Pets Pawsitive Impact on Overall Wellbeing

By Bree nussbaum, AMFT

Animals are proven to enhance health in a variety of ways including mental and physical wellbeing. From a holistic point of view, they make a welcome addition to any home and for all family members.  

Mental health benefits 

Creating a secure attachment: Sometimes relationships with humans can become insecure resulting in challenges and confusion. Pets can serve as secure attachments and help us understand how to open ourselves up again to relationships and loving someone. Dogs in particular are companions that show unconditional love.

Reducing stress: Research shows that relationships with pets can decrease cortisol levels which are a stress-related hormone. Pets like fish may be particularly calming to watch them swim back and forth. 

Reducing loneliness: Pets can be a companion and something that often needs your love and care. Caring for a pet can help to reduce loneliness and increase sense of purpose. 

Improved Mood: Having a pet around can help improve mood. Perhaps your pet makes you smile or knows when you are upset. A pet can help you regulate in order to improve your mood. 

Physical health benefits 

Increasing activity: Two or three shorter walks a day with your dog, or playing with a cat around the home can help increase daily activity and get your body moving. The benefits are twofold with you and your pet both getting exercise! 

Lowering blood pressure: Living with animals in the home has also proved to reduce blood pressure for the owners. 

Caretaking for yourself and your pet: Taking care of something else, might encourage you to take better care of your physical health. For example, in a group of teens with diabetes, some were in charge of taking care of a fish while others only had to manage their health. The teens with the extra responsibility of the fish were more likely to regularly check their blood glucose levels and take care of themselves more than the control group.  

Overall, pets positively impact our physical, emotional and mental health. Whether big or small, all pets can encourage positive change in their new home. Consider the options that best serve you and your daily life and see how pet ownership could transform your health. 

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power-pets

Be Kind to Your Mind

By Olivia Grossklaus, AMFT

In the whirlwind of daily life, we often prioritize external obligations such as work deadlines, social commitments, friend/family responsibilities. We check off to-do lists, manage relationships, and keep up appearances, both on and offline. Yet, beneath all that noise lies the most powerful and constant voice in our lives: our own internal dialogue.

This internal environment, your thoughts, beliefs, and emotional patterns, are the operating system for your mind. Whether you’re conscious of it or not, the way you talk to yourself shapes how you perceive the world, how you feel and interpret your emotions, and ultimately, how you live.

What Is Internal Dialogue?

Your internal dialogue is the ongoing conversation you have with yourself. It's the voice in your head that evaluates your actions, reacts to events, plans the future, and replays the past. This dialogue can be either constructive and motivating or harsh and self-defeating.

For example, consider the difference between these two internal reactions to a mistake:

● "I'm so stupid. I always mess up."

● "That was a tough moment, but I can learn from this and do better next time."

Both are responses to the same event. But one tears you down, while the other builds you up. That’s the power of internal dialogue.

Self-talk shapes your self-worth. Your brain is always listening. The way you speak to yourself becomes the way you feel about yourself. Negative self-talk reinforces insecurity, doubt, and fear. On the flip side, compassionate and realistic self-talk cultivates confidence, resilience, and self-trust.

Self-talk influences decision making. If your internal dialogue is dominated by fear or harsh judgment, you're more likely to avoid challenges or settle for less. But when your inner voice supports growth and self-compassion, you're more likely to take healthy risks, advocate for yourself, and pursue meaningful goals.

Self-talk impacts physical and mental health. Chronic negative thinking is linked to stress, anxiety, depression, and even physical health problems like weakened immunity or heart disease. A nurturing internal environment can promote calm, balance, and emotional well-being, allowing your body and mind to function more effectively.

How you treat yourself sets the tone both for how you treat others and how you allow others to treat you. A kind, grounded internal dialogue strengthens boundaries, empathy, and the ability to connect authentically with others.

How to Cultivate a Healthier Internal Environment

● Pay attention to the tone and content of your self-talk. Awareness is the first step toward change.

● Ask yourself, “Is this thought true? Is it helpful? What would I say to a friend in this situation?”

● Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you'd offer a loved one.

● Journaling, meditation, or even quiet walks can help you check in with your internal world and recalibrate when needed.

● The people you engage with (on and offline) can either reinforce or challenge your internal dialogue. Choose relationships that support your growth and self-respect.

You have so much power and control over your inner space. It deserves care, attention, and intention. Nurturing your internal dialogue isn’t about pretending everything is fine, it’s about creating a space within where growth is possible, even in difficult moments.

The world can be chaotic and unpredictable, but your internal environment can be your anchor. Start treating it like the sacred space it is, because the most important relationship you’ll ever have is the one you have with yourself.

The Key to Increased Health and Happiness

By Olivia Grossklaus, amft

In today’s fast-paced, increasingly digital world, it’s easy to feel isolated, despite being constantly “connected”. We live in a time where the presence of community is more important than ever, yet more challenging to find. A study conducted at Harvard University with more than 700 participants found the main predictor of long-term health and happiness was the quality of the relationships a person had. Read more about the Harvard study here.

Humans are inherently social beings; we need connection to survive. It’s these connections that shape our identities and help us navigate the world. When we feel supported, understood, and valued by others, we are more likely to experience higher levels of happiness and satisfaction.

In times of difficulty, emotional distress, or personal struggles, having a solid support system can make all the difference. Whether it’s family, friends, a therapist, or even a group of strangers united by a common cause, support networks offer validation, comfort, and empathy. Social interactions help buffer stress, reduce feelings of loneliness, and promote resilience. Communities provide a sense of belonging and a framework of connection that nurtures both the individual and the group.

Community is all around us. In our homes, schools, work, places of worship, gyms, libraries. There is so much bravery and vulnerability in asking for help and support; it can be a uniquely healing experience when you learn you are not alone in your struggles. In tough times, emotional support can provide a safe space for continued vulnerability, helping you to open up and process difficult emotions. Just knowing someone is listening can provide immense relief.

Additionally, emotional support is reciprocal. By vulnerably asking your community what you need, you normalize this behavior for others, creating a cycle of care that fosters mutual respect and trust, strengthening the bonds of your community.

When we help one another, we create a more compassionate, cooperative world. Acts of kindness, big or small, have the potential to ripple outward, influencing our wider circles and even society as a whole. Strong communities build stronger societies, and this collective strength is key to tackling global issues, from climate change to mental health crises.

Ultimately, the importance of community cannot be overstated. It’s the foundation upon which we can build resilience, personal growth, and a sense of purpose. Whether you're going through a tough time or enjoying success, having a supportive community means you don’t have to go it alone. By leaning on others and offering support in return, we utilize the increased connection of our world to better our long-term health and happiness.