around me.