Integrative Health is an approach that blends traditional medicine and therapies with non-traditional healing practices, that aims to help the whole person comprehensively, as well as address the interconnected facets of well-being, including mind, body, and spirit.

My parent’s entire generation was pretty much a generation of refugees who witnessed the trauma of war firsthand. I don’t think, for many of them, this hypervigilance was ever addressed or resolved. Many have undiagnosed PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a multitude of other mental health issues resulting from wartime experiences and resettlement.

This trauma that is then passed down from generation to generation can manifest through a variety of mechanisms, including unresolved grief, cultural stigma, and familial patterns of behavior.

For second and subsequent generations of Vietnamese Americans, our intergenerational trauma can present itself through cultural disconnection, identity struggles, and inherited psychological wounds. It’s transmitted through family narratives, behaviors, and coping mechanisms, and influences our sense of self, relationships, and worldview. Healing from intergenerational trauma is a complex and multifaceted process that involves self-awareness, self-compassion, and intentional healing practices.

Toxic relationships have a long-lasting impact on your mental and physical health, even after having left the relationship. Your nervous system can often remain in “fight or flight” mode, leading to ongoing physical health issues, exhaustion, chronic muscle tension, and lingering anxiety.

Yoga therapy and somatic practices are an excellent way to unravel the effects of a toxic relationship on your mental and physical health. Healing from a toxic relationship takes time, but with professional support, you can find freedom, become empowered through self-love and self-confidence, and discover what it feels like to experience healthy love.

I want to start by saying, feeling judged by your therapist is tough. It's like bringing your vulnerable self to a place you hope is safe, only to feel like you're being sized up. That stings, and it's okay to acknowledge that pain. You're not alone in this.

Let's chat about therapists and judgment for a moment….

In our modern society, the emphasis on the mind and intellect often overshadows the importance of the body and emotions. We are encouraged to think, analyze, and communicate primarily through language, leaving little room for nonverbal expression. As a result, we may find ourselves disconnected from our bodies and emotions, leading to unprocessed trauma and emotional blockages. Somatic therapy offers a refreshing alternative, acknowledging the body's innate wisdom and its role in healing, and providing a path to liberation from the constraints of the mind.

In the realm of therapy and personal transformation, there is one fundamental aspect that holds immense power: speaking the truth. As a licensed therapist, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact that truth-telling can have on an individual's journey towards healing and self-discovery. In this blog post, we will explore the vital role of truth-telling in the therapeutic process and its ability to unlock inner healing, foster authenticity, and ignite profound personal transformation.

We often think grieving occurs after the loss and death of someone we love. However, we experience grief in multiple aspects of our lives, not just in death. When our experiences of grief are not understood or spoken about by society or those around us, this leads to what is called disenfranchised grief.

We all have younger “parts” within us. As we grow and develop, our younger selves don’t disappear along the journey. As adults, when we feel triggered and can’t understand why, it’s likely stemming from childhood wounding. We replay responses to experiences from childhood in unconscious ways. Often acting or reacting from a place of unconscious wounding. Our bodies and our inner child is replaying ways to seek safety.

This is a month dedicated to erasing stigma around mental illness and cultivating safe spaces to discuss suicide. As mental health professionals and specialists in the area of suicide prevention and crisis response, this topic is very important to us and the work that we do in the community.

The ancient practice of yoga has long been associated with vibrant health and wellness. The word yoga itself means “to unite” or “to bring together,” connecting the mind, body, and spirit into one integrated whole. And while it has historically been viewed exclusively as a form of exercise, our ideas about what yoga is beyond a physical practice have evolved over the past twenty years. Returning to its spiritual roots as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and other body-based somatic practices are becoming routine interventions used in the treatment of mental health disorders, in both psychiatric treatment centers and in private therapy sessions.

Imagine you are in a tranquil and beautiful location outside of your typical busy or chaotic environment. One where there is someone to help guide you in addressing an element of mental health and wellbeing that you are struggling to tend to in your day-to-day life. Imagine that you get to join with others who are also looking to take care of themselves and who you can learn with, empathize with, and encourage in one another’s wellness journey. A wellness retreat provides a space for all these things and much more.

Navigating the healthcare system can be an extremely vulnerable and sensitive process. The LGBTQIA2S+ communities have been disproportionately affected by healthcare discrimination and have a history of health oppression. For many trans, queer, and non-conforming individuals, being educated about their healthcare needs is a necessity and self-advocacy can help us to get the care we need and deserve from a system set up against us. Self-advocacy is when you speak for yourself, understand your rights, and ask for what you need. LGBTQ self-advocacy requires self-awareness, assertiveness, and preparation.

So often we focus on the difference between ourselves and others. In this meditation, you will have an opportunity to tap into connection and belonging, uncover similarities among our shared human experience, and foster a sense of common humanity.

The Introduction on the Lifespan Integration website states, “Lifespan Integration is a gentle, body based therapeutic method that heals without re-traumatizing.” The creator is a woman named Peggy Pace from the Seattle area. She initially created this method for victims of abuse or neglect, but it is now recognized as being a useful therapeutic method for a wide range of mental health issues.

Ok, so you have health insurance, which likely includes mental health coverage, but it is just so dang confusing and hard to understand. Right?! We agree. The following is an education on everything insurance. Here’s what you need to know about insurance: