The Essence of Healing and Trauma

The Essence of Healing and Trauma Hi, my name Is Candace Neff, IMFT. I am a family therapist that specializes in trauma informed child and adolescent development.

05/13/2026

Focusing on schoolwork isn't always as simple as "just trying harder.'

Many students sit down ready to work and still find themselves:
• getting distracted quickly
• losing focus after a few minutes • or feeling frustrated that they can't stay on track

What can look like a lack of effort is often something else - - a brain trying to manage too many inputs at once.

Stress, environment, mental load, and competing demands all affect how focus actually works. When those build up, attention becomes harder
to sustain.

This week's Mental Health Awareness video explores: why focus can feel inconsistent what's happening behind the scenes and how small environmental changes can make a difference

05/08/2026

Starting schoolwork is one of the hardest tasks the brain performs, and it's not for the reasons we often think it is.

If a student has ever seemed stuck, it may be less about motivation and more about how the brain responds to being overwhelmed

Today's Mental Health Awareness Month video explores: why getting started feels difficult, what's happening behind the scenes, and how students can begin in a manageable way.

When a student seems stuck getting started, what does that moment usually look like at home or during homework time?

mentalhealthawarenessmonth

05/06/2026

Mental health doesn’t just show up in big moments, it shows up in everyday school life.

If your student has ever:
struggled to start work
felt overwhelmed quickly
seemed “off” or low on energy

There may be more going on beneath the surface than it appears.

This first video for Mental Health Awareness Month looks at how mental health shows up in daily life and where support can begin.

04/30/2026

As we wrap up Alcohol Awareness Month, I'm sharing a short video that looks at alcohol through a trauma informed lens. How does it affect the body's stress response and overall sense of regulation during adolescence.
As we wrap up Alcohol Awareness Month, I'm sharing a short video that looks at alcohol through a trauma informed lens. How does it affect the body's stress response and overall sense of regulation during adolescence.

For teens, alcohol doesn't just impact "health later". It can influence how the body manages stress, emotions, rest and recovery right now, especially during high demanding seasons.

Awareness is not judgement, it's about understanding, choice and access to support when stress feels heavy.


awareness

04/21/2026

Teen brains are still under construction, alcohol is an inhibitor not a helper. Let's help our children's brains reach their full potential, bottles down brains up!

04/13/2026

Continuing our brain under construction series. Alcohol in teens disrupts the essential parts of the brain needed for higher level functioning. No drink your brains gotta think!

04/08/2026

Brain under construction! Know why teens shouldn't drink alcohol? Because the parts of the brain that are responsible for emotion regulation, decision making and other high executive functioning skills don't fully develope until the mid 20s, alcohol interferes with the healthy development of these brain parts.

04/07/2026

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, let's get talking, let's get down to the science. This month I'll be talking to you not just as an expert but also a parent of teens. Life is hard but these conversations don't have to be!

03/03/2026

Mental wellness isn’t about being happy all the time — it’s about having the tools to stay steady when life gets stressful. It looks like noticing your feelings, calming your body, setting boundaries, and staying connected to people who feel safe. And the more you practice those habits, the stronger and more grounded you become.

03/01/2026

You made it through a month of looking at the hard parts of teen dating — the confusion, the mixed signals, the pressure, the patterns that didn’t feel right. And you’re still here.

Still standing.
Still learning yourself.
Still more aware than you were on Day 1.

You didn’t just survive it — you came out clearer, sharper, and more in tune with what you deserve. Whatever comes next, you’re walking into it with your eyes open and your self‑respect intact.

02/28/2026

There’s a moment where the pattern finally comes into focus — not loudly, just a quiet truth settling in. You start noticing what’s been heavy, what’s been off, what you’ve been carrying alone. And instead of doubting yourself, you’re finally listening to the part of you that’s been whispering all along.

You don’t have to rush this or turn it into a decision. Just let yourself recognize what you recognize, and trust the small shift happening inside you.

Address

Columbus, OH

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 8pm
Tuesday 12pm - 8pm
Wednesday 12pm - 8pm
Thursday 12pm - 8pm
Friday 12pm - 8pm

Telephone

+16146320345

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Essence of Healing and Trauma posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to The Essence of Healing and Trauma:

Shortcuts

Share

Category