Blog
To Connect or Disconnect: Steps to Connect and Change
My African American mother, aunts and uncle lived through the Jim Crow laws and experienced racial violence throughout much of their childhood. My Congolese father and aunts experienced the trauma of war in DRC. The recent killings have touched trauma wounds in some...
To Connect or Disconnect: Part 1
“We’re hardwired for connection.” This is one of my favorite quotes from a shero in our field, Brené Brown. Through her work on shame and vulnerability, we are able to get a closer look at aspects of the human condition that are often overlooked. Her quote reminds me...
Uncertainty
My client said, “I’m bored and agitated. It isn’t a good combination because it makes me reckless.” His thoughtful insight rings true: The country’s foundation is defined by COVID-19 with recommendations for social and physical distancing, combined with little sense...
Working through a pandemic as a mental health professional
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...
Finding Balance
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,...
History Is Watching
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...
Supporting Our Scholars
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...
What’s Your Story?
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...
Disconnected Connection
“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...
Attitude Of Gratitude
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...
Joy
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,...
Cup Of Grace
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...
Shelter & Place: An Interactive Drive-In Storytelling Performance
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...
Stress In A Time Of COVID-19
Stress is a part of life. However, with COVID-19 being our new normal, along with the recent ongoing struggles for racial justice in the Black community, we have more to be stressed about than ever. Recognizing that you are feeling stressed or may potentially...
Don’t Judge A Teen By Their Cover
Teenagers need time alone. It is essential to their cognitive and emotional development. However, time alone can be hard to come by when families are staying home and there is little private space. I want to share the story of a teenager I know. James is 17 and...
Helping Kids to Try New Things
One of the great things about being an adult is getting to choose when we want to try new things. Sure, everyone else is watching Mrs. America or Tiger King, but you? You’re going to binge watch all seven seasons of Buffy. For the eighth time. You might temper that...
Child Friendly Mindfulness Practices
We’ve all heard the term, but what exactly is mindfulness? How can it really help me? Mindfulness and relaxation practices have been around for ages, but in recent years have gained attention for their calming effects on people of all ages. Being mindful is...
How to Manage Stress While Stressed! – Part 2
Hopefully you read part 1 of this article and came back for more tips! Managing stress is personal to all of us… what works for one may not work for another. The tips listed are general suggestions that people have reported helpful in the past. What helps you manage...
How to Manage Stress While Stressed!
Stress and anxiety are likely a part of your new normal during this pandemic, and it makes sense. Any way you look at it, this is a stressful time. People are losing their jobs, people can’t see their friends/loved ones, food shortages in grocery stores, where there...
Fighting for full equality
CHRIS 180 applauds today’s Supreme Court decision affirming that LGBTQ and transgender people are equal under the law. Based on Congress’ landmark civil rights bill passed in 1964, the Court recognized that our nation’s anti-discrimination laws apply to all people,...
Choose Joy
The world is completely chaotic right now. Everyday something changes. Abnormal is the new normal and for many of us the uncertainty of it all is making it hard to be optimistic. Yes, even those of us irritatingly happy people have found it hard to remain hopeful at...