River Valley Behavioral Health & Wellness Center

03/17/2026

🧠🌈 Neurodiversity Celebration Week | March 17–23 🌈🧠

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a time to recognize and celebrate the many ways our brains work, learn, and experience the world. Neurodiversity reminds us that differences in thinking, processing, and communicating are natural variations of the human brain—not deficits.

Many individuals identify as neurodivergent, including people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyslexia, and other cognitive differences. These unique perspectives often bring creativity, innovation, empathy, and problem-solving strengths that enrich our communities.

This week is about:
✨ Promoting understanding and acceptance
✨ Celebrating strengths and talents
✨ Reducing stigma around neurodivergence
✨ Creating more inclusive schools, workplaces, and communities

At our clinic, we believe every mind deserves to be supported, respected, and celebrated. 💜

03/16/2026

National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week | March 16–20 💙🏳️‍🌈

March 16–20 is National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week—a time to recognize, uplift, and advocate for the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Health is more than physical—it includes mental, emotional, and community well-being. LGBTQ+ individuals often face higher rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, and barriers to affirming care due to stigma and discrimination. Everyone deserves access to safe, inclusive, and culturally competent healthcare.

This week, we can:

🌈 Amplify LGBTQ+ voices
🌈 Support affirming providers and organizations
🌈 Educate ourselves about disparities and barriers to care
🌈 Create spaces where people feel seen, respected, and valued

Affirming care saves lives. Representation matters. Inclusion matters.

Let’s continue building communities where everyone can access the care they deserve—not just this week, but every week.

03/09/2026

🧠✨ Influential Women in Psychology ✨🧠

Throughout history, women have played a powerful role in shaping the field of psychology and advancing our understanding of mental health. Despite facing barriers in education and professional spaces, many women pushed boundaries and changed the way we view the human mind.

💡 Mary Whiton Calkins – One of the first women in psychology, known for her work in memory and self-psychology. She completed all requirements for a PhD at Harvard but was denied the degree because she was a woman.

💡 Anna Freud – A pioneer in child psychology who expanded the understanding of child development and defense mechanisms.

💡 Mamie Phipps Clark – Her groundbreaking research on race and identity in children helped influence the Supreme Court’s decision to end school segregation.

💡 Mary Ainsworth – Known for her “Strange Situation” study, which helped shape our modern understanding of attachment and early childhood relationships.

💡 Marsha Linehan – Developed Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a life-changing treatment for individuals struggling with intense emotions and self-harm.

Their work helped pave the way for modern mental health care, research, and therapy practices used today. This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the women who challenged the status quo and helped shape the future of psychology. 💜

03/08/2026

✨ Celebrating Women Supporting Women ✨

At our women-owned clinic, we are proud to build a culture rooted in compassion, collaboration, and care. 💜

When women come together with purpose, something extraordinary happens. Our clinic isn’t just a workplace—it’s a space full of camaraderie, encouragement, and genuine care for our team and the clients we serve.

We strive to create an environment that is safe, nurturing, and empowering, where everyone can feel heard, supported, and valued.

On International Women’s Day and every day, we are grateful for the amazing women on our team whose dedication, strength, and heart make a difference in our community. Thank you for showing up for each other and for those we serve.

Here’s to lifting each other up and creating a brighter future together. 🌸

03/05/2026

🌸 March is Women’s History Month 🌸

Women have shaped history through strength, resilience, and courage—but behind that strength, mental health matters too.

Throughout history, women have carried countless roles: leaders, caregivers, advocates, innovators, and changemakers. While celebrating these achievements, it’s also important to recognize the unique mental health challenges many women face, including burnout, societal pressure, caregiving stress, and stigma around asking for help.

Taking care of your mental health is not a weakness—it’s a powerful act of self-respect and self-preservation. 💜

This month, let’s:
✨ Celebrate the women who inspire us
✨ Support the women around us
✨ Normalize conversations about mental health
✨ Encourage rest, healing, and self-care

Your voice, your story, and your well-being matter.

03/01/2026

Self-Injury Awareness Day – March 1, 2026 💜

On 3/1/2026, we recognize Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD)—a day dedicated to breaking stigma, increasing understanding, and reminding those who struggle that they are not alone.

Self-injury is often misunderstood. For many, it’s not about seeking attention—it’s a way of coping with overwhelming emotional pain, trauma, anxiety, or numbness. Behind it is usually a person trying to survive feelings that feel too big to hold alone.

💜 What we can do:
• Lead with compassion, not judgment
• Use supportive language
• Educate ourselves about warning signs
• Encourage professional help and safe coping tools
• Check in on the people we care about

Recovery is possible. Healing is possible. Support makes a difference.

If you or someone you know is struggling, reaching out to a licensed mental health professional can be a powerful first step. You deserve care, understanding, and hope.

Wear orange today to show your support and help start conversations that save lives.

02/25/2026

💜 Breaking the Stigma Around Eating Disorders 💜

Eating disorders are often misunderstood — and stigma can keep people silent.

Too often we hear:
❌ “They don’t look like they have an eating disorder.”
❌ “It’s just about food.”
❌ “They just want attention.”

The truth? Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, not choices or phases. They affect people of every age, gender, race, body size, and background. You cannot tell by looking at someone whether they are struggling.

Stigma can:
• Delay people from seeking help
• Increase shame and isolation
• Make recovery harder

Compassion can:
• Encourage early support
• Create safe spaces for honest conversations
• Promote healing

Organizations like the National Eating Disorders Association provide education and resources to help break down harmful myths and support recovery.

Let’s replace judgment with understanding.
Let’s replace silence with support.
Let’s remind people that recovery is possible — and they don’t have to face it alone. 💛

02/24/2026

✨ Meet SOLVEIG ERICKSON – Seeing Clients in Waconia! ✨

Looking for a therapist who truly meets you where you are? Solveig brings a unique background and a warm, conversational style that makes therapy feel approachable and empowering.

With her Master’s in Social Work, Solveig began her career as a mediator — helping people navigate conflict and understand relationship dynamics. She later transitioned into therapy to help individuals explore, learn, and grow in deeper, more personal ways.

Whether you’re:
🌿 Navigating a life transition
💬 Working through relationship challenges
⚡ Experiencing a crisis
🧠 Or just need a safe space to sort through your thoughts

Solveig offers a calm, accepting, non-judgmental environment where sessions feel like meaningful conversations — supportive, thoughtful, and tailored to your goals.

She believes therapy doesn’t have to feel intimidating. It can feel human. Collaborative. Even hopeful.

📍 Now scheduling in our Waconia office- 952-746-7664
📅 Appointments available

Ready to take the next step? Solveig is glad you’re here — and ready to walk alongside you.

02/24/2026

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions—not lifestyle choices. 💙

They affect people of all ages, genders, body sizes, races, and backgrounds. And they are more common than many realize.

📊 The facts:
• Nearly 30 million Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime.
• Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental health condition.
• Many individuals struggle in silence due to shame, stigma, or fear of not being believed.
• Early intervention significantly improves recovery outcomes.

Eating disorders can include diagnoses like Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, and Binge-eating disorder—but disordered eating behaviors don’t always fit neatly into a label. Every struggle deserves compassion and support.

💬 What helps:
• Open, judgment-free conversations
• Education to reduce stigma
• Access to qualified mental health and medical professionals
• Support from family, friends, and community

Recovery is possible. Healing is possible. You are not alone.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/nedaw/

02/23/2026

Primary Caregiver Burnout Is Real 💛

If you’re in the thick of solo parenting—whether by choice, circumstance, deployment, travel, separation, or simply carrying most of the load—you may be running on empty. That constant mental checklist. The decision fatigue. The guilt for needing a break.

That’s caregiver burnout. And it’s valid.

Signs you might be burned out:
• Irritability or emotional numbness
• Trouble sleeping (even when you can)
• Feeling resentful or overwhelmed
• Loss of patience with your kids or yourself

How to cope during the solo stretch:

✨ Lower the bar. Survival mode is allowed. Simple meals. Extra screen time. Laundry can wait.
✨ Micro-breaks matter. 5 minutes in the bathroom. A walk around the block. Deep breaths in the car.
✨ Name it out loud. “I’m overwhelmed.” Saying it reduces shame.
✨ Accept help without apology. If someone offers to grab groceries or take the kids for an hour—say yes.
✨ Stay connected. Text another parent. Join a support group. You are not the only one feeling this way.

You don’t have to be everything, perfectly, all the time.
Taking care of yourself is not selfish—it’s sustainable parenting.

If this resonates, share it with a fellow caregiver who needs to hear it today.

02/23/2026

💙 Eating Disorder Awareness Week | February 23 – March 1 💙

This week we recognize Eating Disorder Awareness Week (2/23–3/1) — a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support those impacted by eating disorders.

Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, races, and body types. They are serious mental health conditions — not choices, not phases, and not about “willpower.”

**** Did you know?

Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental health condition.

Early intervention greatly improves recovery outcomes.

Recovery is possible with the right support.

If you or someone you love is struggling, you are not alone. Support, education, and compassionate care can make a difference.

This week, we encourage you to:
✔ Challenge harmful diet culture messaging
✔ Speak kindly about your body
✔ Learn the warning signs
✔ Reach out if you need help

For more information and resources, visit National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).

Let’s continue to build a community where healing is possible and every body is respected. 💛

02/20/2026