by MCF Clinical Supervisor Ronnie Biemans, MA, LCPC The other day I took a few minutes to myself during a busy day to sit outside. I closed my eyes, and turned inward. Following my own breath and engaging my senses, I noticed the amazing waves of sound as the cicadas called to one another. Very soon I felt calmed and grounded by this experience. The sound came and went, ..

by MCF Clinical Supervisor Ronnie Biemans, MA, LCPC We are deep into the summer now. Phew! What do you do with those kids when the temperatures soar and school is out? How do you keep your sanity and enjoy your family time as much as possible? We often get so preoccupied getting kids scheduled and constructively occupied that we forget that the down time of the summer  ..

by MCF Clinical Supervisor Ronnie Biemans, MA, LCPC Are you thinking about work 24/7? Do you find yourself checking email after the end of the workday or during the weekend? Is there no end to your workday? If you answered, “yes,” you are not alone. Overwork has become a common American phenomenon. Here are some interesting statistics: In a recent national survey, 5 ..

by MCF Clinical Supervisor Ronnie Biemans, MA, LCPC Resiliency is the ability to overcome challenges of all kinds – trauma, tragedy, personal crises -- and bounce back. It is not a personality trait, but rather a skill we build over time. It helps us to find joy again even after life’s greatest hardships knock us down. Recent books and publications have brought r ..

by MCF Clinical Supervisor Ronnie Biemans, MA, LCPC Last month, we presented options and opportunities to survive the winter doldrums (/blog/getting-on-the-other-side-of-the-winter-doldrums). This month, we take a look at a more serious and lingering emotional and behavioral response to seasonal changes, Seasonal Affective Disorder. As described on the National Institu ..

by MCF Clinical Supervisor Ronnie Biemans, MA, LCPC Winter has come! Last week brought the full fury of winter down on many parts of the country, particularly the East Coast. You might think the world is coming to an end with dire weather reports announcing the arrival of “bomb cyclones” and another polar vortex. Parents scramble to occupy their children at ho ..

Beginning this month, MCF Clinical Supervisor Ronnie Biemans, MA, LCPC, will be sharing helpful hints for parents and caregivers to help practice self-care and wellness. We’re kicking off this series with Ronnie’s top five self-care practices to help you start off the New Year. Taking care of ourselves through the practice of self-care helps us not only to sur ..

Perhaps you took a few moments to acknowledge what you are thankful for last Thursday or plan to include thankfulness as part of your holiday or year-end reflections. But did you know that when practiced regularly, gratitude is something that can benefit your body and mind? Studies have shown that the practice of gratitude can: Lower blood pressure Boost your imm ..

It was long thought that brain development occurred only during childhood. Today we know that this is far from true. New neural pathways continue to develop based on our experiences. We can rewire our brains at any age. Moreover, just as you can grow your biceps through exercise and diet, there are a multitude of ways that you can grow your brain. This sharpens thinking and can ..

We know that sleep has a profound impact on our health, including mental health. In addition to helping us tackle a day’s challenges, getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep a night can help maintain brain health, both cognitive functioning and memory. Lack of adequate sleep can contribute to a number of mental health problems, including depression and anxiet ..