18 Aug

Posted at 18:43h in Productivity by
1 Like

Working as a mental health professional can be described as rewarding, exuberating, encouraging and self-satisfying. It can be described as mind-blowing as the picture above illustrates, but also tedious, exhausting and overwhelming. I wanted to write this blog post to share tips with my colleagues and those in our industry so that we can take care of ourselves, while helping others. As a mental health professional, it is important to remember that you are working on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. You are continuously providing encouragement to the clients and...

11 Aug

Posted at 16:10h in Resilience by
1 Like

Around the age of 12, I lifted my hands from the handlebars of my bike for the first time and rode down the street behind my friends who also rode with “no hands”.  It was quite the accomplishment at that time. We rode everywhere on our bikes -- to friends’ houses, the pond, the pool, the creek, to our forts in the woods, to the convenience store on the corner. Bike riding was no big deal. We had been riding bikes for years, but during the summer of 1987, as...

06 Aug

Posted at 12:01h in Stress by
0 Likes

It’s times like this when I miss morning coffee with friends the most. We all feel so stressed from working during a pandemic, worrying about the health of our families and the people we serve. We fear for our health, our finances, and our lives – worst of all we feel we are alone without the hugs and handshakes of our friends, family, and co-workers. I don’t talk about my experience in the Army that often, but I wanted to share one quick story with that I think about often: “When we...

04 Aug

Posted at 05:03h in Children by
0 Likes

Back to School. Usually this likely makes you think of picking out an outfit for your first day or packing your backpack with supplies. This year, depending on where you live, it looks more like checking Zoom to make sure you have the latest updates installed and a good desk area prepared. Just like everything else in 2020, back to school season is going to be different and probably a little difficult. CHRIS 180 is looking to help ease the difficulty of virtual learning by providing school supplies to students...

30 Jul

Posted at 10:17h in Resilience by
0 Likes

Stories tell us something about ourselves, others, and our experiences. Our therapists have the pleasure to sit with all kinds of people at different stages of their life and hear their stories. One approach CHRIS 180 clinicians often take with clients is to listen to the stories you share about yourself, others, and your experiences. Dan McAdams, a professor of psychology and human development, asserts that “people living in modern societies provide their lives with unity and purpose by constructing internalized and evolving narratives of the self.” Simply put, we are...

27 Jul

Posted at 11:41h in Feelings by
0 Likes

“It’s easier being in each other’s presence, or in each other’s absence, than in the constant presence of each other’s absence.”–Gianpiero Petriglieri Yes, Zoom Exhaustion is real. As we continue to work from home, visit family and friends on the screen, or go to school virtually, we are spending a lot more time on Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, Google Meet and the list goes on…and this is exhausting. But why so exhausting?  Is it that hard to spend hours in front of a screen interacting with people while sitting in the comfort of...

23 Jul

Posted at 12:11h in Feelings by
0 Likes

One of my favorite meditations is a short guided one by Deepak Chopra. In the middle of  this meditation he asks repeatedly in his soothing voice, “What am I grateful for?” I hear his hypnotic tone sometimes in my head when I need a good, positive reminder. We are living in a time where the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the course of our regular daily activities and comfort. Many of us are not happy with the way things are happening, and the way we want to live is out of our control. We cannot...

23 Jul

Posted at 12:08h in Resilience by
0 Likes

Joy. Such a small word.  A word that seems out of place in a world rocked by death, destruction, violence and oppression.  An experience that seems so far away as we are struggling to survive, or fight racism, or cure and prevent disease, or heal ourselves and others, or all the above.  And we are tired. Our struggle takes energy, and our fuel tanks may feel near empty.  Yet somehow, we endure – and we must endure for the long haul.  Change does not happen quickly enough. Where do we get the strength...

16 Jul

Posted at 04:20h in Routines and Structure, Stress by
0 Likes

Out of habit and routine, I begin my day with a fresh cup of coffee (or two). I like it rich and strong, with the perfect amount of cream and sugar. While the coffee is brewing and my home is filling up with that comforting aroma, I tidy up the kitchen, and scroll through social media on my phone. If I’m feeling ambitious, I may do some quick exercises or stretches.  Then I can enjoy that cup of warm goodness! After that first sip, I am alert, can think more...

16 Jul

Posted at 04:16h in News by
0 Likes

CHRIS 180’s Drop-In Center for youth facing homelessness, The SPOT, and StoryMuse announce a new event—Shelter & Place: an interactive drive-in storytelling performance—which will take place Friday, July 17 in the parking lot of CHRIS 180’s Center of Excellence located at 1030 Fayetteville Road SE, Atlanta, GA 30316 at 8:30 p.m. Youth & young adults (ages 16-26) who are either currently unhoused or in the process of building their way out of homelessness will be involved in a unique storytelling program the week before this evening. CHRIS 180, whose mission is to heal children,...