Park View Counseling

12/02/2023

I’m introducing 20-minute check-ins for people who want access to a therapist for brief concerns or questions. Don’t have the time or not ready to make a commitment towards regular therapy sessions? Maybe a 20-minute check-in could be a good start or the right fit for you? Text or email me to get started.

10/12/2023

A running therapy program rivals antidepressants in treatment of depression and anxiety, research suggests. Running showed greater physical health benefits while adherence is better with medication.

04/21/2023

The individual is not a machine to fix- But a garden to be tended

06/14/2022

Many "moderate" adult drinkers actually binge drink on weekends and other social occasions, a new study found. Here's why that's a problem.

06/07/2022

12/26/2021

And adults…..

In November, The White House called for improving access to mental health services and care for the nation’s youth, citing significant increases in the number experiencing moderate to severe anxiety and depression in recent years—and especially since the start of the pandemic.

12/11/2021

Telehealth ONLY

09/14/2021

This weekend I went to a wedding at a friend's house. As we chatted with fellow guests, my partner and I stood in line at the bar.

"What can I get you?" the bartender smiled. "We have everything!"

"Great!" I cheered. I was thirsty. "Something non-alcoholic please."

The bartender's cheery demeanor immediately turned to one of perplexity. He wasn't expecting this, apparently. Befuddled by my request, he told me there was juice and water bottles in the cooler around the corner. So... the kids cooler.

Yea, I know the drill. I've been sober almost two years and I know all about the kids cooler. And yet I go into every social gathering, every wedding, every restaurant with almost a Pollyanna hope. Maybe the sober curious movement is making a ripple in the food and beverage industry. Maybe this time they'll have the non-alcoholic (NA) beer they said was out of stock last time. Maybe they've finally updated their menu to have NA options that are fun and flirty and celebratory.

But we still have a long ways to go, don't we? And at every social gathering, I still ask for my drink in a wine glass or a tumbler. And I ask for a lime wedge because, yes... it's more fun. And yes... it makes it look less like a kid's juice box and more like a grown up drink.

And yes, I don't drink but that doesn't mean my taste buds died. I still like festive drinks in fun glasses with pretty colors.

Yet more often then not, I wind up digging through the ice of a kids cooler, looking for something NA besides apple juice and Capri Sun.

You stand out if you're not drinking. You get questioned if you're not drinking ("are you pregnant?") You look and feel out of place, especially if you're new in your sobriety. Sometimes... you even get ridiculed or pressured to have one.

Being sober in a world that idolizes booze feels like a target on our back. A target I never asked to be there. A target I never expected.

Quitting drinking was hard. But navigating in this boozy culture as the only non-drinker at almost every event, networking party, every wedding? That's harder.

A little inclusivity would go a long way. Offering NA options at your party. Throwing out non-alcoholic suggestions when you offer to buy someone a drink? It's an easy, inclusive concept that might make a big difference for someone newly sober and struggling.

Time to change the narrative. Someone's reason for not drinking is none of our business. Let's offer more NA options and less sideways glances. It would go a long way.

***
Follow Celeste on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theultimatemomchallenge.

03/18/2021

A helpful tool

Uplifting reminders made from recycled water bottles Uplifting reminders made from recycled water bottles. Your thoughts determine your reality and ZOX are a beautifully designed tool to help keep your mind focused on the positive. Studies show that positive daily affirmations can help reduce stress...

03/06/2021

Blame the pandemic...

We know putting things off is bad for us. But an evolutionary battle in our brains can drive us to procrastinate—and lockdowns are adding fuel to the fire.

12/17/2020

You can feel good again!

GNL Story: Last night I visited a teen girl and her mom at HCH. The girl was having a tough day and experiencing pain at the time. Our visit brought us close to 8:30 and I explained what Good Night Lights is and what she would be able to see. I ended up joining the patient and mom for the Magic Minute-plus and pointed out features visible from her room. The view included the LED message boards in the Co-op and One Blackstone buildings, the beacons from University Orthopedics and Tockwotton on the Waterfront and the weekly East Providence Police Dept. display across the river. Using donated flashlights the girl and her mom had a great time signaling back to the EPPD (and friends) and watching the LED screens slowly come to life and finally go off at 8:35. When the signals ended the girl continued to use her flashlight to illuminate a reflective "Do Not Enter" sign at the exit of the RIPTA bus ramp on Eddy Street, saying, "I don't understand why this is so much fun!" I was very happy to see how Good Night Lights had provided the means to move a sad, uncomfortable kid to a status where she couldn't figure out why she felt so good. Even if the effect is temporary, the awareness that you can feel good again can be a major boost to the healing of a hospitalized child. Thanks to those who helped create that healing moment last night. SB