Group Classes
Stephanie Hill
Adolescent Body Image Process Group

Everyone has a hard time liking their body during certain periods. Sometimes that dislike turns into body hatred and body shame, and you would do almost anything to feel more comfortable in your body! You might start thinking mean thoughts about yourself, change the way you eat, or exercise more to try and change how your body looks. As hard as you try, you may end up feeling worse and worse about yourself. Sometimes it feels like it is all you can think about. If this sounds like you, we can help you feel more confident, accepting of yourself, and comfortable in your own skin. 


Alicia and Stephanie both have extensive experience treating body image, self-esteem, and disordered eating/eating disorders.  We have a heart for helping youth become more confident, happier with themselves, and to learn how to accept and even like themselves. We are starting a creative and open evening group for teens aged 14-17 and we would love for you to come. 

Adolescent Body Image Process Group
International Women's Day, Inspiration
Stephanie Hill
International Women's Day

Gentleness. Grace. Broken. Heart. Sharp. Bleeding. Dreams. Life. These words (and many more) describe the unbelievably courageous women in my life.

International Women's Day
Inspiration
Alicia Hawker
What I am Choosing to Give Up This Season

What I am Choosing to Give Up This Season: Negative Self Talk

What I am Choosing to Give Up This Season
Inspiration
Stephanie Hill
Come As You Are

We are at the end of National Eating Disorder Awareness week, and this year’s theme is “Come as you are.”

I thought it fitting to include a post of someone’s story. A story of recovery, success, gut-wrenchingly hard work, struggle, beauty, acceptance, and grace.

Come As You Are
Alicia Hawker
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

Despite the seriousness of eating disorders, many are unaware of the extreme risks and devastating consequences that come with these complex mental illnesses. Anorexia has been and continues to be the deadliest mental health diagnosis. However, all eating disorders are dangerous, and it is imperative that those struggling have support and help from caregivers, friends, loved ones, and sometimes professionals and a full treatment team.


Individuals cannot be diagnosed by their body size or overall appearance, as these disorders involve behaviors, emotions, and thoughts that inhibit the ability to have a healthy relationship with food and physical movement. Even within the professional community, a person's body size often dictates the need for treatment or how ill a person is perceived to be. People needing help are often overlooked because they are not sick enough or do not classically fit the "criteria" for an eating disorder. Society has created a stereotypical idea of what an eating disorder looks like, and we are here to break that stigma. Eating disorders do not discriminate! Anyone who struggles with the devastating effects of an eating disorder deserves treatment and compassionate support.


If you need more information about eating disorders or disordered eating there are wonderful resources within our community, as well as nationally and internationally. Educate yourself and those you know, and seek assistance when appropriate. Check out www.nationaleatingdisorders.org to get started.


With our full hearts, we believe recovery is possible! People have the ability to heal and integrate new coping skills and strategies into their lives. While eating disorders are indeed serious, there is hope and beauty in overcoming the daily struggle with food, bodies, and activity. Embrace the hope that comes with the idea of exploring the dynamic journey of recovery.

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week
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Thought for a Thursday

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Thought for a Thursday

“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”

- Jack Kornfield

Imagine if you were able speak to yourself in a way that mirrored the language you use with a beloved friend. How much different would you feel if you treated yourself with as much care as you do those you love and respect?

Self-compassion is an attribute that heals your soul and allows you to move forward from mistakes with loving forgiveness. It is not always easy, yet it is always worth the effort. As you practice creating a better relationship with yourself, you are bound to notice an improved outlook in all facets of your life.

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Thought for a Thursday

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Thought for a Thursday

“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs, and habits – anything that kept me small. Now I see it as self-loving.”

- Kim McMillen

Do you ever stumble upon a thought or quote that seems directly related to you and your unique experiences? Because I have been working at giving myself permission to say no to things that are not fulfilling and working for me, I am finding opportunities to pursue things that are of more intrinsic worth. And while difficult, I recognize as a I leave things that are not working, I feel more self-compassion and have more space in my heart to accept myself and honor the person I am striving to become.

Give yourself permission to decline an invitation, to walk away from a draining relationship, to turn away from what is not working in your life. In the process, you might give yourself more time and freedom to care for yourself.

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Thought for a Thursday

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Thought for a Thursday

"You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

 - Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

 

Becoming. Being. Words that sound either peaceful or frightening, depending on where you are in your life and in your acceptance of yourself. I have heard the inability to "be" described as a spiritual crisis - as in, it is a fundamental rejection of and break from our authentic, raw, messy self. Which is the ME we are meant to be. When we cannot Be, we cannot Become. And if we listen to the wisdom held in this children's book (one of my favorites!), if we cannot Become, we cannot be Real.

I want to be Real, even if it means that my fur is loved off and my joints are loose, because my heart will be rid of the shame of being seen, and filled with a compassionate love for myself. THEN I can offer Real love to those I love most.

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Thought for a Thursday

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Thought for a Thursday

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

– Winston Churchill

 

I would venture to say the vast majority of us are devastated to learn of yet another instance where young lives were taken too soon in a tragic set of circumstances. I want to be open to the idea of change, and I think that others have insight and knowledge that will add to discussions that must take place. Each of us have a voice, and we should be encouraged to not only use it in clear and thoughtful ways but to also ask for insight from others. This is how we can move forward, honoring both the speaker and the listener.

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Thought for a Thursday

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"Every day is a chance to begin again. Don't focus on the failures of yesterday, start today with positive thoughts and expectations." 

-Catherine Pulsifer

Oftentimes I get so bogged down in the ways I did not meet my expectations or how I fell short; I fixate on an ever-growing to-do list, rather than taking a moment to own and feel my successes. Maybe that is a reason this quote resonated with me, in accepting the precept that everyday is a fresh start, it provides me with renewed hope and gives me the opportunity to choose how I approach each and every day. I don't need a new year, or the beginning of a new week, or even a specific goal or resolution. Each day I can choose to focus on my abilities and the hope for a new day.

Upcoming Changes

A new year is upon us, as are new changes and growth to our webpage and ultimately our counseling practice. Expect blog updates, changes to the look and feel of our website, an exciting new course on recreating a relationship with yourself, and much more! Check back frequently and join us on social media for updates. 

What is "self-care?"

This is a great read!

"True self -care is not salt baths and chocolate cake, it is making the choice to build a life you don't need to regularly escape from."

It's the new year. A time of resolutions, goals, and renewed connection to what is important. It is easy for self-care to quickly get lost in the busyness of daily life, becoming hollow and ineffective. Like a band-aid on a wound that actually needs stitches to heal. Instead, what if we tenderly took stock of areas of our heart, mind, soul, and/or body that are weary and gave ourselves what we need to heal and thrive? It is not always pretty, but doesn't it sound great to build a life you don't need to escape from?

Challenge: Let 2018 be a year of true self-care. What is one small step you can take to truly care for yourself in the new year?

 

https://thoughtcatalog.com/brianna-wiest/2017/11/this-is-what-self-care-really-means-because-its-not-all-salt-baths-and-chocolate-cake/

 

Photo by David Mao on Unsplash