Walters Counseling, LLC

04/01/2026

Anxiety can stop you in your tracks. It can make you feel like you don't have control of you body or brain, and that you haven't, and likely won't, ever do anything "right." For good or for bad, you are not alone in this feeling, regardless of how severe it is for you. So much so, that it is a topic of all sorts of media: books, news articles, movies, and music. Fortunately, there is treatment. If you are struggling with anxiety, seek help from a licensed counselor and/ or psychiatrist. Until then, perhaps this song will help you feel understood!

Provided to YouTube by CDBabySevere Anxiety · Murali CoryellSoul of a Nation℗ 2025 Murali CoryellReleased on: 2025-11-18Auto-generated by YouTube.

03/25/2026

While I can see the pros of AI, such as a quick summary of a Google search on options for your next vacation, or even a little guidance on some tricky math homework, I have a significant wariness of it as well. I've read too many articles on the ways in which it manipulates us with its "yes and" programmed responses. Using it as a companion or support moves into a world where we are truly replacing human contact with a computer. Doing so will likely lead to decreased empathy and understanding for others, particularly those who are different than us, and increased anxiety and difficulty connecting with others. The extent to which this can move into other problems such as touch starvation remains to be seen, but is a real concern for me. When we rely on inanimate objects for connection, we inadvertently push humans away. While some may argue that they have not found people to be kind or supportive, the overall risk of this significantly outweighs the benefits, in my humble opinion.

Are we trading human intimacy for scripted comfort?

03/18/2026

While we have long known that diet (particularly certain vitamins and minerals) can affect mental health, the extent to which this is the case is just now becoming clearer. If you are experiencing anxiety or depression, and haven't had your annual bloodwork done, ask your doctor to check for a variety of deficiencies. If you are low on any of these, talk to your doctor about your options. While it can be tempting to just start taking an over-the-counter supplement, you should not do so without consulting you physician; for some of these, high levels can be toxic.

Poor nutrition could contribute to mental illness, but are supplements the answer?

03/09/2026

Did you know that today is National Napping Day? I didn't even know there was such a thing! If you need an energy boost and decide to take a nap, remember not to do so later in the day, or for very long. Set a timer so you don't accidentally turn that 20-minute cat-nap into a 3-hour full sleep. While napping can be very helpful for our physical and mental health, it can also easily throw off our sleep patterns. Happy napping!

Taking a nap can be good your health. Find out how to make the most of a nap.

02/04/2026

Remember, way back in elementary school, when your teacher made you write the same thing repeatedly, you took notes by hand, and studying for a test meant copying the most important passages from your textbook into a notebook? There was, in fact, reason for doing so. We really do learn more, and retain it for a longer time period, when we handwrite information. Journaling by hand is also more effective. Yes, you can type your journal entries into your phone or computer, but they tend to be much more effective if you write them out by hand--even if you then destroy the entry. Research not only concurs with this, it suggests that spending time daily hand writing information (on paper, not with a stylus on a tablet) can actually reduce your risk of dementia. Just another reminder that perhaps it's time for all of us to put down our technology and go old-school, picking up a pen and notepad instead.

Background: The advent of digital technology has significantly altered ways of writing. While typing has become the dominant mode of written communication, handwriting remains a fundamental human skill, and its profound impact on cognitive processes ...

01/28/2026

Looking for love? It can feel impossibly difficult, both in meeting someone and deciding if they may be the one for you. If they haven't checked off all 4 of the boxes in this article, though, they likely are not. It sounds simple, even "duh"-worthy, but in reality, it can be easy to decide someone is "good enough" and stop the search. Give yourself the time and respect to find someone who will be most likely to go the distance with you, and walk away from the relationships that won't.

If a partner doesn't meet all four of these standards, they may not be right for you.

01/21/2026

There are so many things that test a partnership, from big things like family deaths to small things, like a shirt that's been left out. How do you handle these within your relationship? Do you talk about them honestly, seeking to find mutual understand and support for each other, or do you hold onto them, grasping at the perceived wrongs for dear life. Just recognizing this may provide some insight into relationship, and your role in it. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/15/style/modern-love-not-putting-away-shirt.htm

Sometimes it’s the uneventful stretches of marriage that can be the real stress test.

01/14/2026

We all know that some areas of the world are known for scoring higher on happiness ratings than others. What about these cultures, regions, or people lead to these scores? A more balanced work-life schedule is a part of this. Societal decisions, such as provision of free or reasonably-priced childcare and healthcare, and exposure to nature also influence the level of contentment. As does the awareness of and support for mental health needs, both large and small. It may feel difficult to impossible to bring many, if not all, of these into your daily life, but look for small things that you can do differently. Maybe you start a nightly walk around your neighborhood, looking for changes in trees, potted plants, or pets in windows. Perhaps you consciously stop work at a specific time daily, and refrain from looking at email or answering phone calls outside of work hours. Or maybe you look to truly identify what you do and do not have control over and what you need in order to accept or cope with the situation regardless. It may not be easy, and you certainly won't be perfect at it, but we can all make small changes that will help to increase our own contentment, if not also that of those within our communities.

Even with no sunlight for parts of the year, people in Finland thrive when it comes to their life satisfaction.

01/07/2026

Owning a gun comes with many responsibilities, but, in my opinion, the top one being the safety of yourself and others, particularly children. The easiest, and most responsible way to store guns are in protected cabinets, with trigger locks. This website connects people to free storage kits, and provides information on many other types of community resources.

Project ChildSafe is a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation to promote fi****ms safety and education.

12/31/2025

As we start a new year, we tend to reflect back on the past and forward on desired changes or exciting upcoming events. Either way, there is often much judgement involved, rather than sitting with a moment or memory and trying to enjoy it. For this next year, I wish you more time staying present with yourself and each of those moments, momentous ones and everyday-types, finding joy and contentment where you are, rather than always moving on to whatever is next.

Tired of living a life without flavor? A few adjustments will have you on your way to a new and enriched existence.

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas!

12/17/2025

As we are rapidly approaching the shortest day of the year, many people are thinking about how to get more sunlight and the effects of being outdoors on symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. While sunlight is important, being out in nature (think forests and beaches, not a walk through Center City) is as well. Research suggests that this exposure increases are brain function for mental health and cognitive abilities. Try to leave all screens behind, and keep your music or podcasts off in order to truly immerse yourself in the experience. Don't have a nature preserve within easy reach? While not quite as powerful, playing nature sounds or looking at nature imagery can also be helpful. Perhaps try to find time as often as you can to step outside and enjoy everything nature has to offer near you!

An expert explains how just minutes in nature can restore focus, lift mood, and help the brain recover from the fatigue of modern life.