Tonya Wells, LMSW-Clinical

05/08/2026

http://pathwaystowell-being.com
These techniques can really help. Reach out if you need professional help.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder to take a moment for ourselves when we're stressed. Our natural threat response can often lead to fight (self-criticism), flight (isolation), and freeze (rumination). But self-compassion offers a powerful antidote.

By practicing kindness, mindfulness, and connecting with our shared humanity, we downregulate the threat system and activate the care system (the tend and befriend response), reducing stress and fostering resilience.

Research shows that this shift into self-compassion can lower cortisol levels and increase heart rate variability, making us less defensive, calmer, and more balanced.

This month, let’s prioritize mental well-being and show ourselves the kindness we need. Take a pause, place your hand on your heart, and remind yourself that you are worthy of care and compassion.

05/02/2026

https://www.pathwaystowell-being.com/

12/17/2025

Welcome. It’s great you are attending to your needs by seeking therapeutic support. I am a therapist who will customize my approach to you. I create meanin...

12/08/2025

https://www.pathwaystowell-being.com/ During the holiday season, we (particularly moms) put pressure on ourselves to buy perfect gifts, coordinate matching outfits for family photos, and host memorable gatherings. Please, take a moment to ask yourself, "What do I need?" Listen to yourself and act, even if it's just in a small way. And, seek professional help if your emotional overwhelm is too much for you to manage.

11/12/2025

https://www.pathwaystowell-being.com/ Nothing better than watching a client recognize their own success, even the small steps forward mean so much!

"Make a habit out of celebrating the small moments in healing, gratitude, and growth." –Alex Elle

📷: Nahidul Ekon

Start each day right with a gratefulness quote in your inbox. Sign up here: https://grateful.org/practice/word-for-the-day/

11/10/2025

https://www.pathwaystowell-being.com/ Winter came to Michigan this weekend. Shorter days and less sunshine can bring on strong depression symptoms. Please seek professional help if depression or anxiety symptoms are making life difficult for you.

11/06/2025

"May we each discover our own form of spiritual electricity — and light up our world." –Eileen Rivers

📷: Jakob Owens

Want to receive our daily gratefulness quote in your inbox? Sign up here: https://grateful.org/practice/word-for-the-day/

11/06/2025

https://www.pathwaystowell-being.com/ It's National Family Caregivers Month. Burnout happens. Know the signs and seek help.

11/03/2025

https://www.pathwaystowell-being.com/
"Some things cannot be fixed. They can only be carried." Megan Devine offers a realistic perspective on grief from her own experience of traumatic loss in her book, It's OK That You're Not OK. The book is a meaningful read if you are grieving or love someone who is. Therapy can provide an accepting space where grief can be witnessed and tended to.