Autism awareness is at an all-time high, widely discussed by the medical community, media outlets, concerned parents and society in general. While autism may appear to be more widespread today than decades ago, experts believe the increase in diagnoses is due to greater awareness of autism and its signs and symptoms. Autism is a neurobehavioral disorder with four distinct autism diagnoses, all, enveloping a spectrum of symptoms and impairments that range in severity. Autism is characterized by difficulty in communicating and interacting with others, and obsessive or repetitive behavior. A licensed clinician can help with an evaluation and assist with providing your child with strategies to best manage the symptoms and embrace the strengths that autism can provide.

Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s a car accident, abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to the violence of war, or a natural disaster. While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed. In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma.

Has your life been touched by a major event such as a death, divorce or layoffs at work? Are you having a hard time moving through and past the emotional turmoil? Do you feel completely stuck and like you need guidance getting back on track? There’s no denying that life often presents us with our fair share of challenges, usually in the form of sudden change. These life transitions, even the positive ones, can throw us into a tailspin and leave us feeling stressed, confused and vulnerable. But with the right tools and mindset, you have the power to not only overcome any adversity but also transform into a more authentic and confident version of yourself.

Nothing really prepares you to become a parent. Some of us were lucky enough to have parents that set a good example. But others grew up in homes where the dynamic between child and parent was anything but functional or consistently loving. But the truth is, even if you did have loving parents that did right by you 24/7, you can never be fully prepared to handle sticky situations with your own children. You never really know what behavioral challenges your child may wind up struggling with, and how those will affect your other children and the family as a whole.

Does your chronic illness leave you feeling exhausted and depleted? Do you feel left out when you can’t partake in common, daily activities? Do you often feel isolated, yet also feel the need to hide your condition from others? A person’s well-being is reliant not just on their physical condition, but also on their mental health. While you may be struggling right now physically, please understand that you can thrive mentally and emotionally, despite your illness.