Mental Health & Wellness Blog for BIPOC Communities

Life can be complex, chaotic, and lonely, which makes relationships and strong social connections vital for a person’s continued well-being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a rise in loneliness and loss of connections including relationships. Are friendships enough? With loneliness affecting many of us around the world, can friendships act as an antidote for all this distress? The answer is yes and it seems that as women found the profound powers of that antidote.

What comes into mind when you hear self-esteem? What is self-esteem? Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves. We also think about self-esteem as confidence in one’s worth and abilities and self-respect. That being said, there has been many research that states having healthy self-esteem can influence your motivation, your mental well-being, and your overall quality of life. Some key elements of self-esteem includes: Self-confidence Feelings of security Identity Sen

Did you know June is Pride month? Pride month is a time when the LGBTQ+ community and allies come together to celebrate the history, contributions, and diversity of the community. It is also a time to raise awareness of the ongoing issues faced by the community and to advocate for equality and acceptance for all. The LGBTQI+ community is diverse, and we constantly look for ways to make our spaces more inclusive. With this, the BIPOC LGBTQI+ community is no exception—and it is

When you hear people say, what do you do to feel relaxed, what comes up for you? Do you find yourself feeling stuck? You're not alone! When it comes to “relaxing” some of us might know ways to de-stress but for others it might be quite difficult to try or find ways to relax. If you are trying to find ways to relax, don’t worry we’re here to help by listing various ways to relax. There are so many benefits for relaxation, there is research stating that it helps reduce muscle

Here’s a question for you, how do you tend to cope with guilt? How does guilt show up for you? How does it impact your day to day life? Many may wonder what is guilt and that’s okay. According to APA, guilt is defined as a self-conscious emotion characterized by a painful appraisal of having done (or thought) something that is wrong and often by a readiness to take action designed to undo or mitigate this wrong. It is distinct from shame , in which there is the additional str

Whether it's coming from our New Year's Resolutions or well-intentioned suggestions from our loved ones to begin working out, we often overlook the world of benefits that come from a practice of regular exercising, particularly how much good it can do for our mental health! Let's start with anxiety and depression. Many growing bodies of research continue to support the positive relationship between exercise and mental health. A regimen, or routine of regular physical activity

Trauma, unfortunately, affects everyone in some way throughout their lives. Generational trauma has been a hot topic recently with phrases such as “generational curse” being used. People are beginning to make connections between their traumatic experiences and the root of these experiences. And just like family heirlooms, stories, and outlooks on life get passed down, so can trauma. But what exactly is generational trauma? Generational trauma is unhealed adverse life experien

Many of us have been and continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic one way or another. As a result, an increased number of people are seeking out professional support to deal with the impacts of the pandemic. As a Licensed Psychotherapist and Certified Life Coach, I have seen firsthand the influx of people turning to either psychotherapy or life coaching to cope with the aftermath of the ongoing pandemic. A question that I get asked often by both clients and colleagues

It is the time of the year where you may be inclined to reflect on the current year and begin to set goals for the upcoming year. Many of us may already be familiar with setting S.M.A.R.T. goals or have heard of S.M.A.R.T. goal setting even if we have not tried it yourself. Here’s an opportunity to get better at setting goals for yourself. When trying to achieve a particular goal, you must ask yourself questions along the way. It is important to be curious about the who, what

Dealing with depression can be such an alienating feeling as the people around you may not truly understand what you are going through, especially if they believe in the mental health stigma. But in fact, 24.6% of Black people and 19.6% of Latinx people suffer from depression and it is more likely that the depression will be persistent (Weatherly, 2022). What does this statistic mean? It means that you are not alone in your fight against depression and that without some form

When our loved ones are going through difficult times, it might be hard for us to witness or second handedly experience. Here we offer you some tips on how you can hold space for loved ones who need your support during emotional challenges. 1. Start with offering your full, undivided, and dropped-in presence. Sometimes watching our loved ones struggle brings out a tendency in us to fix, offer quick solutions, and even words of empowerment. Sometimes our loved ones just need

There are times in life when you’re going to feel overwhelmed and stressed. It’s actually a natural part of being human. When you feel stressed, or overwhelmed, people might feel anxious, depressed and lack energy. Those emotions are all normal. Whether it is from work, school, social obligations or just life in general, stress exists and it threatens emotional equilibrium and both of your physical health and mental health wellbeing. According to a 2020 survey conducted by th