Change can be intimidating. And when change occurs unexpectedly, it can feel like getting handed a cold read in front of an expectant audience. But, paradoxically, the only constant in life is change itself. So, when life forces you to change, what will be your choice? Here are some suggestions on how best to cash in on the change life brings your way, so you can come out even stronger on the other side.

Managing one’s mental health is hard enough as it is, so with many of us feeling like our lives have been turned upside down by this pandemic, it has become easier than ever to feel overwhelmed and alone. However, I prefer to think of managing my mental health as a journey rather than an uphill battle. As with any journey, there is value in progress; no step forward is too small as long as it brings you closer to your destination.

I’m standing in a hole filled with disgusting muck and rancid water. The type where every shift of my feet leads to a guttural squelch and slosh. I can feel my toes sinking deeper into the grime which is inching up my calves to my knees to my thighs. I’ve been here for years. I’ve become resigned to the stink, the slime, the sloshing, the sucking.

I live in a hurricane and the bunker I made long ago is flooding. I can’t tell you when the storm started or when the leaks began to appear. I can only tell you that I want the storm to stop.

Unlike the storms that rage along the Eastern coast, this one is all in my head. I have anxiety. My thoughts start to swirl around, faster and faster, until I’m left frozen in the center too dizzy to find a way out.

My name is Kat McNiece, and I am a Master of Social Work intern from the University of Denver. Up until ten years ago, I lived my life wandering in the past or looking towards a hypothetical future. However, my professional and personal journey has propelled me into a new perspective, a higher state of self-awareness that has ultimately changed my life for the better. I am very excited to offer services at MC+W and to guide clients to the transformation that I myself experienced!

This global pandemic has been stressful for all of us, and we are each dealing with the stress in unique and sometimes conflicting ways. While we can’t control the fact that we are all staying at home, we can control how we approach communicating with each other in the hopes of relieving some of the tension that may be building up in our households. Here are some ideas and exercises to help mitigate the clash of differing personalities.

As I just celebrated my 40th birthday last month, I felt it fitting to put together a list of 40 important lessons I have learned during my first 40 years. I tried to capture the happy, the sad, the frustrating, and the funny moments that have most shaped my life so far. While there’s still a lot I have yet to learn, these lessons have made life all the more fulfilling along the way. They are a reminder that life is messy, but it always manages to surprise us in unexpected ways, especially if we allow our past to positively influence our present.

Until recently, fascia was considered 'packing material' that didn't serve any significant purpose. It was discarded so the most important parts of the body – the bones, muscles and organs – could be reached, studied and worked on. We now know, however, that the health of our fascia fundamentally contributes to our wellbeing. Healthy fascia is springy and resilient when it is hydrated, which allows muscles, joints, organs, and nerves to function properly. Here are some tips and tricks for keeping this vital organ healthy and hydrated.

In play therapy, I use simple, yet effective skills to show the client that I am paying attention to them and only them. I want them to know that I am interested and excited to see what they have to show me! This one-on-one, direct attention is something that not all children have the opportunity to experience, with classrooms of 20+ students, potentially siblings at home, and how busy caregivers’ lives can tend to be! Here are some of the skills that I use during play therapy.

We have all experienced the tired, sluggish feeling we get from eating too much turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, so you probably already know that what you eat can affect more than just your waistline. But did you know that there is a link between nutrition and mental wellness? To help keep your mood stable and blood sugar levels under control during this busy holiday season, try some of these easy tips.