Our Blog

We get motivational quotes all the time. We see them everywhere. We use them to inspire us to action. In Verywell Mind they describe motivation …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Motivation”

I love many of Dr. Seuss’ quotes, but my very favorite is: Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Comparing”

Now that we turned the corner into 2023 and before we continue moving forward, let’s take a minute to pause and reflect on 2022. As …

Continue reading “Celebrating our Wins and Losses”

I heard a quote somewhere that traditions are just peer pressure from ghosts. Or, elder living family members, in many cases as well. So when …

Continue reading “Family Traditions”

Yes, you may not have enough hours in a day. Yes, you may have too many deadlines. Yes, you may have too much work. But, …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Opening up to Change and Possibilities”

By: Alli Griffiths, MHC Intern Does this time of year stress you out? If so, you are not alone. Pause. Take a moment. Close your …

Continue reading “How to Manage Holiday Stress”

One of the reasons for stress and overwhelm comes from trying to keep up with our client’s deadlines. A client calls us wanting something by …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Realistic Expectations”

By Dara Teller, LCSW There are so many things to be grateful for, but often times we allow our stress and anxiety to consume us. …

Continue reading “A Reflection”

Those who know me, know I love tennis! Earlier this year, I was coaching with a tennis pro when I decided I didn’t want to …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Getting Out of Your Own Way”

It’s Monday morning. The alarm goes off. I stir, stretch out my limbs and take in a big, deep breath. I’m grateful for another day. …

Continue reading “An Ordinary Day with Gratitude”

Happiness is the “state of just being happy.” But how do we just “be happy” when life is 50/50? 50% good and 50% bad. We’ve …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Happiness”

My daughters prepared the funeral mass for my ex-husband who passed away two months ago.  As a gift for my 3 kids and my stepdaughter, …

Continue reading “The Eulogy”

If you believe in yourself, anything is possible! This is one of the positive affirmations circling in social media today. Yes, if we believe in …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Belief”

By: Vanessa Molina, MFT, Intern Often times we find it difficult to focus on the positive things going on in our lives when there’s so …

Continue reading “Gratefulness”

We believe we HAVE to do this or that or SHOULD. But the truth is we can choose to NOT do so. We ALWAYS have …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: It’s Optional”

I have written on boundaries before, but this past week it has been a recurring theme for all my clients, so I thought it would …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: More on Boundaries”

Life happens because life is 50/50. We’re going to have both good and bad experiences. We’re going to have positive and negative thoughts and feelings. …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Bouncing Forward”

Change is such a constant in our lives…whether we like it or not. Many years ago I decided to embrace change and look forward to …

Continue reading “Let Go and Let God”

Remind yourself: A Reflection on Sending Your Teen Off to College August is here and the reality that your children are heading off to college …

Continue reading “College Bound Reflection”

Many of my clients come in stressed because they can’t find their Work-Life Balance.  As much as they try, they can’t seem to get both …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Life Balance”

After eight years as a Life Coach, I recently completed a second Life Coach Certification.  This time with The Life Coach School. One of the …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Manuals for Others”

Life is life. There will be projects we work on that go smoothly to completion. And there will be projects we work on where we …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Obstacles”

A year ago, I wrote a blog post for the same July monthly theme, “Purposeful Parenting.” https://www.coralgablescounseling.com/purposeful-parenting-as-a-new-mom/) At the time, I was a brand new mom …

Continue reading “Purposeful Parenting – One Year In”

Recently, the topic of interest amongst my clients is parenting styles. More specifically, which of the four parenting styles – Authoritarian, Authoritative, Passive, and Neglectful …

Continue reading “Raising Emotionally Intelligent Beings”

There are various benefits for men from being in a healthy relationship. Their well-being is positively influenced by healthy relationships not just emotionally, but physically …

Continue reading “Are You Tired of Having the Relationshits…???”

I initiated a brief survey of a small sample of men regarding their views on medical and mental health issues. I was surprised to find …

Continue reading “Taking Care of Business: Men’s Mental Health Part 1”

“Therapists are archeologists that dig into our past to help us understand the present; Coaches are architects that help us build our future once we …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Therapy v. Coaching”

Are you looking for a change in your life? Life is made up of the following eight Pillars: Relationships/Friendship Finance Home Environment Career/Business Spirituality Health …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Change – Part 1”

By Victoria Carney-Paine, LCSW Mental health is my favorite thing to talk about. Ask me how I’m doing and I’ll tell you if I am …

Continue reading “5 Reasons to Talk More About Mental Health”

The most commonly diagnosed mental health disorder in the U.S. is anxiety; and a close second is depression. Both disorders are misunderstood not only by …

Continue reading “Let’s Talk About Anxiety”

By Alejandra Boker, MBA, RD, IFNCP Mindfulness, or the state of being conscious and aware of something, isn’t always easy, especially when there are so many …

Continue reading “Mindful Eating”

As we reach the end of Q1 in 2022, it is time to assess how we are doing. Pull out the list of goals you …

Continue reading “Pause. Assess. Evaluate.”

By Dara Teller, RCSW “Fear is the most subtle and destructive of all human diseases. Ladies and gentleman, fear kills dreams. Fear kills hope. Fear …

Continue reading “Overcome Your Fears!”

Here is a simple script for mindful moments. Let’s break it down. Notice your thoughts. “I’m sitting on a soft, blue chair. I like this …

Continue reading “Mindful Moments”

One of the few beneficial byproducts of this pandemic is our focus on good mental health. As a mental health professional, I appreciate this greatly. …

Continue reading “Self Acceptance > Self Esteem”

Love doesn’t start with loving others before us. It begins with loving ourselves first, to know how to love another. We create a strong foundation …

Continue reading “What is Love?”

Groundhog Day last week reminded me how as adults, we can fall into a life that feels repetitive.  We wake up, go through our routines, …

Continue reading “Reflecting on Groundhog Day”

As I was thinking of this week’s thought of the week, I decided to dig into a problem I tend to have on the regular …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Multitasking”

The end of last year was a challenging one. With new strains of the COVID-19 virus on the rise, many homes were affected during the …

Continue reading “Stop Distracting Yourself From Living”

New Year, New Me, right? Or is it a New Year, Old Me? Depending on your journey, these questions can feel different because it gives …

Continue reading “Moving Forward in the New Year”

Imagine if one day you woke up and your life had changed. You are happy with your life and who you have become. You are …

Continue reading “Live in Alignment With Your Vision”

With the start of a New Year, many of us take the time to set goals and resolutions on how we can be better and …

Continue reading “Journey into 2022”

The holidays are the perfect time to reflect on our relationships, establish goals for connecting with our family, and set the groundwork for those relationships …

Continue reading “Holidays and Family”

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year. It’s a reminder to pause and say thank you before the shopping and the parties. It’s a reminder …

Continue reading “Thank You!”

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful. It consists of a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Simple concept, right? Yet, it …

Continue reading “Creating Gratitude”

  Creating boundaries – or not creating them. There is no right or wrong answer.  We’re all different.  The question is: Do we need to …

Continue reading “Boundaries”

The month of November is traditionally a time of Thanksgiving. During this time, we often focus on reflection and gratitude. Recognizing and reflecting on gratitude …

Continue reading “Reflection and Gratitude”

By: Tiffany N. Perez, RMHC We live in an era of information overload. We are invested in social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and …

Continue reading “Self Improvement with Perspective”

Here I am, writing about procrastination in my pajamas at the last minute when I should’ve been wilding out at a fall festival because I …

Continue reading “Procrastination”

Sometimes I set out to rest, relax, recharge. But I end up on my phone. On social media. I do this, I think because I …

Continue reading “Rest and Relaxation”

Summer is over. Well, at least Summer, as in those few months during which “the Purge” happens because the children :coughs: terrors are set loose …

Continue reading “Summer is Over. Now What?”

BACK TO SCHOOL *cue instant anxiety* Whether you’re 5, 12, 18, or 24 years old, that week before school starts always makes most of us …

Continue reading “Normalizing Back to School Anxiety”

Most of us know what back to school means. Some of us went back to school as kids. Some of us had kids that went …

Continue reading “Deciding to Go Back to School”

Summer is coming to an end. School is right around the corner, as students will be going back to in-person learning. This past year school …

Continue reading “Going Back to School”

Our kids’ behavior is the difference between a great day and a “kill me now” day. It can be overwhelming when your kids misbehave more …

Continue reading “What I Do To Help My Kids Behave”

By Katheryne Puentes, LMHC Parenting is NOT an easy job. Being a parent involves 100% attention to how they interact with their children and their …

Continue reading “Parenting”

As a parent of three 30+-year-olds, I want to offer that parenting never ends. Parents of newborns and toddlers are rolling their eyes right about …

Continue reading “Purposeful Parenting from an Empty Nester”

When I learned this month’s blog theme is “Purposeful Parenting,” I thought I could offer a slightly unique perspective: that of a first-time newborn parent. …

Continue reading “Purposeful Parenting as a New Mom”

I celebrate you. I celebrate all the men in the world.  Men who are loyal, kind, and true. Men who have protected us and loved …

Continue reading “Men…Beautiful, Beautiful Men!”

Low testosterone is one of the most overlooked causes of depression and other serious mood disorders in males. So much so that when I see …

Continue reading “Let’s talk about Low-T, but really, let’s talk about it.”

Here we are at some point of the pandemic, not knowing if it’s the middle, the end, or the new norm. It’s no wonder stress levels …

Continue reading “Anxiety, Stress and Mental Health”

BY KATHERYNE PUENTES, LMHC What is the true meaning of mental health, and why are so many individuals scared to visit a therapist? With the …

Continue reading “What is the Meaning of “Mental Health?””

Self-talk is the dialogue inside your head. It is your inner voice that tells you what you can and cannot do. It is your inner …

Continue reading “Who do I think I’m talking to like that? ME?”

6:30 AM. I am sitting in front of the candle and trying to let the thoughts pass so I can be in the present moment. …

Continue reading “Don’t Get in Your Own Way of Happiness”

By Lucia Fernandez, Director, LMFT and Natalie Ortega, Attorney and Teacher   My friend, Natalie Ortega, and I have had many conversations on spirituality. She …

Continue reading “Notes to Self: Two Books Sounding Off Loudly”

Do you aspire to be “mindful” tangibly and practically? Ask yourself these four questions.  It will give you a well-grounded approach to your day: 1) …

Continue reading “Mindfulness Aspirations?”

No, I’m not talking about making your hot co-worker or classmate fall in love with you. I’m talking about making the MOST special person in …

Continue reading “How To Make That Special Someone, Fall In Love With You”

BY: MERIEM OUCHAKA, LMHC Self-love is often overlooked. We assume it’s a given. Do you love, like, and respect yourself? What is the meaning of …

Continue reading “Self Love”

I’ve always liked working with the younger population (teens and 20s), but never quite knew why. Maybe it’s because I can relate to them pretty …

Continue reading “Teens and 20s – A Time for Self-Improvement”

2020 is the year that will be known as the year of the Pandemic and THE election. A year of the unknown. A year of …

Continue reading “The Last Month of 2020”

So, this month’s topic is women’s health. Naturally, I thought, what better way to be able to identify easy health-improving habits for women while still …

Continue reading “The Health Benefits of Sex”

I overheard a teacher say to my daughter on virtual school, “Kids, have your moms upload that later.” Moms. Not parents. Not dads or caretakers. …

Continue reading “Add This To Your Resume”

A few years ago I treated a client with Complex PTSD. She had suffered for the majority of her childhood from physical, psychological, and emotional …

Continue reading “Working with Emotional Support Animals”

I consider myself to be an eternally active learner and a self-improvement/personal growth enthusiast. It’s important to be open to constant learning about yourself, others, …

Continue reading “10 Practical Ways to Stay Motivated on Your Self-Improvement Journey”

When you hear “self-improvement,” what comes to mind?  Self-improvement can mean so many different things for each of us.  One thing all definitions should have in common is “the …

Continue reading “Don’t Leave “Self” Out of Self-Improvement”

To me, September has always marked the beginning of a new year, even more so than January. Maybe it’s because it signals the end of …

Continue reading “Rosh Hashana 2020”

By Remy Gordon, LCSW What does self-improvement mean to you? By definition, self-improvement is “the improvement of one’s knowledge, status, or character by one’s own efforts”. …

Continue reading “Self-Improvement and Homelessness”

By Remy Gordon, LCSW How do we prepare to return back to school when we aren’t really going back to the classroom physically? We are …

Continue reading “Back to School”

The end of summer is here and we are heading into round two of virtual learning. The adjustment of virtual learning has been difficult for …

Continue reading “Round Two of Virtual Learning”

Back to school. A phrase, I’m sure, makes almost every parent shudder these days. These last few weeks, or better yet, months, have been a …

Continue reading “Back to School in a Pandemic”

How many of us struggle to be perfect parents?  There are so many levels of fear and uncertainty when it comes to raising little humans.  …

Continue reading “Parenting Style From My House to Yours”

It seems that every time we turn on the TV or listen to the news, all we hear is negative activities going on in the …

Continue reading “Teaching Respect to Children”

Erika Fernandez De Castro A little over a year ago, I attended a training on the topic of Infant Mental Health. Prior to the training, …

Continue reading “Infant Mental Health – It Starts on Day 1”

I remember almost four years ago, I was making the decision on leaving an agency that I was involved with for over 15-years. I had …

Continue reading “Creating Goals and the Fear of Falling Down”

I’m a guy’s guy. A Modern Man’s – Man. Rough around the edges, not afraid to get dirty, a fan of grit, and hard work. …

Continue reading “Modern Man’s – Man”

Congratulations! You made it to the end of May, AKA Mental Health Awareness Month. By now I’m sure you’ve been inundated with plenty of words …

Continue reading “A Review on Mental Health Awareness”

Yes, we’re in the middle of a pandemic. Yes, we’re now teachers in addition to parents. Yes, we’re in confined quarters. Yes, we’re unemployed. Yes, …

Continue reading “Dreaming During the Time of Covid”

We live in a time where our children are more exposed to information channels than ever before. With the anxiety and panic created by the …

Continue reading “Talking to Your Child About COVID”

Let’s be smart Let’s be mindful Let’s be calm. Breathe. As we navigate through these unchartered waters with COVID-19, our anxiety is escalating and the …

Continue reading “A Letter From Our Director”