I'm not typically into self-help books, but The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey has been cited often and has been recommended to me a few times. Today, I am excited to share some of the insights that I gained from the book with you. Be proactive It's always better to be proactive (prepared) than it...[ read more ]

Today, I’m excited to share an interview with my wife, Rachel, who is a school counselor. As I think back to my elementary and middle school years, I don’t recall my peers going through too many mental health issues. I was likely unaware. What are the type of issues you encounter in your daily work as a school counselor? This...[ read more ]

We're all aware that technology can become a pervasive force in our lives if we don't set boundaries. I have been hearing great things about Cal Newport's book, Digital Minimalism. Today, I'm excited to share some of those insights with you. Minimalism: A lifestyle based on the idea that better living can come from doing and having less. People born...[ read more ]

I suppose I’ve been on a minimalist journey for the past year and a half. Recently, I discovered the book, Essentialism, by Greg McKeown. I will be sharing some of the insights that I gained with you today. It’s no secret that we live in a world that never seems to sleep. Now, more than ever, people are pressured to...[ read more ]

Today, I'm sharing about radical acceptance, which is a concept that I use both personally and in my therapy work with clients. Radical acceptance can be both simple and difficult all at the same time. So let's dive in, shall we? Radical acceptance is the ability to acknowledge the reality of your situation without judging, blaming, or criticizing yourself or...[ read more ]

Humans are bio-psycho-social-spiritual beings. I learned this as I attended graduate school online from a Christian university to get my professional counseling degree. Problems and misunderstandings about how to respond to mental health issues often occur when people focus solely on one of the components of biopsychosocialspiritual. My journey towards becoming a therapist began when I was a junior in...[ read more ]

There are so many mental health benefits of meditation. Today, I'd like to share about two meditation apps that I've used both personally and in sessions at Panoramic Counseling. Both apps, Calm and Headspace, are user-friendly and can be downloaded for Android and Apple devices. They both offer a limited free version and have comparably-priced subscription plans. Calm Pros: Has...[ read more ]

We all know that mistakes are a normal part of life; however, believing this is often easier said than done. We live in a hyper-competitive world and social media can often create the illusion that we are expected to have flawless lives. In reality, life is messy and it can’t be filtered. My challenge for you (and for myself) throughout...[ read more ]

Social media, like anything else we consume, has its pros and cons. Pros: Apps such as Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat allow us to keep up with friends, network, and promote businesses; for example, I use Facebook groups to network with other therapists and to receive referrals for new clients. These apps also help families separated by distance to stay connected....[ read more ]