With the warm weather finally arriving, I’ve heard many conversations about getting gardens ready for the summer months. As a houseplant enthusiast myself, I began reflecting on the individual and relational therapeutic benefits of green spaces and gardening and wanted to share them with you.

Summer is finally here—which means more opportunities to get outside and soak up some sunlight. And while it might sound simple, some of the most effective ways to support your mental health are actually free and right outside your door!

Parenting is difficult and wonderful all at the same time.  But does it ever feel like the difficulty outweighs the wonder? If it does, you’re not alone. A phrase that resonates with many parents is that when it comes to parenting, the days are long and the years are short.

Colder months and shorter days can make loneliness feel heavier. Less sunlight, more time indoors, and fewer social gatherings can amplify feelings of isolation or numbness. Research shows that seasonal changes can affect mood and energy, which may increase sadness or disconnection for some people.

If this winter has felt especially hard, you’re not alone.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) has been en vogue recently. You may know it as the wacky therapy where the therapist waves their fingers in front of your face. You may have heard of it because Miley Cyrus talked about her EMDR experience on Tik Tok. It seems to be the new hot treatment on the market. If you’re anything like me, you might find yourself skeptical about anything that seems to be a fad!

Identity tends to shift as life changes. Stress, new relationships, and major transitions often bring old questions back to the surface. Questions about identity can be daunting for everyone, especially multiracial people, transracial adoptees, immigrants, and those raised across cultures. The concept of identity resolutions helps to shift the focus away from the pressure to “fix” or “define” yourself, and toward building self-connection, emotional steadiness, and healthier relationships.

February often brings complicated feelings, largely because of one day in particular: Valentine’s Day. Between heart-shaped displays, dinner reservations made weeks in advance, and social media feeds full of romantic highlights, love can start to feel less like something we experience and more like something we’re expected to measure up to. Social media plays a powerful role in this pressure.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by change, you’re not alone. Major life transitions are a common thread weaving through the tapestry of human experience. Most people encounter a significant life shift every 12 to 18 months, with most changes occurring outside of our control, and these transitions can evoke a whirlwind of emotions.

Sarah Bowman, PC, brings a rare blend of lived experience and clinical skill to her work with clients seeking therapy for adoptees (and more specifically, therapy for transracial adoptees), support from a therapist for adoption-related concerns, care from a therapist who specializes in Black mental health, or guidance from a therapist for marginalized identities.