Summer Self-Care: 10 Gentle Ways for Women 55+ to Nurture Their Mind & Body

Summer is a time of vibrant energy, warmth, and abundant daylight. However, for women aged 55-65, it can bring unique challenges such as increased heat sensitivity, disrupted routines, and heightened family or social responsibilities. Prioritizing intentional self-care is essential—not only for physical health but also for emotional and mental wellness. Here’s how you can gently nurture yourself this summer, backed by science and actionable advice.

Continue Reading

You may also like

Self-Care on $0: A Counselor’s Guide to Feeling Better Without Spending a Dime

Sometimes self-care feels like another thing on your to-do list—especially when it seems to require money, time, or energy you just don’t have.

You’re not lazy, unmotivated, or doing it wrong.
You’re human. And the good news? Real self-care doesn’t need to be expensive—or even aesthetic.

As a counselor, I want to show you how powerful and healing free self-care can be. Whether you’re burned out, anxious, or just trying to hold it all together, this guide is for you.

Continue Reading

You may also like

Fostering Mental Health Awareness: Engaging Activities for Upper Elementary School Students

Mental health is an integral component of overall well-being, particularly for upper elementary school students who are navigating both academic demands and social development. At this crucial stage, children are not only absorbing academic knowledge but also forming the foundations of their emotional and social competencies. As such, cultivating mental health awareness is essential to ensure they thrive in various aspects of life.

Research indicates that mental health significantly influences students’ academic performance. Children who struggle with mental health issues often experience difficulties in concentration, motivation, and their ability to perform academically. Conversely, students who feel mentally supported are more likely to engage in their studies, participate in class discussions, and express themselves creatively. By promoting an understanding of mental health, educators and caregivers can empower students to recognize and address their emotional challenges, ultimately leading to improved academic outcomes.

Continue Reading

You may also like

Fostering Mental Health Awareness: Engaging Activities for Lower Elementary School Students

In today’s educational landscape, mental health awareness is a cornerstone of holistic child development. For young children in lower elementary school, understanding and expressing their emotions is a skill that lays the foundation for a resilient future. Integrating mental health activities into the classroom not only promotes emotional literacy but also creates a safe space where students feel supported, understood, and empowered. Teachers, counselors, and social workers play a vital role in nurturing these skills, and the following five activity ideas can help guide their efforts.

Continue Reading

You may also like

10 Signs of Emotional Intelligence in Kids & How to Nurture It

Imagine a child who recognizes when a friend is sad, offers a comforting hug, and expresses their own feelings with clarity. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a powerful skill that helps kids navigate friendships, manage emotions, and build resilience. Unlike IQ, which focuses on cognitive ability, EQ shapes how children interact with the world and handle challenges.

But how do you know if a child has high emotional intelligence? And more importantly, how can you nurture this vital skill in kids? Let’s explore the signs of emotional intelligence in children and actionable ways to support their emotional growth.

Continue Reading

You may also like

Understanding Emotional Intelligence: A Beginner’s Guide

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and use your own emotions in positive ways. It also involves recognizing and understanding the emotions of the people around you. Unlike traditional forms of intelligence—such as solving math problems or remembering facts—emotional intelligence is all about how you handle feelings and build relationships.

The concept of emotional intelligence first gained attention in the 1990s when psychologists Peter Salovey and John Mayer introduced it as a way to explain how people use emotional information to guide their thinking and actions. Later, science journalist Daniel Goleman popularized the idea with his bestselling book, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Goleman’s work helped many people see that being “emotionally smart” can be just as important as being “book smart.”

In simple terms, emotional intelligence is like having a “feelings toolkit” that helps you:

Recognize your emotions: Knowing what you’re feeling.

Understand your emotions: Figuring out why you feel that way.

Manage your emotions: Keeping your feelings in check when things get tough.

Use your emotions: Letting your feelings help you make better decisions and connect with others.

Recognize others’ emotions: Noticing how people around you feel.

Continue Reading

You may also like

Creative Craft Ideas to Help Children Express Anger

Anger is a natural emotion that—even in children—can be both overwhelming and confusing. When kids struggle to articulate their feelings, their anger may manifest through disruptive behavior, frustration, or even internalized sadness. Creative crafts offer a safe, hands-on way for children to externalize and process their anger, transforming raw emotion into something tangible. In this article, we’ll explore practical, trusted craft ideas designed to help children express anger in a healthy, constructive way. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or therapist, these ideas can serve as powerful tools in helping children understand and regulate their emotions.

Continue Reading

You may also like

How Writing Therapy Can Heal Your Heart (Part 1)

Healing often feels elusive. When we’re grappling with emotional pain—heartbreak, loss, stress, or anxiety—finding a path toward well-being can seem like navigating a labyrinth. Across history, human beings have turned to various methods for healing their psychic and emotional wounds: talk therapy, meditation, physical exercise, and, more recently, emerging fields like art therapy or music therapy. Among these, one particularly accessible and powerful tool stands out: writing therapy.

Writing therapy harnesses the simple yet profound act of putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to process emotions, discover hidden layers of ourselves, and ultimately foster healing. This practice can be formal, such as in a clinical setting with a trained therapist, or it can be pursued independently as a self-guided journey.

In this multi-part article, we will explore the rich tapestry of writing therapy: how it originated, the scientific research that underpins its benefits, practical techniques you can try on your own, and how it can lead to profound emotional healing—even when other methods have failed. By immersing yourself in these insights, you’ll find that writing therapy can become more than just a coping mechanism; it can be a transformative process that heals the heart.

Continue Reading

You may also like

7 Therapeutic Writing Exercises to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can often feel like an endless loop of overwhelming thoughts, making it difficult to focus, relax, or even breathe deeply. But what if there was a simple and effective way to break free from this cycle? Writing therapy offers a powerful tool to process emotions, declutter the mind, and regain a sense of control. Research shows that putting thoughts into words can reduce anxiety, lower stress hormones, and improve emotional regulation.

In this article, we’ll explore 7 therapeutic writing exercises that can help you relieve stress, reframe anxious thoughts, and cultivate a sense of inner peace. Whether you’re new to journaling or looking for deeper emotional insights, these exercises will guide you toward healing and self-discovery.

Continue Reading

You may also like

10 Life-Changing Expressive Writing Techniques for Mental Clarity and Emotional Healing

Picture this: You’re holding a pen, staring at a blank page, your emotions tangled in a web of confusion. But as you start to write—without judgment, without structure—you feel a shift. The knots begin to unravel, and your thoughts gain clarity. This is the magic of expressive writing, a therapeutic technique that allows you to process emotions, gain self-awareness, and experience profound mental clarity.

Unlike traditional journaling, expressive writing is not about recording daily events. Instead, it focuses on deep emotional exploration, helping you work through past experiences, anxiety, stress, and unresolved feelings. Backed by research, this technique has been shown to reduce stress, enhance mood, and even improve physical health. Let’s dive into 10 powerful expressive writing techniques you can incorporate into your daily routine.

Continue Reading

You may also like