Blog posts, news articles, and other resources from The Center • A Place of HOPE
We live in a world where stress has become the norm rather than the exception. From juggling work deadlines to managing family responsibilities, navigating financial pressures to dealing with unexpected life changes, stress touches every aspect of our daily lives. While a certain amount of stress can be beneficial, serving...
Cultivating optimism, hope, and joy might seem naive or unrealistic in a world often dominated by negative news cycles, global challenges, and personal struggles. Yet research consistently demonstrates these positive emotions are not merely feel-good luxuries but essential components of mental health, physical well-being, and life satisfaction. Far from being...
Have you ever found yourself intensely frustrated by a specific trait in someone else, only to realize later you share that very same characteristic? Or perhaps you've been confident someone was angry with you when, in reality, you were harboring unacknowledged anger toward them. These experiences may be examples of...
Have you ever found yourself dismissing an uncomfortable truth despite compelling evidence? Perhaps you've caught yourself saying, "I'm fine," when you're clearly struggling or refusing to acknowledge a growing problem. If so, you've experienced denial—one of the most common, yet potentially problematic, defense mechanisms. Denial serves as the mind's way...
Have you ever found yourself unable to recall a painful memory or experience, only to have it resurface unexpectedly years later? This psychological phenomenon might be attributed to repression, one of the most fundamental defense mechanisms identified in psychology. Repression serves as the mind's way of protecting itself from overwhelming...
Understanding the shift from traditional approaches to comprehensive wellness strategies The landscape of mental health care is undergoing a profound transformation. While traditional models have long focused on individual symptoms or conditions in isolation, a growing body of research reveals the interconnected nature of human wellness. This evolution has given...
Marriage is both a profound joy and a complex challenge. When vows are exchanged, few couples imagine their relationship might one day teeter on the edge of dissolution. Yet many marriages reach critical turning points where partners must decide whether to recommit to healing or part ways. If you're reading...
When a relationship begins to break down, the emotional toll can be overwhelming. The distance between you and your partner might feel like an unbridgeable gap, leaving you wondering if repair is possible. As mental health professionals who have guided thousands of couples through relationship crises, we understand healing is...
"The hardest thing about ADHD and depression is that I'm simultaneously unable to focus on anything while also ruminating obsessively about everything." — Anonymous patient Imagine navigating a stormy sea with a broken compass and a punctured life vest. This is how many people describe the experience of living with...
Introduction: Challenging What We Think We Know When you hear the words "anorexia nervosa," who comes to mind? For most people, the image is clear: a young teenage girl. This stereotype has dominated public perception for decades but hides a significant truth. Anorexia doesn't discriminate by gender, and men are...
The Journey Begins: Understanding Recovery If you're reading this, you or someone you care about might be facing one of life's toughest challenges: recovering from an eating disorder. First, I want you to know something important: recovery is possible. It may not feel like it right now, especially if you've...
Have you ever wondered why specific behavioral patterns repeat across your family history? Perhaps it's anxiety that appears in multiple generations, complex parent-child relationships that echo through time, or particular fears that don't seem to have a clear origin in your own experience. These patterns might be manifestations of generational...
We've all dealt with feeling anxious in some way, even if not all of us live with a diagnosable anxiety disorder. But how you choose to confront your anxiety can be the key difference between worsening it or working your way through an episode in a healthy way. As mental...
Grief can feel like an endless wave, carrying you here and there without warning. Whether your loss is fresh or something you've carried for a long time, the journey of grief is very personal, and there’s no “right” way to move through it. Writing in a journal might be one...
We live in an era where digital technology is woven into nearly every aspect of our lives. From how we work and learn to how we socialize and entertain ourselves, the digital age has brought unparalleled convenience and connectivity. But as much as technology has simplified our daily routines and...
According to the World Bank, over 50% of the global population – around 4.5 billion people worldwide – currently live in urban areas (cities)[1]. Living in a city can come with many benefits, especially financial. It's undoubtedly convenient to have access to services and resources you need – not to...
Despite the cliche of the “struggling artist,” research shows that creativity can do wonders for our overall mental health and well-being. Unfortunately, many of us are afraid to engage in creative pursuits because we’re not professionally trained—we fear we won’t be “good enough.” However, anyone can benefit from a more...
Introduction Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterized by severe food restriction, an intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted body image. While the psychological and emotional aspects of anorexia are well-documented, the physical effects can be just as severe. One of the more visible yet lesser-known physical...
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The whole person approach to treatment integrates all aspects of a person’s life: