“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” When supermodel Kate Moss told the fashion magazine WWD Beauty Biz that this seven-word statement was one of her mottos, the resultant publicity introduced many people to the controversial concept of thinspiration. A portmanteau of the words thin and inspiration, thinspiration (or its shortened version, thinspo) refers to the use of photographs and quotes as a means of encouraging people to lose dangerous amounts of weight. (The Alluring Lies of Pro-Anorexia)

In a separate post, I discussed what to expect from residential treatment for an eating disorder. However, I did not spend as much time exploring why residential treatment can be an excellent option for individuals looking to heal from an eating disorder. So, today, I will go a bit further into discussing the merits of that.

For many women1, beginning treatment for an eating disorder can feel like a whirlwind. They may feel caught up in the rush of paperwork, phone calls, and travel arrangements, not to mention their own emotional reactions. Life may feel as if it is moving too fast for them to keep up. Each woman has her own experience with the beginning phases of entering eating disorders treatment, but many times she finds herself at the front door of her eating disorder treatment center. She has arrived at a metaphorical and literal threshold. So what is next?

Real men don’t cry. Be the strong silent type. Don’t be a wuss. Starting when they are boys, men are bombarded with messages about how to “be a man.” Often these messages are filled with imperatives to be like a rock—unemotional, isolated, self-sufficient, and immovable. To varying degrees, men internalize these values and judge themselves according to how well they measure up. Unfortunately, though, attempts to live up to these values can have disastrous results.

My name is Ryan Poling, and I’m a clinical psychology doctoral candidate currently living in Chicago. During my studies and training, I have worked with many different people with a range of presenting concerns. I am passionate about helping people develop greater authenticity and joy, and I am honored to walk alongside them in their journeys.

Experiencing any type of trauma will inevitably leave a lasting impact on a person’s life. When children and adolescents experience a traumatic event, it can impact various stages of their development. Because of their young age and lack of life experience, children often do not possess the appropriate coping skills needed to deal with trauma in a healthy way. (3 Key Things to Prepare Children to Deal with Traumatic Events) For this reason, receiving treatment can be extremely beneficial in helping youth overcome the symptoms that may arise as a result of traumatic experiences. But the thought of seeking treatment for your child after he or she went through a traumatic experience can be intimidating because you know that he or she will inevitably have to talk about all of the things that happened to him or her. You may wonder if rehashing the events themselves will ultimately cause your child to feel more pain, leaving you to question whether or not it would be better to just let time heal the wounds.

While group therapy can be extremely effective in helping individuals learn the skills needed to overcome many mental health and/or addiction problems, what happens when a person is afraid of group therapy? The fact of the matter is that most people are anxious about starting group therapy for the first time and you shouldn’t let that stop you from participating in this type of therapy. Once you get used to the group setting, you may find that group therapy is extremely supportive and beneficial.

Receiving news that you have Alzheimer's disease can be extremely upsetting and terrifying. As you are trying to come to grips with the reality of your disease, it is important to recognize that there are a variety of resources available to help you navigate through this difficult time.

The teenage years are never easy, but when you have a teen who is demonstrating a number of behavioral problems, being a parent during this time can be even more difficult. Having a teenager who is violent, engages in reckless behavior, or uses drugs and/or alcohol can leave you feeling at a loss for what you can do to correct these deviant behaviors. You may have many sleepless nights where you lay awake wondering what trouble your child is going to get into next, worrying that he or she may severely hurt him or herself, and trying to think of anything you can do that might help the situation.

With the start of 2015, it is a good time to step back and take a look at the past year and identify some areas of your life that you would like to improve this year. No matter if you are suffering from a preexisting mental health condition or not, everyone can benefit from a resolution to improve one’s overall mental health.