Dr. Heather Smith

06/12/2023

In observance of Loneliness Awareness Week Pyx Health is offering a 24/7 Loneliness Helpline in addition to their normally provided services.

If you are feeling isolated, please call 1-855-799-0700 24/7 from June 12-18 for support.

This helpline is open to anyone and everyone over the age of 13, so please feel free to share it with your networks and clients as needed. More information is available at pyxhealth.com/pyx-cares/.

05/30/2023

So many of my clients have complained about the numbness they feel a while after starting antidepressants. Looks like the medical community is starting to talk about this very real problem.

Patients taking antidepressants, especially those that act on the serotonin system, often report feeling emotionally flat although they may feel less depressed, new research shows.

05/09/2023

Have you ever heard anyone say, "That happened 25 years ago when I was a kid. I should be able to just get over it"? This article shows how the lasting effect of childhood trauma is real and not just in the mind. A great read for anyone who finds themselves judging themselves for still being affected by these historical adverse events.

New evidence helps explain the link between childhood trauma and adult depression and anxiety.

04/27/2023

Depression is a complex disorder that has been linked to many lifestyle, personality, and cognitive factors. However there are some relatively simple things that might help, so why not make those changes. Here's a (quite technical) article on the link between gut and depression.

Spoiler alert from the article: "As we wait to establish causal influences through clinical trials, clinicians should advise patients suffering from mood disorders to modify their diet by increasing the intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as these provide the required fuel/fiber to the gut microbiota for their enrichment, and more short-chain fatty acids are produced for the optimal functioning of the body," study investigator Najaf Amin, PhD, DSc, senior researcher, Nuffield Department of Population Health, Oxford University, United Kingdom, told Medscape Medical News.

"At the same time, patients should be advised to minimize the intake of sugars and processed foods, which are known to have an inverse impact on the gut microbiome and are associated with higher inflammation,"

Major depressive disorder is linked to disruptions in energy and lipid metabolism, possibly caused by the interplay of the gut microbiome and blood metabolome.

04/16/2023

Nutrition has tremendous effects on mental health and should be considered in every psychotherapeutic treatment plan. This recent study suggests that Aspartame might be linked with increased anxiety.

An artificial sweetener commonly found in diet drinks and food is associated with an increased risk for anxiety-like behavior, early research suggests.

01/06/2023

01/06/2023

01/06/2023

My business is renting a small office perfect for a counselor or other professional. Great location in a well-maintained, professional office complex 5 minutes off 1-25, intersection of 120th Avenue and Pennsylvania Street in Thornton. Suite has recently refurbished modern lobby, kitchen and bathroom shared by three other small offices, all of which are currently leased by friendly and collegial mental health professionals. Includes internet, utilities, and cleaning of the shared spaces. Features water, tea and coffee in lobby. Lots of natural light. Plenty of off-street parking that is well-maintained year-round. Extremely quiet with easy access to banks, restaurants, hiking trails and parks.

Office is currently unfurnished, but we are willing to provide basic furnishings if needed. Full time $625/month with 1-year lease, $615/month for 2-year lease. Will consider part-time office rental as well, such as one or two days a week. Call or text Heather at 720-263-1185 for inquiries and showing.

03/16/2020

https://theconversation.com/social-distancing-comes-with-social-side-effects-heres-how-to-stay-connected-133677?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20March%2016%202020%20-%201289711998&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20March%2016%202020%20-%201289711998+CID_1387df1ce6b06967804ecf898fca8222&utm_source=campaign_monitor_us&utm_term=Social%20distancing%20comes%20with%20social%20side%20effects%20%20heres%20how%20to%20stay%20connected

Physically isolating yourself can feel psychologically isolating too. But there are ways to maintain connections in these crazy coronavirus times.

03/10/2020

Do people really wait 6 years to get couples therapy? Find out about the latest research here:

There is a huge myth that couples wait six years before seeking couples therapy. It's not true and it matters.