Authentic Mental Health

06/21/2026

Today is International Day of Yoga—a reminder that caring for your mind can start with something as simple as your breath.

Yoga isn’t just about flexibility or poses.

It’s a mind-body practice that combines movement, breathing, and mindfulness—all of which support mental health.

Research shows yoga can:
— Reduce stress and anxiety
— Improve mood and emotional balance
— Support better sleep
— Increase overall sense of well-being

And the best part?
It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Even a few minutes of:
— Deep breathing
— Gentle stretching
— Quiet stillness

…can help calm your nervous system and reset your day.

You don’t need a perfect routine—just a moment of presence.

Mind and body were never meant to be separate. Yoga brings them back together.

06/20/2026

We asked our providers "What is one mental health myth you'd love to debunk?".

Here is Bethany's answer:

" I could do an entire series on this, so choosing just one was hard. The most common one I hear is: "If caffeine calms you down, you probably have ADHD."
Why is this false?
1. There is no scientific evidence behind this claim. Studies have found no link between caffeine consumption and ADHD symptom severity.
2. Low-dose stimulants calm EVERYONE down — not just people with ADHD.
3. Caffeine is NOT the same as ADHD medication. It works through a completely different mechanism.
So why might caffeine be calming for some people?
1. You're relieving caffeine withdrawal (headache, fatigue, irritability).
2. Placebo effect.
3. Genetic differences in how you metabolize caffeine.
4. You're simply experiencing the normal focusing effect of a mild stimulant.

06/19/2026

06/16/2026

Happy Birthday to one of our amazing providers, Missy Jenneman!

06/11/2026

Late Diagnosed ADHD. Let's talk about it.

The median age of ADHD diagnosis is approximately 7 years, with most children diagnosed between ages 5 and 7 when symptoms become disruptive in school settings [1]. Diagnosis can occur as early as age 4 in preschool-aged children with impairing symptoms, though this is less common [1] [2]. The DSM-5 requires symptoms to be present before age 12 for a diagnosis, relaxed from the previous criterion of age 7.

Many individuals with predominantly inattentive ADHD aren’t diagnosed until later adolescence—often when school becomes too demanding, too unstimulating, or simply feels pointless.

There’s also a growing recognition of ADHD being identified in adulthood. For many women, this happens during the postpartum period. In fact, perinatal ADHD diagnosis rates have increased significantly in recent years, reflecting better recognition.

So how does it go unnoticed for so long?

Because the systems that once worked… stop working.

The strategies that helped someone get by—organization, over-preparing, pushing through with sheer effort—suddenly fall apart.

What age were you or your children when they were diagnosed?

Sources:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31570648/. Pediatrics, 2019
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40880088/. JAMA Network Open, 2025
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24229083/. BMC Medicine, 2013

06/10/2026

OCD is often misunderstood.

It’s not just about being clean, organized, or liking things a certain way.

OCD is a cycle:
Intrusive thoughts → anxiety → compulsions → temporary relief → repeat.

Those thoughts?
They’re unwanted, distressing, and often don’t reflect who the person is.

The behaviors?
Not preferences—they’re attempts to quiet the anxiety and feel safe.

OCD can look like:
— Repeated checking
— Constant reassurance seeking
— Mental rituals (counting, replaying, “undoing” thoughts)
— Avoiding situations that trigger fear or uncertainty

At its core, OCD is about intolerance of uncertainty and a brain that won’t let something feel “done” or “safe.”

It’s exhausting.
It’s time-consuming.
And it’s not a choice.

But it is treatable—and people can learn to respond to those thoughts differently over time.

So if someone seems “stuck,” “rigid,” or “overthinking”…

You might be seeing a nervous system trying to protect them.

Lead with understanding.

06/09/2026

A day in the life of a therapist isn’t what most people think…

It’s not just sitting in a chair and listening.

It’s holding space for someone’s anxiety at 9am, helping a child name their feelings at 10, and supporting a teen through identity struggles by noon.

It’s healing trauma one memory at a time. Holding space for grief/loss of beloved ones. It’s helping people connect patterns, build skills, and feel seen without judgment.

It’s not about “fixing” people.

It’s an Honor to be walking alongside someone as they grow, heal, and understand themselves.

No two days look exactly the same—but every day is meaningful.