Navigating Social Media in the New Year
There are always common types of resolutions that are made as the new year begins. One such resolution is to use social media less (ironically, you may have seen someone say this on social...
SOVA Blog
Surviving the Holiday Season with Difficult Family Dynamics
Generally, the holiday season brings up different emotions for different people. For some, the holiday season is a joyous time to reconnect with family and friends, observe religious practices, or reflect on the year...
Reflecting on 2023
It has been almost a year since I have opened this site. It can be difficult for me to keep track of how I am doing over a period of time unless I write...
Addressing In-School Disciplinary Concerns Post-Covid
Post-COVID schools across the nation have seen an increase of in-school conflict. In one survey, the National Center for Educational Statistics found over 84% of schools believe the pandemic impacted the emotional and behavioral...
Benefits of Eucalyptus
As someone who has anxious moments, I’ve found that different scents are very calming to me such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus. I’ve been aware of lavender’s calming benefits for a while, but have...
Holidays and Social Media
We’ve discussed before how being 100% happy during the holiday season is just not realistic. In fact, feelings of anxiety can spike (especially those taking finals), the holiday blues is a real phenomenon, and...
My Experiences with Social Media: The Positives and Negatives
When I first got my own phone, I was really excited to text my friends, play games, andwatch silly videos, like most teenagers are. Even though 14 isn’t a super early age to start...
Cultural Competency in Mental Health Care
We are all influenced by our culture; the languages we speak, our beliefs, values, practices and goals. Our cultural background affects the way we express our feelings and emotions, and how we cope with...
Why Do Plants Improve Our Mood?
The cliched image about someone having a “green thumb” typically involves someone in their backyard, their overalls covered in dirt, hands protected by thick gloves that are rough to the touch. The garden can...
Seasonal Affective Disorder
As the days get shorter this time of year, some have trouble maintaining a positive mood. One type of depression is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD typically sets in at the beginning of...
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