Blog

• posted: Dec. 13, 2023
• Depression,  Therapy,  Old City Counseling,  OCC,  Counseling,  Seasonal Affective Disorder,  SAD,  Seasonal Depression,  Winter,  Winter Blues

Christmas is right around the corner, which means winter is here! Although Christmas, for many, can be an exciting time with presents, love and holiday cheer, for others, this isn’t quite the same. With winter comes shorter, darker days, cold weather and holiday stress. It is very important, during this time, that we take proper care of ourselves and our mental health. During the winter, many people can experience SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is a type of depression that can occur at the same time every year, mainly in places where there is less sunlight during that specific time of year. Usually these feelings will persist for about 4 months out of the year and start in fall, continuing through the winter. Read More

• posted: Dec. 06, 2023
• Universal Human Rights Month,  Human Rights,  UDHR,  Universal Declaration of Human Rights,  Universal Human Rights Day

December 2023 marks Universal Human Rights Month. This month marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Human Rights Day is celebrated on Sunday, December 10th, yet the movement is recognized throughout the whole month of December. This month holds its importance as it is the month that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights document was brought into light, back in 1948. This landmark document shares the undeniable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being. This is regardless of any race, color, upbringing, social status, political views, language, etc. Read More

• posted: Nov. 29, 2023
• Vision Boards,  Goals,  Aspirations,  2024,  2024 Goals,  New Year Goals,  2024 Vision Board

As we get closer to the new year, we wanted to dive into vision boards! Vision boards are collages of images, pictures, and affirmations that depict one’s dreams and desires for their future. When creating a vision board, you must tap in and reflect on your aspirations for the future. Think of your goals. What you want to do, where you want to go, what you want to succeed. By representing your goals in a visual form, you can gain a better understanding of what you want to achieve. This board will be a daily reminder of the things you want to work towards and accomplish. It is told that vision boards can increase the motivation and confidence to achieve the goals that are represented. Read More

• posted: Nov. 22, 2023
• Mental Health,  Mental Health Awareness,  Men's Day,  International Men's Day,  Men's Mental Health

November 19th, 2023 marked International Men’s Day, which is a global day of awareness that addresses the many issues men face, including suicide, violence, abuse and homelessness. International Men’s Day had it start in 1999 by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh, a professor at the University of the West Indies. Some may ask, why is this day important? In 2021, suicide rates were almost 4 times higher in men than women. It is proven that men’s suicide rates are larger than most populations that die by suicide. This day is a day to raise awareness and to remind everyone to check on the men in their lives, and make sure they are doing okay. Read More

• posted: Nov. 15, 2023
• World Kindness Day,  Kindness Day,  Spred Kindness,  Kindness,  Be Kind

November 13th, 2022 marked World Kindness Day, which is a global day of observance dedicated to promoting and celebrating acts of kindness. World Kindness Day had its start in 1998 when the World Kindness Movement established it to encourage kindness throughout communities. Each year, this day serves as a reminder to spread kindness and show what a positive impact kindness can have on the world. It encourages those around the world to partake in acts of kindness and foster positive relationships with those around them. Read More

• posted: Nov. 08, 2023
• Symptoms,  Therapy,  Old City Counseling,  OCC,  ADHD,  Signs,  Signs and Symptoms of ADHD,  ADHD Symptoms,  Old City Philly,  Philadelphia

ADHD is a chronic condition that usually begins in childhood but can often continue into adulthood. Furthermore, it requires a medical diagnosis and affects everyday lives of those who have ADHD. ADHD can ultimately cause low self-esteem, relationship troubles, and difficulty at school and/or work. Oftentimes treatments can help lessen the effects of ADHD, but this condition cannot be completely cured. Types of treatments include medication and talk therapy. Read More

• posted: Nov. 01, 2023
• National Family Caregivers Month,  Family,  Caregiver,  Caregivers,  Family Caregivers

November 2023 marks National Family Caregivers Month. Statistically, more than 53 million caregivers provide unpaid care. President Biden proclaimed November as National Family Caregivers Month to celebrate those who care for their families, without any paid benefits. It is stated on The White House website that National Family Caregivers Month was created to “honor the Americans who lift up our communities and our Nation by providing dignified, professional, and invaluable care to the people we cherish the most (The White House). Read More

• posted: Oct. 25, 2023
• Awareness,  October,  Awareness Month,  ADHD,  ADHD Awareness Month,  Orange,  Orange Ribbon,  ADHD Awareness

October 2023 marks ADHD Awareness Month. It had been over 10 years since The U.S. Senate installed a “ADHD Awareness Day”. Since then, Awareness of ADHD has grown every year by 1 day. This was until 2004 when mental health organizations came together and collaborated to raise awareness. Since then, it became a whole month, the full month of October. Now, ADHD Awareness Month is celebrated all around the world with tons of exciting events throughout the whole month to help raise awareness and support for those with ADHD. Read More

• posted: Oct. 18, 2023
• October,  Domestic Violence Awareness Month,  Domestic Violence,  Awareness Month,  #Every1KnowsSome1,  National Domestic Violence Hotline,  Go Purple Day,  Day of Unity,  Purple Thursday

October 2023 marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month. October became the month to raise awareness for domestic violence in 1981, when the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence created a “Day of Unity”. The intent of this day was to connect domestic violence advocates across the nation, who were all working to end violence against women and children. Today, Domestic Violence Awareness Month does the same thing. In fact, every Thursday in October is called “Go Purple Day”. On Thursdays, people are encouraged to wear the color purple as a symbol of courage, peace, survival, honor and recognition of those who have suffered from domestic violence. Read More

• posted: Oct. 11, 2023
• Mental Health,  Mental Health Awareness,  Green Ribbon,  World Mental Health Day

Yesterday, October 10th, 2023, marked World Mental Health Day. World Mental Health Day is recognized, internationally, as a day dedicated to mental health awareness, education and advocacy. This day started being celebrated back in 1992 with a global health organization called the World Federation for Mental Health. Read More

• posted: Oct. 04, 2023
• Mental Health,  Mental Illness,  Mental Illness Awareness Week,  October,  National Alliance on Mental Illness,  Green Ribbon

The first full week of October, October 1st-7th, marks Mental Illness Awareness Week! During this week, we recognize the efforts of the National Alliance on Mental Illness to educate, increase awareness, and decrease the stigma that surrounds mental illness. Congress officially established every first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness week, 33 years ago in 1990. Since then, advocates of mental illness have come together to sponsor activities every year that educate the public about mental illness. Read More

• posted: Sep. 27, 2023
• OCC,  counseling,  reduce anxiety,  5 ways to reduce anxiety,  creative,  therapy,  old city counseling

Anxiety is a feeling that often affects the lives of many people. Although there are many tips and tricks to help anxiety, including small exercises or talking to a loved one or therapist, today we will be going over more creative ways to reduce anxiety. Since an increase of anxiety is often caused by our imaginations, we can use our imagination in a different way, and actually decrease these feelings of anxiety. Thus, we can bring a creative aspect into reducing our feelings of anxiety. Read More

• posted: Sep. 20, 2023

National Wellness Week is celebrated every year during the third week of September and was launched to inspire individuals & communities to include the Eight Dimensions of Wellness into their Read More

• posted: Sep. 13, 2023

One way to help you calm down on a bad mental health day can be to garden. There is something very cathartic about working in nature and using your hands. Working with plants, especially using your hands, is proven to lessen the severity of depression amongst people. It can be a great way to take your mind off your hard, busy day and focus on something that makes you feel productive. With gardening, you are in control. It allows you to have some control in your life and work towards something beautiful. Read More

• posted: Sep. 06, 2023

Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of their background, gender, or age. Suicide is often the result of any untreated mental health condition. Every year, mental health advocates, survivors, allies, Read More

• posted: Aug. 30, 2023
• Depression,  National Grief Awareness Day,  Grief,  Awareness,  National Holiday,  Anxiety,  PTSD

Today, August 30th, marks National Grief Awareness Day. We dedicate this day to raise awareness of the many ways people, of all ages, around the world cope with experiences of loss. Grief can be a very complicated feeling in which people tend to cope in different ways that are most beneficial to them. It is the natural response to loss and can result in anxiety, depression, fear of the future, disbelief, PTSD and more. Read More