Breathwork is a general term that describes various breathing techniques that use intentional control of the breath for the purpose of promoting mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. It is a tool you can use to regulate your nervous system which controls how you transmit and process information in your body. The idea is that by consciously controlling your breath, you can activate the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest state), which promotes relaxation and stress reduction for the mind and body. Thus, it has the ability to improve emotion regulation and increase awareness of bodily sensations, which can be beneficial for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, trauma and addictions.

Straight Up Health’s 360 Discovery Assessments are the entry point to Straight Up Health’s unique, innovative approach to care. At Straight Up Health, we use a Family-Based Care Model where caregivers are collaborators in the work of helping their kids thrive. 360 Discovery Assessments are strength-based biopsychosocial-spiritual evaluations that allow us to determine the best pathway for incoming clients and provide families and individuals with personalized treatment plans.

Maintaining proper hydration might initially seem like a minor concern, but the profound impact it has on our overall well-being cannot be overstated. Beyond merely quenching thirst, understanding and experiencing the true benefits of staying adequately hydrated can significantly enhance our quality of life with minimal effort. In this article, we'll delve into the myriad advantages of staying hydrated, along with practical insights for integrating this essential practice into your daily routine.

Though there are a number of benefits that EMDR may bring to the table, there are also a lot of fears that may emerge as it’s not like traditional talk therapy. In this blog, Straight Up Health Therapist, Susan Tang, hopes to clarify a few of the fears that she's encountered in session so that you can feel further informed as to whether EMDR may be the best fit for you and your needs.

With summer just around the corner, this time of year marks both an end and a beginning for those graduating high school. If you are nearing the end of grade 12 - this blog is for you! The transition from Grade 12 to post-high school life is often exciting, but can also be nerve-wracking. Transitions can create and perpetuate stress. Therefore, the goal is to help you understand your stress and provide some tips to help manage it.

As humans, we all need to experience closeness to survive. One of our primary needs is the need for connection and safety and, in our earliest years, that is supposed to come from our first relationships. These first relationships set the stage for how we will interact with others and come to view ourselves. When these early relationships provide the foundations of safety, trust, love, and warmth, we become connected adults whose later-life health outcomes are far more promising. When these early relationships do not provide these foundational pieces, the disconnection from ourselves and others that is left as a result leaves us with poorer later-life health outcomes.

Did you know we are now offering Occupational Therapy here at Straight Up Health? With such exciting news, we asked our Occupational Therapist, Rose, some questions about what exactly is Occupational Therapy and how it differentiates from other kinds of therapy. Keep reading to find out!

In last months Blog Post, “What is ADHD, anyway?” we learned what ADHD is. Now that we know what it is, how can we learn to manage with it and help our children and friends who are struggling?

You may be wondering... what is ADHD?

ADHD is a brain-based condition caused by a lack of certain chemicals (ex., norepinephrine) commonly affecting areas of the brain that control attention, social judgment, and executive functioning.

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopment (neuro = meaning brain, developmental = meaning growing up) disorders in childhood, so it is no surprise that many people are wondering if they have it.

Holiday season is upon us!

For some, the holidays evoke feelings of joy, for others, dread maybe a more accurate description of the feelings associated with this time of year. Regardless of if or what you celebrate, this time of year typically comes with expectations, pressure, and challenges aplenty.

Learning about BIPOC/IBPOC issues is great, but doing something about these issues is even better! Show up for BIPOC/IBPOC communities in authentic ways! Be it on a micro or macro level, get involved in antiracism initiatives. Spread awareness, confront racism in your daily life, get involved in community organizing initiatives, or intentionally support BIPOC/IBPOC-owned businesses! Small actions can go a long way!

Today is the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Day 2022. Happy World Mental Health Day from your friends at Straight Up Health! With the fast-paced lives many of us live, it is important to take a moment and think about why this day matters. See below for some reasons we think World Mental Health Day Matters!

When you begin your day with a regular and consistent routine that you hold yourself accountable to, the benefits are noticeable almost immediately. You are able to set the tone and positive energy for the day from the second you wake up, making the flow of your job, relationships, etc, so much more fulfilling and effortless!

It is incredibly difficult to remain connected with ourselves in a world where we are overloaded with information. We are constantly receiving updates about current events, pop culture and what our friend’s new puppy has been up to. It is no surprise that our minds can often feel like they are going a million miles a minute.

DBT can be an effective way to reduce maladaptive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are causing distress in one’s life. Developing and applying skills for accepting reality and making positive changes are critical components to effective DBT.

Have you ever wondered how you can change your emotions and behaviors? Through a CBT practice, you can learn about the connection between your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions and how to alter your way of thinking.

Read more at the CBT Practical Guide below!

Have you ever had a solid eight-hour sleep but still woke up feeling exhausted? Perhaps we are not fully resting in the way that we need to refuel ourselves. Saundra Dalton-Smith says, “if you’re not filling back up, that’s probably a place of deficit”. We need to know where we are lacking so we can intentionally rest and recover.

All of us have experienced trauma in some capacity, and responses to traumatic events can vary between us. Your experience of trauma may look different from someone else’s, and that’s okay.

Feeling apprehensive about how we will be perceived is a natural response to stressful social situations. Most people can relate to the uncomfortable feeling of having their stomach churn and hands clam up during a first date. However, social anxiety goes beyond these first date jitters.

The concept of boundaries has gained popularity in recent years, entering our mainstream lexicon. However, it has a much longer history in the field of family therapy. Coined by Salvador Minuchin, the founder of Structural Family Therapy, boundaries are the invisible lines that delineate physical and emotional distance between individuals.