The Inspire Journal

The American Psychological Association reports that while many people experience feelings of happiness, love, and high spirits during the holidays, those same emotions often come with fatigue, stress, irritability, bloating, and sadness. In fact, 38% of people surveyed said their stress levels increased during the holiday season, with top stressors including lack of time, financial strain, commercialism, the pressure of gift-giving, and family gatherings ( What We Know About

October is World Bullying Prevention Month, a time when students, schools, and communities across the world unite to raise awareness about bullying and cyberbullying. According to the U.S. Department of Education, bullying is now recognized as a critical school safety issue, and with good reason. Bullying can have long-lasting emotional and psychological effects, often contributing to depression, anxiety, violent behavior, substance use, and even suicidal thoughts among our y

While there seems to be a "World Day" for almost everything, World Mental Health Day, observed each year on October 10, feels especially important. It reminds us of something deeply human and universally shared: the need for emotional well-being, compassion, and connection. Mental health problems are among the leading causes of illness and disability worldwide. Research shows that one in four people will experience a mental health challenge in a given year, and one in six wil

At this time in my life, I feel as though I could write a book about love, loss, and perseverance. I would likely begin with the things no one warns you about until you are already walking through them. I would begin with miscarriages. A miscarriage is lonely, painful, and deeply personal. When it happens, it is easy to mistake it for a failure of your body or spirit, but please hear me clearly, it is not. My son would have turned seven this year if I had been able to carry h

I have been thinking a lot about how children express love, and it always brings me back to this truth: the littles spell love in a non-traditional way, their spelling is not L-O-V-E,  it is T-I-M-E. It honestly hurts my heart when I hear parents talk about being overwhelmed by how busy life feels or how hard it is to find time with their kids. I understand those feelings deeply, but I also know how our words can sound to little ears. When children hear that we are dreading l

Since 2020, when the world shifted and everything familiar seemed to change, awareness about mental health has grown in beautiful ways. People are becoming more self-aware and realizing how important it is to take care of themselves. Yet when I bring up the topic of self-care in session and ask clients what they do for it, the answers are often surface-level. Many women mention bubble baths, hair appointments, or getting their nails done. When I ask the men, they often pause,

I have been reflecting lately on how often forgiveness comes up in our healing journeys and how misunderstood it can be. So many people think forgiveness means saying, “It’s okay,” or “It didn’t hurt that much.” But that is not forgiveness at all. True forgiveness does not minimize pain; it releases it. It is not about excusing someone’s behavior. It is about choosing peace over bitterness and giving yourself permission to live free. Forgiveness is one of the most powerful gi

Honoring Recovery Month and the Strength of the Human Spirit Each September, we take time to honor National Recovery Month, a time to celebrate the courage, resilience, and progress of individuals and families walking the path of recovery from addiction and mental health challenges. This observance reminds us that recovery is not only possible, but powerful, and that every person deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilling, connected, and purposeful life. At Inspire Therape