You Are Not Alone: Honoring Suicide Prevention Month

Every September, we pause to recognize Suicide Prevention Month—a time to raise awareness, hold space for hard conversations, and remind one another that help is real, healing is possible, and no one has to go through it alone.

In a world that often asks us to “keep it together,” many people are silently struggling.

Many of us are fighting silent battles without the knowledge of what each of us are going through. This is a time to come together to remember:  none of us are alone. 

And while it may feel impossible in the moment, there is hope—even in the darkest of times.

Let’s Talk About It

It's a common myth that talking about suicide causes it. However, silence and not having the space to talk about it is even more detrimental. 

Stigma keeps people isolated. Shame convinces them they’re a burden. Fear tells them no one will understand.

But conversations—real, honest, compassionate ones—can open doors and help to save lives.

 As autumn quietly arrives, nature invites us to pause and listen.

The days shorten. The air cools. Trees begin their slow, graceful release—letting go of what they no longer need. One leaf at a time, they surrender—not out of fear, but out of wisdom.

There’s something profoundly grounding about the way nature moves through change: unrushed, intentional, and beautiful. And in this, we’re reminded that we, too, can let go.

The Wisdom of Release

Fall offers more than just scenic beauty. It offers a powerful invitation: to slow down, reflect, and release.

Just like trees shedding their leaves, we are called to ask: What have I outgrown?
Maybe it’s a habit, a belief, a commitment, or even a version of yourself you’re no longer meant to be.

Letting go doesn’t mean giving up.
It means making space.
It means choosing peace over pressure, alignment over obligation.

It’s not failure. It’s preparation—for healing, rest, and new growth.

 You may have heard the term EMDR, but you may not know what it really is.  There are a few therapies that work well in treating trauma and other :”stuck patterns”  that cause us anxiety or depression type feelings. . EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one. 

EMDR is a type of therapy, proven to be effective more often than other types of therapy.  The focus with EMDR is to reprocess unhealthy thoughts and memories. When these memories are processed, we naturally move to a better state of mind and can feel more confident in our lives.  EMDR  provides a stable treatment method that is effective in a short period of time and creates lasting changes. . 

So how do you know if it would be a good choice of therapy for you?

As a therapist, I suggest that people  look at their unhealthy and unhelpful patterns. This can show us that we need help and EMDR focuses on helping people develop healthier patterns. 

Join us in supporting a therapy that has been proven effective for supporting people in working through their emotional experiences coupled with their negative beliefs about themselves! This therapy has been proven effective for address the impact of trauma and impactful life experiences that shape the way a person thinks, feels and responds to their daily life.

This year Sound Health and Wellness is participating in the Virtual EMDR Walk in the Park, organized by the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) located in Hamden, CT. HAP is responsible for bringing communities in need this treatment following significant life changing experiences that have shaped the way they respond to trauma and other stressful life experiences.

Spring Cleaning for the Mind

As we look forward to spring and summer, how do we prepare ourselves mentally to shift from old cluttered or negative thinking to an open and more positive thinking. A thinking that will help us to see ourselves in a better way and see new opportunities or ways to express ourselves and to be a better me. Well, we first have to do some spring cleaning on the mind.  And to do that lets take a look at how our brain works.

The brain is wired to protect us, continually scanning for threats. Negative events stimulate the emotional processing area of the brain known as the amygdala. The more this area is activated, the more an individual will link emotion to certain events. Unexpected events can range from a slip and fall to life-altering events such as divorce, violent acts, or loss of a loved one. 

That wiring can take some of the blame for negative thoughts or beliefs. The downside to this is if we connect these negative events to something we have done or something we have caused. The thought process can slowly shift to “it was MY FAULT” makes us vulnerable to fixating on a cycle of negative self-talk. If left alone, “negative self-talk or negative beliefs” will slowly cast an ever-widening shadow over several areas of a person’s life, which could cause life-long problems. One of the leading causes for negative self-talk or belief is Trauma. So, how do we start the cleaning process?

Supporting Your Child Through End-of-Year Transitions and Academic Anxiety

As the school year comes to an end down, many children experience a mixture of emotions—relief, excitement, and, for some, anxiety and behavioral changes. End-of-year transitions bring a host of changes, from exams and final projects to saying goodbye to teachers, friends, and schools they have spent years growing, developing and forming relationships. As a clinician, I’ve worked with many families navigating these challenges, and I would like to provide insights and strategies to help your child feel supported during these times.

For many students, the end of the school year means increased academic pressure, increased stress and being overwhelmed, academic and/or social burnout, and procrastination.

Tests, projects, essays, and final wrap ups can trigger feelings of self-doubt, fear of failure, and parent/ guardian disappointment. Some common signs of academic anxiety and end of year transitions include:

• Difficulty sleeping and/or frequent nightmares

• Irritability, emotional outbursts and/or behavioral changes

• Complaints of headaches and/or stomachaches

• Procrastination and/or excessive perfectionism

• Negative self-talk and/or feelings of hopelessness

Additionally, the transition to summer break can feel unsettling for children who thrive on structure, routine, and predictability. The lack of daily routines, predictable interactions and schedules can contribute to increased worry, emotional outburst, isolation, disruption in sleep patterns, and disruption in daily functioning.

Mindfulness Heart Centering: Connecting to Inner Peace and Emotional Balance

Heart centering is about tuning into the energetic space of the heart and reconnecting with your authentic and unique heartbeat and energy. The heart center, often seen as the seat of love, compassion, and empathy, is an anchor for emotional well-being and healing and by sitting with and accessing these innermost parts do we become more authentic in our daily life. When we practice heart centering, we:

• Connect deeply with our emotions

• Foster compassion for ourselves and others

• Cultivate a sense of love and gratitude

• Align our thoughts and actions with our heart's wisdom

Winter Wellness Series

As the temperature drops during the winter months, and the snow approaches and with it comes “sick” season, we are all looking for ways to boost our health and wellness. Being active and remaining active although we do need to bundle up can be critical for your overall health and wellness.

A Creative Path to Healing

You often hear people say, “I’m no good at art- I don’t have that talent” or “I’m not very creative,” when you think about art and doing art.

However, there is no such thing as people that are creative or not creative. We all have this quality within us and we just need to find a way within ourselves to use it. According to Brene Brown, “Creativity is the expression of our originality...”

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