The Good Neuron

The Good Neuron Evidence-based mental wellness for real people with real lives. Mindset shifts & psychoeducation so you can feel more grounded, kind to yourself, and connected.

(Oh, and NCMHCE tips and tricks for counselors because even helpers need help sometimes) My name is Hannah Salazar, the owner and founder of The Good Neuron. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and a Certified K-12 School Counselor as well as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Ohio. I specialize in neurodevelopmental disorders and pediatric mental health. I am also a mom and a military spouse. I have a passion for helping others succeed as well as advocating for the mental health space. Follow along for tips & tricks for the NCMHCE and my random babblings about the mental health field with everyday mom things thrown in. Looking forward to meeting you!

01/23/2026

Let’s talk about therapeutic silence. Yes, it’s awkward.
Yes, your brain (and mine) is screaming “SAY SOMETHING.”

But the silence in the skill is actually active. It is used as an intervention to:

✨ give space to think
✨ lets emotions surface instead of getting rescued
✨ shifts the work back to the client (where the change happens)
✨ And sometimes… the most important insight shows up after the pause

So if you see your therapist quietly nodding (or looking super awkward) like this…they’re not judging you. They’re giving your nervous system room to talk.

(Still awkward though. We know.)

01/21/2026

If you’re taking the National Clinical MentalHealth Counselor Exam, otherwise known as the in 2026, here are 3 things I would focus on:

1. Focus on application of everything. On this exam, you’ll be applying everything. Think less “2+2=4” and more “why do we use addition to get to 4?” It really changes how you view everything and how you study. Knowledge does have its place as a foundation into application.

2. Structure study sessions to include knowledge + application. Focus on reviewing things you’re weakest in and how to apply those things. So split your study sessions into a ‘knowledge’ part (flashcards, readings, listening to podcasts, etc.) and a ‘application’ part (narratives, practice exams, or quizzes).

3. Use the Pomodoro technique when studying. It can be done a variety of ways but essentially, break your study sessions into smaller increments so you can really focus. 25-30 mins of studying, then take a 5-10 min break; come back and do another round. I never recommend studying for longer than 2 hours at a time (too much can lead to burnout and stress) and breaking into smaller, 30 min sections, helps to really make it manageable.

What else would you add!? 💬

That’s it. That’s the post. If you’re feeling burnt out and just like, how do I do this? You’re not alone. Things are to...
01/15/2026

That’s it. That’s the post.

If you’re feeling burnt out and just like, how do I do this? You’re not alone. Things are tough right now and there is so much going on. Sometimes, just showing up, listening, and being a human with empathy is sufficient enough. Which is why chat gpt could never.

Human connection > perfection. Every. Single. Time.
What do you think is the biggest problem we’re facing now as counselors in the U.S.? 💬

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01/13/2026

In therapy, reflection techniques come in handy when we hear a lot of information but minimal emotional or significant insight.

Let’s break them down:
1. Reflection of feeling-
This is when you name the emotion you’re hearing.
You’re adding in an emotion word and helping the client feel seen and understood.
“You’re feeling overwhelmed.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“You’re really anxious about this.”

This type of reflection answers the question: What is the client feeling right now?

2. Reflection of meaning-
This goes a layer deeper.
Instead of just naming the feeling, you pull out the significance of what the client said. You reflect why this matters to them and what it says about their values, fears, beliefs, or sense of self.

“It sounds like failing here would confirm your fear that you’re not good enough.”
“It seems like this situation hits a deeper fear of being abandoned.”
“This isn’t just stressful, it threatens something important to you.”

This answers the question:What does this experience mean to the client?
Reflection of meaning is what helps clients go deeper, make connections, and gain insight.

Skill to remember (and yes, this matters for the exam too):
• Feeling = label the emotion
• Meaning = name the significance

One says “I hear you.”
The other says “I understand you.”

What should I cover next? 👀 let me know in the comments!!

Welcome back to our December Mental Health Reset! Today we’re talking, shocker, more about boundaries! Why am I harpin’ ...
12/17/2025

Welcome back to our December Mental Health Reset! Today we’re talking, shocker, more about boundaries! Why am I harpin’ so much on boundaries? Because good, solid boundaries can set the foundation to aligning your life according to what you value. So today, we’re focusing on where you put your energy (and to who)

Pick 3 people:
1. Energizer-you feel lighter after
2. Drainer- you feel tense, foggy, or depleted after
3. Neutral- fine, but not filling your cup

Now pause and ask:
📌 Who gets most of your time lately?
📌 Does that match the life you’re trying to build?

Choose ONE small shift (tiny on purpose):
1. Add 10 minutes with your Energizer this week (coffee, call, voice note)
2. Put a boundary on the Drainer (shorter hang, later reply, “I can’t today”)
3. Let Neutral stay neutral (no guilt, no overextending)

Drop a 🔋 in the comments if you’re going to practice this!
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✨Hi! If you’re new here, my name is Hannah Salazar and I am a licensed mental health counselor and certified school counselor. I help new counselor’s coming into the field as well as specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders and the stress of every day life I am also a military spouse and a mom, so there’s always something going on. Feel free to reach out or comment! would love to get to know you! 💛
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(This page is for fun and educational purposes only, IG ≠ therapy)
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12/15/2025

Not every “yes” is aligned. Some yeses cost us energy, time, and presence and we don’t notice until we’re exhausted. So, look at your calendar and see what “yes” is taking you out for this week. We’re not going to go back on our “yes” but we are going to reflect on how to set better boundaries and alignments with our lives.

Reflection prompt:
• What did that yes cost me?
• Was it aligned with my values or just my fear of disappointing someone?
• What boundary might I try next time?

Identifying clear values helps us to create space and respect for them.

💬 Comment “YES” if this hit, or save for your next weekly reset.

See you tomorrow!

(IG ≠ therapy and this is for fun educational purposes only!)
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12/15/2025

Ccccchanges! Lots going on over here, including a brand new place of residence coming summer 2026! Very excited that we are moving to Okinawa, Japan! We’re an active duty USAF family and moving back to Japan has been on my mind since I left (IYKYK). I spent most of my formative years overseas in Japan, Korea, and Hawaii so this is a true full circle moment for me as a mom and as a military spouse. We knew that our move was coming. We just never knew that we would actually get to move to Okinawa. Although I have lived in Okinawa before I’ve never lived in Okinawa as a mental health counselor, so I’m not sure kind of what to expect as far as the landscape goes for my career. But we are gonna figure it out and I’m going to be brainstorming and trying to look up. You know what exactly I can do over there and kind of see what is available. If you have ever lived in Japan as a counselor or have any insights, please leave some comments or you know let me know cause I would love to pick your brain!

Also come back later today because I’m going to be posting the last couple days of our 31 day December mental health reset in one video so that we can have a little more chunking of days as Christmas draws near.

💬 I am continually working on a digital course for the NCMHCE. Would you be interested!? Let me know and I might schedule a release date!
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#沖縄 #日本

12/12/2025

Day 11 of our December mental health reset! We’re talking about calm cues.

When your brain hits “too much,” don’t wait until you’re in full shutdown to care for yourself. Learn when it’s time to say no and when it’s time to take a few minutes to yourself.
Pick one tiny sensory cue that signals safety to your nervous system: your favorite lotion, a cozy blanket, a song, a candle, a fidget, a cup of tea.

Then practice it on purpose: The moment you notice overwhelm rising, pause and use your cue for 30–60 seconds. Breathe slow. Name 3 things you can see. Let your body get the memo: we’re okay.

So today’s prompt: What’s your cue? And when will you use it?

(IG≠therapy and this is for educational purposes only! And fun, because why not)

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12/11/2025

Such a good question! My go-to is Pesi online because they have a ton of programs. But also, check your state board or organization, sometimes they’ll put out trainings and help you to get certified. So good to see you know what modality speaks to you already !

12/11/2025

Yup!! 💯 we would not attend. As counselors it’s really important to not create a situation where our motive or integrity could be questioned. Avoiding dual relationships is always a must!
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