https://villagecounselingllc.com/

Village Counseling LLC, PO Box 8463, Hot Springs Village, AR (2026)

01/25/2026

WHY ANXIETY CAN SPIKE IN WINTER

Anxiety often spikes during the cold, dark months, and it’s not “all in your head.” Shorter days mean less sunlight, which can disrupt serotonin and melatonin—chemicals that regulate mood and sleep. When sleep is off, anxiety tends to rise. Cold weather also keeps people indoors more, reducing movement and social interaction, both of which help calm the nervous system.

Winter can shrink our routines. Walks, errands, and casual social contact decrease, leaving more time alone with our thoughts. For people prone to anxiety, this extra mental space can quickly turn into rumination and worry. There’s also a subtle psychological effect of darkness itself: long nights can make problems feel heavier and more permanent.

Add holiday pressure, financial stress, health concerns, and weather-related fears, and the nervous system stays on high alert. Understanding these seasonal triggers matters. When we recognize that winter anxiety has real biological and environmental roots, we can respond with compassion, not self-blame—and take steps to support our mental health through the season.

12/26/2025

New Year’s resolutions often get framed as willpower tests, but from a mental health perspective, they’re really about self-relationship. The way we set goals can either support our well-being or quietly undermine it. Resolutions rooted in self-criticism (“I have to fix myself”) tend to increase shame and burnout, while those grounded in self-compassion foster motivation and resilience.

Healthy resolutions are realistic, flexible, and values-based. Instead of aiming for perfection, they focus on progress—small, sustainable changes that respect current limits. Mental health thrives when goals allow room for rest, setbacks, and adjustment. A missed day isn’t failure; it’s information.

Equally important is why we choose a resolution. Goals aligned with personal meaning—such as improving sleep to feel calmer or setting boundaries to reduce stress—are more protective than externally driven ones. Ultimately, the healthiest New Year’s resolution may be learning to treat ourselves with the same patience, understanding, and encouragement we offer others.

11/29/2025

How AI Can Support Your Mental Health

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly helpful tool for mental well-being, offering accessible support right from your phone or computer. While it cannot replace a licensed therapist or provide medical diagnosis, AI can complement traditional care in meaningful ways.

One of the most common uses of AI for mental health is emotional check-ins. Many AI tools can help you identify what you’re feeling, name patterns, and reflect on triggers or habits. Simply writing out your thoughts and receiving structured, compassionate guidance can help reduce emotional overwhelm and increase clarity.

AI can also provide evidence-based coping strategies, such as grounding exercises, breathing techniques, or reframing negative thinking. These interventions are especially helpful in moments when you need support but don’t have immediate access to a therapist or trusted person.

Another growing use of AI is habit building. Whether you want to improve sleep, set boundaries, reduce stress, or create a routine, AI systems can track progress, offer reminders, and break goals into manageable steps.

For people who struggle with anxiety, AI can offer real-time tools to help manage spiraling thoughts or physical tension. Jotting down worries, practicing a calming exercise, or receiving a quick explanation of why your body reacts the way it does can reduce fear and increase a sense of control.

Finally, AI can serve as a nonjudgmental space to talk through difficult situations. Sometimes expressing yourself without feeling rushed or evaluated is therapeutic in itself.

AI isn’t a substitute for professional care, but when used thoughtfully, it can be a powerful companion on your mental health journey.

10/31/2025

Finding Peace During the Holidays

The holidays are often pictured as joyful, glittering celebrations — yet for many, they bring stress, loneliness, or disappointment. We’re surrounded by images of perfect families, elaborate meals, and endless cheer, but real life rarely looks like that. The truth is, it’s okay if your holidays feel quieter or more complicated.

One way to ease the pressure is to let go of expectations — both yours and others’. Traditions can be meaningful, but they don’t have to be perfect. Focus on what truly matters: connection, rest, gratitude, or simply making it through this season with kindness toward yourself.

If you’re feeling low, reach out — to a friend, a neighbor, or a support group. Even a small moment of connection can lift your spirits. Make time for simple joys: a walk under winter lights, your favorite music, or a cup of tea in silence.

Remember, the holidays don’t have to be about doing or giving more — they can be about being. Giving yourself permission to slow down and feel whatever arises is the greatest gift of all.

10/05/2025

The Psychological Shifts of Fall

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, fall brings more than colorful leaves—it ushers in subtle psychological changes. The decrease in daylight affects melatonin and serotonin levels, influencing sleep and mood. Many people feel a natural pull toward introspection and calm, mirroring nature’s slower rhythm. This can bring comfort and reflection, yet for some, it triggers mild sadness or seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

The coziness of fall traditions—warm drinks, soft sweaters, and gatherings—often fosters a sense of nostalgia and connection. Psychologically, it’s a season of transition, prompting people to take stock of the year and prepare emotionally for winter’s stillness. Embracing fall’s slower pace through mindfulness, outdoor walks, and creative pursuits can help balance mood and energy. Ultimately, fall reminds us that change, though sometimes melancholic, can be both grounding and deeply restorative.

09/13/2025

Grief is an intensely personal and universal response to loss, affecting every aspect of our being. The journey through it is not linear but a winding, often chaotic path of denial, anger, sorrow, and, eventually, acceptance. While the pain can feel all-consuming and isolating, it is a testament to the depth of our love and connection to what was lost.
Healing does not mean forgetting or simply "getting over" the loss. Instead, it is a transformative process of learning to live with the absence. Just as a broken bone may never be the same but learns to bear weight again, a grieving heart learns to carry its loss while still moving forward. This journey requires patience, compassion, and the courage to feel the full spectrum of emotions, creating space for acceptance and new growth. With time, support, and self-care, the intense grief can soften, allowing cherished memories to bring comfort rather than pain.

08/16/2025

What is telehealth and is it good for me?

Since the COVID pandemic, telehealth has become a popular way to see your doctor from the comfort and privacy of your home.

Telehealth can either be done via video visits and/or telephone visits. Most insurance companies allow both medical and mental health visits via telehealth. It is always wise to check with your health plan first prior to having an appointment with your provider via telehealth to ensure that it is a covered service.

Telehealth is effectively used for mental health care and can be just as good or better as an in-person visit. Telehealth is HIPAA compliant, and your sensitive health information is kept private and confidential. Many clients feel more comfortable talking to their provider while using telehealth. Patients feel more comfortable, less rushed, and more relaxed while getting care at home. The other benefit is avoiding your provider’s waiting room and being around others who might be ill, thus exposing yourself to germs and viruses. Your personal privacy also is ensured because someone who knows you may come into the waiting room and wonder why you are there. Both your privacy and health are protected while using telehealth.

Another big benefit to telehealth is that it saves you time and money. You no longer need to drive to your provider’s office. Because you are at home, there are no transportation costs involved and/or any wear and tear on your vehicle.

Does this sound too good to be true? Telehealth visits are advantageous to most people and can be a life saver in terms of convenience, cost, and effectiveness. COVID has really changed the way that health and mental health care is delivered. Ask your provider if you can try it out and see for yourself how easy it can be.

07/21/2025

What is hope and when do we call upon it?

Hope is linked with desire and anticipating better things in life. Perhaps you are experiencing some difficulties and things have changed with your plans, your family, your health, your career, your finances or whatever it might be. You may feel on-edge, uncertain, and/or negative about something and think that life has left you in the lurch without many options. We humans usually don’t call upon hope unless something is awry with our lives, and it is usually only then that we begin thinking about it.

What is troubling you today? Are you concerned that your job might end and that your finances will take a big hit? Are you feeling groundless because you’ve just gone through a divorce? Are you worried about the results of a medical procedure and what will happen after that? Having hope can help, as it puts you in an emotional place that helps you feel more positive to cope with the problems in front of you.

So, how do you get some of this hope?

People who have hope surround themselves with people who can help them feel more optimistic and negotiate with their future better. People with hope use their thoughts and energy to focus on the things they can control. They focus on possibilities and not so much on the negatives. They are more resilient people and they set goals, no matter the circumstances. Cultivating the following attributes can help you get you into the habit of having some hope when needed the most:

1. Setting and achieving goals
2. Being around positive people
3. Focusing on the present
4. Being confident
5. Keeping the silver lining in mind
6. Never giving up

Hope may seem like an elusive quality to have, but it is one that we all should strive for. It increases your ability to face the many challenges of life and to take positive action when needed. Allow yourself to think differently. It will make a difference in your life.

06/29/2025

WHAT IS ANXIETY AND IS IT NORMAL?

Even when good stress happens in our lives – such as the birth of a grandchild or a long-awaited trip – we can feel anxious. Having jitters or worries is a normal part of life. But what happens when we have worry that goes beyond what should be a healthy response to stress?

Sometimes when we worry too much about the things that are going on in our lives, we become hyper-aware of our circumstances to the point where we are not aware of anything else. We may find ourselves becoming hypervigilant, waiting for the next anxiety-producing event to happen. We may even feel a sense of danger – as if we were being chased by a man-eating bear – and have a high level of arousal in our body that we cannot seem to turn off.

When feeling increasingly anxious, the body signals the brain and increases adrenaline to help the body prepare for a dangerous situation. This causes the boy to go into “fight or flight” mode to protect itself. Breathing becomes shallow, heart rate increases, and oxygen rushes to the muscles so we have the strength to flee a dangerous situation.

Being in a constant state of high alert is not good for our bodies or for our minds. This causes a state of living in dread and worry rather than enjoying life. If this is happening to you, it may be a good idea to see your doctor who will help to rule out any physical illness that may be causing your anxiety. Your doctor also may prescribe anti-anxiety medication to help ease the uncomfortable feelings associated with a heightened state of arousal.

In addition, it may be helpful to seek out the services of a trained mental health professional to get at the root of your anxiety. Often, we are unaware of what is going on in our mind and what are triggers to our anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one approach that may help. It works to change unproductive ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving so you can get to feeling better.

06/04/2025

How to Improve Sleep

As you get older, it may be difficult to sleep uninterrupted throughout the night. Does this mean that something is wrong with you? Not necessarily. Changes in physical and mental
health, activity levels, and medications all can lead to sleeping pattern , and activity levels can contribute to sleeping pattern alterations that are due to aging.

As one example, you may find that you are less physically and socially active than you once were. This may tempt to take a nap during the day when feeling that urge. And taking a nap can interfere with nighttime sleeping. Or it may be that you are taking some medications that make you drowsy during the day and disrupt your sleep at night. Despite the changes that are taking place in our bodies, there are several things you can do to get more restful sleep. They may sound easy to do know that it is going to take perseverance and practice on your part to make them work.

So, what are some of the things that will help?

 Set a sleep schedule. This means going to sleep and getting up at the same time each
day.
 Turn off all electronics at least one hour before going to bed.
 Find a relaxing routine before going to bed. This could be reading, meditating, or
listening to some music.
 Have your doctor evaluate your medications to determine if any might be interfering
with your sleep.
 Avoid naps because they make it harder for you to fall asleep at night.
 If you have pain that keeps you up during the night, talk to your doctor. Do not put up
with it.
 Avoid large meals, alcohol, and caffeine several hours before going to bed. These can
interfere with your sleep.

Sleep is vital to your well-being. If you follow the above recommendations, you will improve the quality and quantity of your sleep. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night and you will feel
more energized and ready to face the day.

05/09/2025

Did your pet die?

If so, this is a heartbreaking event to go through. The emotional pain you experience can be intense and you may not understand what is happening.

Losing a pet can be a devastating loss, especially for people who rely upon their pets for companionship and their sense of well-being. People and their pets often have an amazing bond – and when they leave us – their loss can be overwhelming.

Sometimes, feelings of grief and loss can be hard to manage. Grief has many manifestations, and you may feel isolated and alone when your pet dies. The void that is felt by their absence in your house is often evident. You may feel numb, sad, depressed, anxious, angry, guilty, confused and/or have an overall sense that you are lost in life.

In addition to this, family and friends may unknowingly minimize what you are going through because an animal died and not a human being. Losing a pet is often associated with grief that is disenfranchised because other people do not understand the attachment that you had to your pet.

What does disenfranchised mean? It can mean that grief associated with losing a pet is not well-accepted by societal norms and that it is minimized, misunderstood, and/or disregarded by others. This may intensify the difficult emotions that you already have surrounding your loss. You may be questioning yourself and what you feel, thus alienating you from getting the support that you need.

There are many websites that can help you with your grief, to name a few: grief.com, petlosspartners.org, and healgrief.org. There are also several Facebook groups and chatrooms such as rainbowsbridge.com that help you find the support you need while grieving. You may find it helpful to reach out to a trained therapist who can help you with your grief and move forward with your life after the loss of your beloved pet. It is best to do this when you are having difficulty with your grief and unable to function in your life as well as you once did.

Do not make a go of it alone. Find ways to reach out to others who understand what it is like to lose a pet.

Village Counseling LLC

01/25/2026

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