Integrative Psychological Health

12/18/2025

Nostalgia isn’t just sentimental—it’s scientifically linked to greater optimism, lower stress, and a stronger sense of connection. Learn more here: https://at.apa.org/qmn.

11/25/2025

11/20/2025

Morgan Freeman once said: “If you wake up and the snow is knee-deep outside, you are not filled with rage. It’s just something that you’ve got to cope with. If you’re living in a situation it’s the only situation that you know, and you’ve got to deal with it.”

Stress and uncertainty often arrive like an unexpected snowstorm. You don’t choose the weather, and you can’t control how deep the snow will be. What you can control is how you respond. Just as we accept the snow as part of the day and adjust—by bundling up, slowing down, or finding new routes—we can learn to meet life’s challenges without feeling helpless. Coping begins with acceptance, recognizing that some circumstances simply are. This alows our energy to be better spent on how we move through stressors rather than fighting their existence.

Stress and uncertainty lose some of their power when we stop treating them as personal failures, and instead see them as conditions to be managed, like the weather. With practice, this perspective helps us conserve energy, reduce overwhelm, and build confidence in our ability to adapt. It is what we psychologists refer to as resilience.

In therapy, we often talk about shifting from “Why is this happening?” to “How can I navigate this?” and even “How can I be part of creating positive change?” That shift doesn’t minimize the difficulty — it honors it — and allows you to feel an increased sense of agency. It gives you a roadmap.

11/11/2025

Paying tribute to our nation's heroes today and every day. Happy veterans day!

11/06/2025

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Jessie Kusina, PhD to IPH. She brings a wealth of experience in treating and assessing children, adolescents, and young adults. To learn more about Dr. Kusina, please visit our practice website below:

psychologists, social workers, therapists, compassion, psychotherapy, psychology, assessment

11/05/2025

At Integrative Psychological Health, LLC, we are dedicated to supporting our community’s well-being in every way we can. We are accepting donations to benefit local SNAP recipients, helping families and individuals facing food insecurity access healthy groceries and essential items. Every contribution goes directly to those in need. Join us in building a stronger, healthier North Olmsted community. To learn more or to donate, please contact us at 216-801-4656 or visit www.ipsyhealth.com.

Essentials:
• Toiletries: toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, menstrual products
• Cleaning supplies: laundry detergent, dish soap, disinfectant wipes
• Diapers and wipes: for infants and adults
• Pet food: for families with companion animals

Food:

• Cooking oils and spices: olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder
• Shelf-stable proteins: canned tuna, beans, peanut butter
• Culturally relevant staples: masa harina, rice noodles, halal/kosher items
• Fresh produce: especially when local pantries lack refrigeration

Extras

• Birthday kits: cake mix, frosting, candles, small gift
• Holiday meal bundles: culturally specific ingredients for celebrations
• Bus passes or gas cards: for accessing groceries or appointments

Clothing:

Gently used sweaters, coats, jackets, hats, gloves, shoes in all sizes for adults and children

Trauma and Neurodivergent Informed Additions

• Sensory-safe snacks: low-sugar, low-allergen, individually wrapped
• Quiet comfort items: journals, coloring books, soft socks, fidget toys

children, adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment issues, substance use disorders, relationship stress, job or health stress, hopelessness, grief, loss, gender identity and multicultural issues.

11/05/2025

The drive-in restaurant chain is offering free kids meals and donating food to support Ohio families affected by the government shutdown.

10/28/2025

As the end of the month of October approaches, I hope we will continue to provide a safe environment for all of our kids for the remainder of the year. 💙

Did you know? 46% of kids with autism in middle school and high school report being bullied.

10/24/2025

“When They Can No Longer Control You, They May Try to Rewrite Your Story”

There’s a quiet cruelty that often follows the end of a controlling relationship, whether with a significant other, a friend or a coworker.

Once someone realizes they can no longer shape your choices, your emotions, or your sense of self, they may turn to something more insidious: rewriting the story of who you are.

This doesn’t always look like open conflict. Sometimes it’s a whisper in a shared space, a vague warning to others, or a version of events that leaves out key truths. The goal isn’t to resolve anything—it’s to cast doubt. To make others question your intentions, your voice.

For survivors, this can feel like being erased in real time. You might notice people pulling away without explanation, or hear secondhand that you’ve been described as “too much,” “difficult to work with,” or “hard to get along with.” But these aren’t reflections of who you are. They’re tactics. When someone loses control in their relationship with you, they will often try to control the narrative around it.

But here’s what matters: your clarity is stronger than their confusion. You don’t need to chase every distortion or correct every twist. What you need is space, a renewed trust in your own perception and a return to yourself. To gain clarity, it helps to write things down. Name the moments that have felt off. Quietly affirm what you know to be true.

It also helps to stay close to people who know your heart. They can help you feel anchored in your reality by reminding you of the you they know.

Healing doesn’t mean convincing others. It means refusing to be defined by someone else’s perception of you.

Rejecting their narrative of you that doesn’t fit is empowering. You are not unstable or overly sensitive for choosing dignity, creating boundaries in an unsafe relationship or choosing yourself first.

Even though this choice may provoke retaliation, it also marks the beginning of freedom. They no longer hold any power over you. And your story becomes yours again.