Our Blog

We’re officially saying goodbye to 2021 and are ready to ring in the new year.  As most of you can probably relate, I’ve had a …

Continue reading “Resolutions”

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”

Self-Reflection might sound easy to do, but it’s the most challenging thing we can do. It’s hard to focus on our thoughts and feelings about …

Continue reading “Self Reflection”

As we come to the end of another year, it is beneficial to review the recent past.  Personally, I am better off at the end …

Continue reading “Reflection”

The Hustle Culture is about being aggressive, being forceful, being a slayer, pushing forward, working long hours; and putting ourselves last. Hustling without rest and …

Continue reading “Coach Thought of the Week: Hustling”

By Alejandra Boker, MBA, RD, IFNCP Let’s be honest, the two things that people enjoy most during the holidays are spending time with family and eating …

Continue reading “Family and Holidays”

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”

Ten years ago this month, I was lucky enough to start working at Coral Gables Counseling Center (CGCC) — and I’ve never looked back. I …

Continue reading “My Work Anniversary Story”

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 Alejandra Boker, MBA, RD, IFNCP Women’s health is multifaceted. But one of the main issues consistently brought up by many women is the struggle …

Continue reading “Should we blame weight gain on menopause?”

The other day I was really looking at myself in the mirror while I was getting dressed.  I was looking at my body and scars …

Continue reading “In loving me.”

Trust your gut. I love this phrase, but some women take it too far in one direction or the other. I’ve had some patients “trust …

Continue reading “Let’s talk about gut health. Sort of. “

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”

Self-improvement. When I talk about this idea (a multi-million dollar industry of how to do and be better), I make sure others understand they are …

Continue reading “You’re Not Broken”

Motivation is Bullsh*t. Bold statement, I know, but stay with me for a second. Telling ourselves that the reason for not doing things is lack …

Continue reading “Motivation”

I think we can all agree that the topic of self-improvement is a broad one. In such a complicated time in our world, and with …

Continue reading “Natural Negativity to Proactive Optimism”

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”

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”

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?”

I had the opportunity to advise a colleague on how to terminate therapy for one of her clients. This particular case was sensitive and complex. …

Continue reading “Dealing With Client Termination in Therapy”

Eli Bravo https://www.linkedin.com/in/elibravooficial/ As if it was a miracle pill or a magic potion, it is common in books, webinars, and social media posts the …

Continue reading “Living in the Present for a Better Future”

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”

What comes to mind when you think of health? For most, it’s the yearly visit to your primary doctor, gynecologist, or dentist. What comes to …

Continue reading “Umbrella of Health”

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?”

Creating an awareness of the present moment is one of the basic principles of mindfulness and mindful living. We tend to live our lives and …

Continue reading “Mindful Pause”

When I hear the word “mindful,” I immediately think of mindfulness — the practice of being present and being aware by sitting still and focusing …

Continue reading “Mindful Living”

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”

Almost a year into the pandemic and those of us who are healthy and have survived it, are so very blessed. So many have passed …

Continue reading “Loving Me=Loving You”

Many times I discuss with clients developing a self-care routine.  You would be surprised how many people have difficulty with this. When describing themselves or …

Continue reading “Mind, Body and Spirit”

2020 was a year like no other. Many things happened in 2020. For some, it brought sorrow and loss – disappointment and sadness. For others, …

Continue reading “New Year New You”

Why no whining? These times have been sad, scary, hard, and uncertain. They’ve been quiet and loud and new and somehow…same ‘ole same ‘ole. Certainly, …

Continue reading “No Whining”

I love submitting our last blog of the year. If I have not yet done so, it forces me to stop and reflect. Before I …

Continue reading “Auld Lang Syne (Times Gone By)”

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”

Gratitude and self-appreciation are not qualities that come naturally to the majority of us. In therapy, we often recommend incorporating a gratitude practice into a …

Continue reading “Don’t Downplay Your Strengths: Here Are 5 Reasons Why”

As a Mental Health Counselor, I’m often on the receiving end of questions such as, “How do you listen to people’s problems all day and …

Continue reading “Healer Heal Thyself”

I am a millennial psychiatrist. I grew up in the era of smartphones filled with apps that have helped me stay connected all hours of …

Continue reading “Psychiatrist Unfiltered: 5 Things Learned Deleting Social Media”

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”

This is the only time of year I pause to reflect on my diagnosis 3 years ago – Invasive Ductal Carcinoma – or breast cancer.  …

Continue reading “2020 Reflection of a Breast Cancer Survivor”

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”

Many of us have anxiety levels that are higher than usual on any given day in 2020. Things aren’t where we’d want them to be. …

Continue reading “You Need To Calm Down. You’re Being Too Loud”

I have to admit, I love memes and get a lot of enjoyment from them. Pro-therapy memes? Even better! (By the way, I love that …

Continue reading “Self-Improvement and Mental Health”

2020 – the year of Clarity and Vision…but really? On January 1, 2020, I declared my word of the year: Purpose. Everything I was doing …

Continue reading “Clarity Vision ??”

  When thinking about mental health, many automatically think of the negative aspects of mental health. The association of “mental health” with serious mental health …

Continue reading “Silencing Negative Bias – Gaining Positive Outlook”

If you’ve never heard the term “joyful movement,” that’s okay. Movement is another way of describing a physical activity or what one would typically refer …

Continue reading “Finding What Feels Good”

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”

I just started with a new therapist. I’m not in crisis. I’m high functioning and successful (depending on who you ask). But I like to …

Continue reading “Prevention Mental Health for a Better Future”

These are strange times. The uncertainty is creating stress and fear. For some, there are many strong reactions and emotions. If this is you, here …

Continue reading “Tips on Reducing Anxiety”

I was thinking today of how many times I’ve wanted to have some time to just be home: to clean out my closets, organize my …

Continue reading “Making Lemonade out of Lemons”

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”

Life and Wellness Coach es, living mindfully is about being present with others Yes, living mindfully is about self care Yes, living mindfully is about …

Continue reading “Living mindfully is”

You’re being too hard on yourself. So many of us do it. We think it keeps us focused on self improvement. But it ends up …

Continue reading “You’re being too hard on yourself”

Licensed Mental Health Counselor With Valentine’s Day coming up and heart garlands decorating the office, I can’t help but reflect on love and relationships. I …

Continue reading “Loving Ain’t Easy”

Divorce Coach All of a sudden, I wake up, and here we are, living in the year 2020. Wow. I don’t know why but it …

Continue reading “Setting Intentions for a New Year”

Life and Wellness Coach On the first day of the year I received an email from Dave and Rachel Hollis with the subject line “New …

Continue reading “New Year Do You”

Life and Wellness Coach At the end of every year, I plan and prepare for entering and exiting my liminal space. This year, I’ve been …

Continue reading “Entering and Exiting”

PH. D., LMHC, CAP Licensed Mental Health Counselor & Doctor in Psychology Self improvement starts within. Working towards increasing self-awareness is an essential step to …

Continue reading “Nurture & Grow A Healthier Self”

A large number of people arrested in South Florida have a serious mental illness (SMI; e.g., schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder). The typical crimes charged …

Continue reading “Mental Health Treatment Courts: An Alternative to the Traditional Criminal Court System”

Life and Heath Coach Most of us look forward to the future wondering what changes we can make today – to improve what is to …

Continue reading “Improving by 1%”

Wellness is quite the buzz word. Thankfully, we are mindful of needing to improve our overall physical and emotional health to guard against our fast-paced …

Continue reading “Wellness is the Path to Prevention”

The benefits of practicing mindfulness impact every aspect of life including relationships. Relationships come with different levels of stress and anxiety. Practicing mindfulness can actually …

Continue reading “Being in the Here and Now in Relationships”

How can we balance our work and personal life? Is that even possible in today’s fast-paced world? It’s not always easy but we can start …

Continue reading “Can we Balance our Work and Personal Life?”

Mindful living is such a wonderful, nice, wholesome idea. The problem that happens with this idea and with mindfulness in general, when you’re a perfectionist …

Continue reading “The Imperfect Journey of Living More Mindfully”

Are you multitasking as you read this? Eating? Watching T.V.? On the toilet? Driving?! Then you’re not mindfully present because your mind is divided.  Mindful …

Continue reading “Mindful Living”

Certified EMDR Therapist When I was asked to write this blog it gave me pause. I thought a lot of people don’t love themselves, and …

Continue reading “Loving Yourself and Others”

This year, like every year before it, I got to celebrate my birthday surrounded by the people I love. I smiled so hard all day …

Continue reading “Go Girl, its Your Birthday”

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Self-compassion. I know, I know, It sounds hokey. Just give me two minutes. Hear me out. I’m not saying be self-indulgent. …

Continue reading “My Own Best Ally”

Just that word provoked a reaction in you. Assumptions and expectations popped up. (Maybe some resentments too.)How do you feel about love? Is love equated …

Continue reading “"Love"”

Acupuncture is an ancient integrative medicine that involves stimulating certain points on the body with hair thin needles. It becomes a popular alternative treatment for …

Continue reading “How Acupuncture Works for Anxiety Relief”

Life and Health Coach Many of us are constantly worrying about our weight. This is true whether we’re at the “ideal” weight or not.If we’re …

Continue reading “Wrapping Your Head Around Weight Loss”

I’ll bet you a shiny penny that one of your New Year’s resolutions is more self care? More “me time”?  Maybe it’s self improvement regarding …

Continue reading “Pretty Tough”

I can’t tell you how many times I heard someone say “I can’t wait for 2018 to be over” or the amount of memes I …

Continue reading “thank u, next”

Life and Heath Coach January has arrived and with it the beginning of a New Year. With a New Year comes confusion and stress with …

Continue reading “2019 Here We Are – Bigger and Better Than 2018”

These last couple of years, I’ve become incredibly grateful for the life I’ve had. This includes all my past and present experiences, along with every …

Continue reading “Existence, Waking Presence”

It’s the most wonderful tiiiiiime of the year!… Right? For some of us the holidays bring on a great deal of anxiety due to a …

Continue reading “9 Holiday Tips to Keep the Kids Stress Free”

The Holiday Season doesn’t have to end with you pulling your hair out. Try these seven skills to create a more peaceful, joyful and mindful …

Continue reading “7 Tips for Coping with Holiday Stress”

Licensed Mental Health Counselor The holidays can bring up a full range of emotions for many of us, from joy and excitement, to fear and …

Continue reading “Coping with the Grinch”

Life and Heath Coach Tomorrow’s my birthday. In celebration, I thought I would share lessons I wish my younger self would’ve known 30 years ago. …

Continue reading “Things I Know for Sure at 60 – I Wish I’d Known at 30”

Sometimes we can feel as though there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything we need to get done. And it can …

Continue reading “No time for self-care? PLEASE make some!”

Why is it so much easier to look at the bad stuff than it is to see the good stuff? Even when everything is going …

Continue reading “Embrace the Positive in Life”

From about the age of 4, I suffered from chronic asthma attacks. You never forget something like that. You know what else I never forgot? …

Continue reading “The 3 Most Important Skills for a Healthy, Joyful, and Inspired Life”

Life and Heath Coach Today, October 31, 2018, marks the year since the beginning of my wellness journey after my September 2017 diagnoses of Invasive …

Continue reading “Journey to Me”