Join us every Saturday in February as we spotlight the wonderful providers on our team. Featuring Anna Grace Boyd, Clinical Intern. Now accepting new clients at a reduced rate!

Join us every Saturday in February as we spotlight the wonderful providers on our team. Up first - Lacey Fivecoat, LCSW. Now accepting new clients!

Low self-esteem is far more common than people may realize. It often shows up quietly, whether through persistent self-doubt, harsh inner criticism, people-pleasing, difficulty setting boundaries, or a deep sense of “never being enough.” For many, these beliefs didn’t appear overnight. They were shaped over time through relationships, life experiences, cultural messages, and moments when support or validation was missing.

When we think about wellness, we often focus on emotional, physical, or social health. Yet intellectual wellness (one of SAMHSA’s 8 dimensions of wellness) plays a vital and often overlooked role in healing, especially for individuals with trauma histories. Intellectual wellness is not about academic achievement or productivity. Rather, it is about nurturing curiosity, recognizing creative abilities, and expanding knowledge in ways that feel safe, meaningful, and empowering.

Within SAMHSA’s 8 Dimensions of Wellness, occupational wellness is defined as personal enrichment and satisfaction derived from work. Importantly, this dimension does not exist in isolation. Our experience of work is deeply intertwined with other dimensions such as emotional, financial, social, and physical wellness. Occupational wellness is not about romanticizing labor. It is about understanding how work supports or strains our overall well-being.

Spiritual wellness is one of SAMSHA’s 8 dimensions of wellness. This realm of wellness emphasizes expanding one’s sense of purpose and meaning through spiritual engagement. As we speak about this realm of wellness, it is vital to emphasize that “spirituality” does not have to mean religion; instead, it can be anything that helps someone feel grounded, connected or purposeful.

When people think about mental health, they often imagine emotions, relationships, and stress—not budgets, bills, or bank accounts. But financial wellness is one of the SAMHSA 8 Dimensions of Wellness for a reason. Our relationship with money deeply shapes our stress levels, sense of stability, and long-term wellbeing.

This is why Financial Wellness is included in the SAMHSA 8 Dimensions of Wellness. It’s not simply a practical category; it’s an emotional and relational one.

In this dimension of wellness we focus on building a healthy connection to our emotions and being able to gather the information they provide us. Seeking emotional wellness may also include building healthy and effective coping strategies and establishing the necessary skills to have healthy, supportive relationships.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) states, “the emotional wellness dimension involves the ability to express feeling, adjust to emotional challenges, cope with life’s stressors and enjoy life.”

October serves as ADHD awareness month, which helps to remind us to move from stigma toward understanding.

The purpose of learning to manage your ADHD symptoms is not to “fix” yourself, but rather a way to support yourself toward success by leaning on your strengths and systems that work for you. It is possible for you to thrive with ADHD.

Societally there is still a difference in perception when it comes to seeking health care for a physical ailment as opposed to seeking professional help for mental health care.

Seeing a doctor for a broken bone is common sense, while many people struggling with common mental health conditions - depression, anxiety, or relational distress - do not feel as confident about seeking support from a therapist.

Starting therapy is a courageous choice. The good news is that you don’t have to have it all figured out in order to take the first step. Give yourself permission to take the first step - whatever that means for you.

Authenticity and collaboration are the foundation of a strong therapeutic alliance.