Thriveworks

02/27/2025

Physician-focused MDLinx recently explored the impact trauma has on both physical and mental health. Nona Kelly, LMFT with Thriveworks, spoke with the publication to share her thoughts on how various types of traumas can have lasting impacts if not treated properly.

“If not managed well, grief and depression can create long-term adverse physical and mental health effects that impact daily living,” Kelly said. “If they (those experiencing chronic pain) feel their lifestyle is no longer viable, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, as well as other depressive symptoms, may set in,” she explained.

Read the full article here:

Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event can have devastating health consequences.

02/25/2025

Sports have a way of bringing us together and providing an escape from the every day. But just like anything else, you can have too much of a good thing. Thriveworks therapist, Catherine Atkinson-Greenhaw, LPC joined KXAN News in the lead-up to the Super Bowl to discuss why people turn to sports to escape.

Atkinson-Greenhaw also shared signs of excessive escapism including when activities such as sports interfere with priorities or prevent participation in every day life. When coping, she says that time management is very important. “One of the main questions I encourage people to ask is, ‘What is it that I’m escaping from? And trying to understand that a little bit more.’ And then trying to balance, ‘Okay, well, I’m not going to spend all day watching sports. I’m going to spend an hour watching sports and then make sure I’m also attending to my other needs and other priorities,’” she said.

Check out the full interview here:

Can watching the Super Bowl positively impact your mental health?

02/21/2025

Are you someone who knows exactly what to say in every social situation? You may have high social intelligence. Dr. Crystal Saidi, a Licensed Psychologist with Thriveworks, shared signs that you might have high social intelligence with PARADE Magazine.

Dr. Saidi says that people with high social intelligence know how to foster deep relationships, namely through compliments. "Giving specific compliments—as opposed to generic praise—can show sincerity and build confidence. It also feels more genuine and meaningful," she explained.

Want to find out more about those with high social intelligence? Take a look here:

Psychologists also share tips for becoming more socially intelligent.

02/19/2025

How do you unwind after a long work day? Do you hit the gym or opt for some couch potato time? It may sound obvious, but your evening activities have an impact on how refreshed you feel for the next day. Shawnee Irmen-De Anda, Thriveworks Chief People Officer, chatted with WorkLife about how post-work activities impact us and ways that HR can help encourage ones that recharge instead of drain.

When it comes to HR’s role, Irmen-De Anda said, “It’s a fine line, because as the HR team, it’s hard to tell somebody that your after-work activities could be leading to burnout.”

Read more here:

Employees are showing up to work drained before their workday even starts, in large part due to unhealthy habits after-hours.

02/17/2025

World events can feel overwhelming at times. Between natural disasters and aviation accidents, it’s natural to feel anxious. Brian Mullan, LPC with Thriveworks, spoke with the Philadelphia Inquirer on ways to cope with these feelings.

One way to cope is by taking care of yourself physically. Mullan said, “Physical activity and mindful movement is really important for emotional health. It doesn’t have to be anything strenuous. Go for a walk. Walking is awesome for you. And after hitting those physical wellness markers, you may want to put your phone on airplane mode for 30 minutes or listen to some music tunes for a period of time. Try a meditation or mindfulness app to help with sleep. Sleep is so intrinsically tied to mood, physical health, attention span, anxiety management, and depression.”

Check out the full story here:

Alissa Jerud of Penn Medicine and Brian Mullan of Thriveworks offer tips during a topsy-turvy time.

02/12/2025

Scrolling through TikTok and other social media platforms has become a staple of daily life for many. But at what point does time on social media turn from harmless to harmful? Thriveworks therapist, Beth Chippendale Katona, LCPC, offered her insights to HuffPost on signs that you might be addicted to TikTok.

“As with any addiction, the main indicator of a problem is lack of control,” said Katona, “In essence, an unhealthy relationship is problematic but can usually be addressed with intentional changes, while addiction is more compulsive and often requires outside help or intervention,” she explained.

Experts reveal the surprising red flags of unhealthy use, why the app is so addicting and what to do if this all sounds familiar.

02/10/2025

Children are constantly observing and absorbing things around them, whether we want them to or not. Therefore, how we speak to children is incredibly important. Dr. Crystal Saidi, a Licensed Psychologist with Thriveworks shared her thoughts with PARADE Magazine on phrases that parents should consider incorporating into their communication with their kids.

According to Dr. Saidi, saying “I’m sorry” as a parent or caregiver means a lot. "This is incredibly important as many parents tend to avoid this phrase," she says. "I believe it is important to apologize if a mistake is made and to model accountability to children. It shows them that it is OK to make mistakes and admit when one is wrong. It also helps build mutual respect and trust."

Check out Dr. Saidi’s full insights here:

A child psychologist shares how these statements can positively impact kids.

02/06/2025

With the holidays over and spring still a few weeks away, our mood can often reflect the cold gloomy weather. Thriveworks Psychologist, Dr. Mary Covey, sat down with KBTX Media to share what causes these feelings of seasonal depression and how we can cope.

“You’re more tired, you’re just more lethargic, things aren’t as exciting as they were, you have trouble getting out of bed,” said Dr. Covey. She highlights two important things to combat the winter blues, socializing with loved ones and soaking up the sun where we can.

Watch the full interview here:

As the seasons change, so can our mental health. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or seasonal depression, is a type of depression that occurs during certain times of the year, usually starting in the fall and lasting through winter.

02/03/2025

As the youth mental health crisis continues, many states are exploring ways to promote healthier relationships with technology, specifically cell phones and social media. Recently, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy advocated for restrictions on cell phone use in schools. Thriveworks therapist, Greg Caiafa, LCSW, spoke with The Asbury Park Press on screen time and student mental health and how these bans might impact overall well-being.

Caiafa shared that constant scrolling and social media use are negatively impacting attention spans and increasing anxiety. He stressed the importance of schools and parents supporting students in developing a healthier relationship with technology.

"We're in uncharted waters in terms of (this) being the first generation that has this resource," he said. "In terms of making young people more knowledgeable and literate about… use of their phones, it's a more urgent thing than I think a lot of people realize."

Check out the full story here:

After New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called for a cellphone ban in schools, parents say they're on board. Will students agree to give up their phones?

01/31/2025

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Visit our website to get started today! We’re here to support you every step of the way.

01/23/2025

Between gentle, permissive, authoritative, and attachment parenting styles, it can be hard to keep up with the new parenting trends. And nor should we, says Monica Cwynar, LCSW with Thriveworks, who shared her insights with Parents on 2024 parenting trends we should leave behind.

In 2025, we should embrace spontaneity and drop the pressure to be perfect. According to Cwynar, this is the year to normalize “no-dad dinners”. A trend that refers to the simple meals such as frozen chicken nuggets and fruit or breakfast for dinner that some families make for casual nights when dad isn’t home. “It fosters a sense of freedom and connection, regardless of whether dad is home,” she explained.

Check out more parenting trends we’re leaving in 2024 here:

From endless Halloweens to tradwives, these parenting trends are so over.

01/17/2025

Extreme winter weather has impacted several states across the US recently, bringing dangerous conditions and potentially stress and anxiety. Thriveworks’ Pulse on Mental Health research found that natural disasters, including extreme weather, are a source of anxiety for 32% of the population.

Kathryn “Nin” Emery, LPC with Thriveworks, sat down with KXAN News to discuss why these weather events impact mental health and how we can cope. Being prepared and “trusting the process” can help curb anxiety. “Like weather, emotions are temporary. The anxiety is going to come in and it’s going to go, the severe weather event is going to come in and it’s going to go. A lot of times we feel anxiety because we don’t have control and we can’t predict it, so focusing on what we can control in the moment. The present moment is where we have our power,” she said.

Watch the full interview here:

A recent study released by Thriveworks, a mental health organization, in Cedar Park found that 32% of the people surveyed cited natural disasters or weather as a main source of anxiety.

01/15/2025

The start of a new year invites reflection on the past year and is a time to set goals for the year ahead. Getting healthier is a common new year goal. But instead of solely focusing on physical health, we should be incorporating mental health as well.

Thriveworks therapist, Jamie Jones, LMHC, offered her insights to the Tallahassee Democrat on the connection between physical and mental well-being and ways to prioritize whole-person health in the new year.

Read her full piece here:

There is a more comprehensive way to take care of our overall well-being known as collaborative care.

01/13/2025

Parents taking care of a child’s physical needs is important but meeting kids emotional needs is just as vital. Dr. Brandy Smith, a Licensed Psychologist with Thriveworks shared her expertise with PARADE Magazine on growing up emotionally neglected can have lasting impacts.

Emotionally neglected children may have trouble with emotional regulation in adulthood. "A person who experienced emotional neglect as a child may easily feel overwhelmed—although [they] may not be able to label it as that—but not know what to do," says Dr. Smith, "At these times, the person may act out in aggressive ways, including outbursts."

Read more here:

Psychologists share how this experience can manifest as traits in adulthood.

01/10/2025

Making a resolution for the new year can be easier said than done. If you make one, and only stick to it for a few weeks, it can be discouraging. Thriveworks therapist, Courtney Council, LMHC sat down with Spectrum News 1 Worcester to discuss strategies for setting and keeping goals in the new year.

Council suggests starting with finding the “why” behind your goal, then focus on something that is attainable. “Let’s say your end goal is you want to work out four times a week, but right now you don’t work out at all. To start the new year saying I’m going to work out four times a week is a great goal and something you totally want to do, but you want to give yourself space to build up to that,” she said. “So building a consistent habit of maybe once a week.”

Watch the full interview here:

Whether you’re setting out to eat a healthier diet or spend less money, experts recommend starting out with a small, realistic goal.

12/24/2024

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, but don’t forget to slow down and focus on the moments that make this time so special. Dr. Mary Covey, a Licensed Psychologist with Thriveworks recently chatted with Yahoo Life on how to make the holidays more joyful.

Dr. Covey discusses the benefits of holiday traditions, and how they don’t have to be complicated, “They can be something simple, like everyone gets holiday pajamas on Christmas Eve; or you all hop in the car, grab a hot chocolate and drive around looking at holiday displays.”

Check out more ways to keep the holidays joyful here:

Rather than just trying to power through, psychologists recommend these mood-boosting tips to get you through the holidays.

12/20/2024

The term “dandelion child” has recently been gathering momentum. It is a child who is resilient and strong through most situations. Thriveworks therapist, Ashlee Martin, LPC, offered her insights to ScaryMommy on signs that you have a dandelion child and ways to help them thrive.

If you have a dandelion child, you may notice that they have high energy and maybe less sensitive. Martin says that introducing them to new settings can be a great way to nurture their curiosity and a healthy way to release some of that energy.

Read more about dandelion kids here:

You may have heard the buzzy term "orchid kids" on social media, but some parents are raising "dandelion children." Here's what that means.

12/18/2024

There can be a lot of pressure during the holidays to find the perfect gifts. And for many, financial stress can add to that pressure. Thriveworks therapist Holly Humphreys, LPC, joined WDBJ7 to discuss how to cope with financial stress.

“Set a budget. Make sure you are aware of what you have to spend,” Humphreys said. She also notes that we often put these pressures on ourselves. Take a step back and reassess if you feel overwhelmed.

Watch the full interview here:

58% of those surveyed reported personal finance and the rising cost of living were a source of anxiety.