Some people make us feel bad about ourselves. When we spend time with them, we might engage in destructive behaviors. They don't bring out the best in us. These people are toxic influences. According to Mental Health America, 84% of women and 75% of men report having had a toxic friend at some point [...]
The Village Blog
Image
Qualities of Toxic People & How You Can Create Boundaries
Village Counselors Share Mental Health Tips & Tricks
Sometimes in life, we hear just the right piece of advice at just the right moment. In honor of Mental Health Month, celebrated every May, therapists, counselors, and mental health practitioners from The Village Family Service Center shared their favorite mental health tips, mantras, and bits of [...]
7 Ways to Own Your Feelings and Improve Your Overall Mental Health
It’s important to have the right tools for the job. You can build your own kit of mental health tools to help you thrive in difficult times and not-so-difficult times, too. In honor of May being Mental Health Month, Mental Health America is sharing a toolkit to increase resiliency, improve our [...]
Exploring the Benefits of Virtual Counseling and Staying Connected
The world is changing and becoming more virtual every day, and life's stresses are unlike those we've ever known. That means it's more important than ever to stay connected with your therapist. For some people, it may be the first time they've felt the need to access mental health counseling or [...]
Self-Care and Connection Improve Emotional Wellness, Even in Difficult Times
Anyone who's flown has heard the saying. “In the event of a sudden drop in pressure, an oxygen mask will drop from above. Secure your own mask first before assisting others.” This idea of ensuring our own well-being is at the center of self-care. Self-care is doing something that benefits you – and [...]
How To Protect Yourself & Others from Anxiety with Mindfulness & Intentionality
You know the old saying "laughter is contagious." Laughter, happiness, joy; a lot of things fall into the category of being easy to spread. Unfortunately, bad things are contagious, too. Colds, illnesses, and even a bad mood. Your stress, frustrations, and anxiety can spread to those around you [...]
This Powerful Therapy Allows All Ages to Process Traumatic Experiences
When something bad happens to us, the whole body remembers it. Negative thoughts can get stuck in places where talk therapy just can’t reach. Kids might not be able to express traumatic or disturbing memories – “icky” or “mixed up” thoughts and feelings, as Grand Forks Village therapist Janet [...]
4 Suggestions to Put Your Smart Phone Down
Smart phones have made our lives easier in so many ways, you may feel like you can't live without your device. Odds are, you're reading this article on a phone right now! Technology is a part of everyday – every hour – life! So, knowing that, how do we take care of ourselves and make sure we aren’t [...]
Tools for Children to Identify and Calm Anxious Feelings
Fear. Worry. Anger or irritation. Insomnia. Anxiety can have many faces. Sometimes, it’s the face of your child. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue of childhood and adolescence, the Child Mind Institute reports. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9.4% [...]