Flourish Counseling & Behavioral Medicine

Flourish Counseling & Behavioral Medicine I am a licensed psychologist. I am licensed in Oregon and can provide telemedicine services throughout the state. I treat adults and older adults.

I provide behavioral health services for individuals with mental health and/or medical concerns.

Checking my Spoonie bank account today and the balance is currently $0.00. 💸 Living with a chronic illness means learnin...
06/09/2026

Checking my Spoonie bank account today and the balance is currently $0.00. 💸 Living with a chronic illness means learning how to budget an unpredictable amount of energy every single day. Some days you can splurge; other days, you’re strictly window shopping. If you’re currently in the negatives too, this is your reminder to rest without guilt. The comeback is coming, but for now, we pause. 🤍

The “normal” test result trap. 👇There is a unique kind of heartbreak that happens sitting on a crinkly paper examination...
06/07/2026

The “normal” test result trap. 👇
There is a unique kind of heartbreak that happens sitting on a crinkly paper examination table, watching a medical professional shrug and say, “Well, everything looks fine on paper.”
When you are living with debilitating chronic symptoms, “normal” lab results don’t feel like good news. They feel like a door closing.
Why does the lack of a diagnosis feel so deeply invalidating?
It feels like a lack of belief: When medical tests don’t validate your physical reality, it can feel like the medical professional thinks it’s “all in your head”.
The systemic blindspots: Modern medicine is built on objective biomarkers. If science hasn’t created a specific test for or cannot explain what you’re experiencing yet, patients are often left stranded in the “unexplained” category.
The psychological default: When a physical cause isn’t immediately obvious, sometimes the explanation is subtly shifted to stress, anxiety, or mental health. While the mind and body are connected, psychological issues don’t always fully account for the physical symptoms.
Here is your gentle reminder today:
A lack of a diagnosis may be limitation of current medical technology—not a limitation of your reality. You know your body better than anyone else. Keep advocating, trust your lived experience, and seek support.
Drop a 🤍 if you’ve ever been stuck in the “but your labs look normal” loop. Let’s remind each other we aren’t alone in this.

Grief isn’t reserved exclusively for final goodbyes. When you live with a chronic illness, you grieve constantly. You gr...
06/06/2026

Grief isn’t reserved exclusively for final goodbyes. When you live with a chronic illness, you grieve constantly. You grieve the life you planned, the body that used to cooperate, the spontaneity you lost, and the version of yourself you had to leave behind. It’s a heavy, confusing kind of heartbreak because the world expects you to only mourn when someone passes away. But losing your health is a profound loss, too. If you’re mourning a life you didn’t get to live today: I see you. Your grief is valid. 🤍 What’s something you’ve had to grieve and let go of since your diagnosis? Let’s support each other in the comments.

Are you still chasing that elusive 8 hours of sleep? 😴 It turns out, science just updated the playbook. New research ana...
06/02/2026

Are you still chasing that elusive 8 hours of sleep? 😴 It turns out, science just updated the playbook. New research analyzing data from over 500,000 participants has revealed that the traditional “8-hour rule” might not be the golden standard we thought it was. Instead, the optimal sweet spot for most adults actually sits between 6.4 and 7.8 hours of sleep per night. Here’s the breakdown:
The Sweet Spot: Getting within this 6.4 to 7.8-hour window is linked to peak cognitive performance and better long-term brain health. 
The Danger Zones: The study found that both consistently getting too little sleep AND getting too much sleep (oversleeping) are associated with accelerated aging. 
The Nuance: Everyone’s genetics are slightly different (and fun fact: research shows women may naturally need just a few minutes more than men!), but quality matters just as much as quantity. 
The takeaway? Don’t stress if you naturally wake up feeling refreshed after 7 hours. Your body might already be hitting its perfect target. 🧠✨

Where do you usually fall on the sleep spectrum? Are you a 6-hour hustler, a perfect 7-hour sleeper, or an 8+ hour snooze-button champion? Let me know in the comments! 👇

Me on Nights 1-3: “I am a creature of the night. I do not require slumber.” 👁️👄👁️Me on Night 4: Sleeps through an earthq...
05/26/2026

Me on Nights 1-3: “I am a creature of the night. I do not require slumber.” 👁️👄👁️
Me on Night 4: Sleeps through an earthquake 😴
If your sleep pattern looks like a 3-day drought followed by a night 4 flood, you aren’t alone. It’s a classic insomnia cycle driven by Sleep Pressure.
Basically, your body builds up a biological “debt” the longer you stay awake. By the fourth night, your sleep drive is so overwhelmingly strong that your body crashes, giving you that elusive, amazing night of rest. The trick is breaking the cycle so Night 1 doesn’t start all over again tomorrow. Sleeping in or napping may help you feel better that day, but it typically sustains the insomnia cycle. To break the cycle try to establish a routine bed time 🥱 and a routine wake time. Be sure to wake up at the same time everyday whether you slept good or bad and avoid naps.
Drop a ☕ if you’re currently on Day 1, 2, or 3, and a 💤 if you finally hit Day 4!

Why counting sheep matters just as much as counting calories. 🧵👇If you’ve been hitting the gym, eating your veggies, and...
05/24/2026

Why counting sheep matters just as much as counting calories. 🧵👇
If you’ve been hitting the gym, eating your veggies, and still seeing the scale refuse to budge, the missing puzzle piece might not be your diet. It might be your pillow. Drop a 😴 if you need to prioritize your bedtime tonight, and tag a friend who needs to read this!

People often deprive themselves of sleep due to demands from work, school, or social pressures, leading to a lack of tim...
05/16/2026

People often deprive themselves of sleep due to demands from work, school, or social pressures, leading to a lack of time for rest. Additionally, some individuals may engage in “revenge bedtime procrastination,” where they stay up late to reclaim personal time after a busy day. However, sleep deprivation can have serious consequences for both physical and mental health. Here are some of the key risks associated with not getting enough sleep:
Physical Health Risks
Obesity: Lack of sleep is linked to a 50% higher risk of obesity, particularly for those who sleep less than five hours a night.
Cardiovascular Issues: Chronic sleep deprivation increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Studies show that individuals sleeping fewer than six hours a night have a 20% higher risk of heart attack.
Diabetes: Insufficient sleep can lead to insulin resistance, increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Mental Health Risks
Depression and Anxiety: Sleep deprivation can exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety, leading to a cycle of poor mental health.
Cognitive Impairments: Insufficient sleep affects memory, attention, and decision-making abilities. It can lead to forgetfulness and fuzzy thinking.
Long-term Effects
Increased Risk of Dementia: Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with a 33% increase in the risk of developing dementia. It can also lead to the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein in the brain, a key factor in Alzheimer’s disease.
Aging of the Brain: Sleep deprivation can age the brain by 3-5 years, impacting cognitive functions and overall brain health. What strategies can help prevent sleep deprivation and its consequences?
Establishing a consistent sleep schedule, creating a restful environment, and incorporating regular physical activity can help prevent sleep deprivation. Additionally,managing stress and avoiding stimulants like caffeine and ni****ne close to bedtime are important strategies.

If you want to feel refreshed, set your alarm for when you actually need to get up. Save this post for tomorrow morning!...
05/15/2026

If you want to feel refreshed, set your alarm for when you actually need to get up. Save this post for tomorrow morning!

The Role of Sleep in Emotion RegulationSleep is essential for emotional regulation, impacting how we process and respond...
05/11/2026

The Role of Sleep in Emotion Regulation
Sleep is essential for emotional regulation, impacting how we process and respond to emotions. Adequate sleep helps the brain manage emotional experiences, while sleep deprivation can lead to increased emotional volatility.
How Sleep Affects Emotions
Emotional Processing: Sleep, particularly during REM cycles, allows the brain to reorganize and integrate emotional memories. This process helps reduce the intensity of emotional responses to past experiences.
Neural Connectivity: Sufficient sleep maintains the connection between the amygdala, which processes emotions, and the prefrontal cortex, responsible for impulse control. Disrupted sleep weakens this connection, leading to heightened emotional reactivity.
Consequences of Sleep Deprivation
Increased Reactivity: Lack of sleep can make the amygdala more reactive to negative stimuli, while reducing the prefrontal cortex’s ability to regulate these responses. This imbalance can result in stronger and less controlled emotional reactions.
Risk of Mental Health Issues: Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to a higher risk of anxiety and depression. Individuals who consistently get less than six hours of sleep are more likely to develop symptoms of these disorders.
Improving Sleep for Better Emotional Health
To enhance emotional regulation, consider the following sleep hygiene practices:

1) Maintain a consistent sleep schedule : Go to bed and wake up at the same time daily.
2) Create a calming bedtime routine: Engage in relaxing activities before sleep.
3) Limit caffeine and alcohol intake: Avoid these substances, especially in the evening.
4) Optimize your sleep environment: Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool.
5) Reduce screen time before bed: Minimize exposure to blue light from devices.

By prioritizing sleep, individuals can improve their emotional regulation and overall mental health.

Address

2955 North Highway 97
Bend, OR
97703

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+15412493558

Website

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