top of page
All Posts


The Vocabulary of the Heart
The season of Love is upon us, and we will be inundated with media regarding romance. In response to that thought that not everyone has a romantic love, we have tried to widen this view to friendships with concepts such as "Galentines" or "Bromances". These two views of love, romantic and friendship, still do not seem to encompass enough. Just as Inuit culture has a multitude of ways to describe snow, the Greeks had a multitude of ways to describe Love: Eros — Passionate,
Erin M. Parcell
5 days ago1 min read


Wintering - "The idea that winter isn't for pushing or reinventing yourself, it's for conserving energy until the light comes back."
The winter months in Michigan can be full of fun in the snow and cozy blankets on comfy couches. The sound of a fire and the smell of hot chocolate. For others it is time of grayness and a never ending list of what needs done as we plunge into this new year. It is the feeling that the cold will never end, which can lead to low mood and feeling overwhelmed. For many of us, this is on the tailend of planning, organizing, and carrying the mental load of others over the holi
Erin M. Parcell
Feb 31 min read


🌿 Managing Commitments With Clarity and Calm
Managing commitments isn’t about doing more—it’s about choosing what matters and honoring it with intention. In a world full of demands, clarity and boundaries become essential tools for staying balanced and reliable. Start by understanding what you’re actually agreeing to. Before saying yes, pause long enough to ask: What’s required? How long will this take? What am I giving up by taking this on? Thoughtful decisions prevent overwhelm later. Prioritize based on values rath
Becky Lopez
Jan 271 min read


Recognizing Your Accomplishments (and Why the Only Person Worth Comparing Yourself To Is You)
There’s a quiet kind of power in pausing long enough to notice how far you’ve come. Not the dramatic milestones or the Instagram‑worthy moments—though those matter too—but the subtle, steady ways you’ve grown. The habits you’ve built. The boundaries you’ve learned to hold. The resilience you didn’t know you had until life asked you to use it. In a world that constantly invites comparison, choosing to measure progress only against your past self is an act of rebellion—and self
Becky Lopez
Jan 202 min read


New Beginnings...
New beginnings have a quiet kind of power. They rarely arrive with fanfare—more often, they show up as a small shift, a fresh breath, a moment when you realize you’re ready for something different. A new beginning isn’t about erasing the past; it’s about choosing what comes next with intention. It’s the courage to release what no longer fits and the curiosity to step toward what might. Whether it’s a new routine, a new mindset, or a new chapter entirely, beginnings invite us
Becky Lopez
Jan 131 min read


Beyond Resolutions: Your Personalized Mental Health Reset for 2026
Most resolutions fade because they’re built on pressure, not physiology. In 2026, shift your focus from lofty goals to the simple biology that stabilizes your mind and energy. Start with 10 minutes of morning sunlight to anchor your Circadian Rhythms , hydrate steadily throughout the day, and pause for brief Mindful Breathing resets that calm your nervous system. Add intuitive movement—stretching, walking, dancing, whatever feels natural—and protect your Sleep Hygiene wi
Becky Lopez
Jan 61 min read


SMARTIE Goals: Your Goals Matter
With New Year’s resolutions on everyone’s minds, we’d like to take a moment to talk about setting goals, specifically SMARTIE goals. SMARTIE goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable goals you can set for yourself. These elements help take the pressure off goal setting by creating a clear outline of what success looks like and how you’ll get there. The best part is that you get to visualize your goal yourself and put it into ac
Melanie Craw
Dec 30, 20252 min read


When the Holidays Hurt: Missing Someone Who’s Gone
The holidays have a way of magnifying everything—joy feels brighter, laughter rings louder, and memories seem to glow with a kind of golden light. But when someone you love is no longer here, that same glow can feel like a spotlight on the empty space they once filled. Grief doesn’t take a holiday. If anything, it pulls up a chair at the table. The Quiet Moments Hit the Hardest It’s not always the big traditions that bring the ache. Sometimes it’s the small, ordinary things:
Becky Lopez
Dec 23, 20252 min read


The "Perfect Christmas" Pressure & Feeling Behind
Forget the "perfect" Christmas. Society relentlessly peddles idealized images of flawlessly decorated trees, harmonious family dinners, and overflowing presents, creating immense pressure to achieve an impossible ideal. This curated highlight reel sets us up for failure. When your reality inevitably hits—be it the stress of last-minute shopping, unavoidable family friction, financial worries, or quiet loneliness—it’s easy to feel behind, inadequate, or "late" to the festive s
Becky Lopez
Dec 16, 20251 min read


All I Want for the Holidays is Me!
At this time of year, we find ourselves in a time of charity and generosity. We run around buying food and presents, donating items, and celebrating causes as a way to show the world that we care. The person that we usually feel less generous to is US. This can lead to feelings of holiday fatigue and burnout. So set a goal this season to prioritize what makes the season feel bright and jolly for you: Driving around looking at lights with hot cocoa Walking on a snowy path
Erin M. Parcell
Dec 9, 20251 min read


Mindfulness, Grounding & Self-Care for Long Nights and Cold Days
Winter brings its own unique rhythm. The sun sets earlier, temperatures drop, routines shift, and many of us naturally slow down. But for some, this season can also bring heavier moods, lower motivation, or a sense of loneliness. With reduced sunlight comes less serotonin. Lower serotonin levels are associated with low mood, irritability, and decreased motivation. Your biological clock relies on light to stay on track so those shorter days, long nights and cloudy weather hit
Melanie Craw
Dec 2, 20253 min read


Healthy Boundaries for Holiday Gatherings
Establishing and maintaining boundaries with family and friends during the holidays is essential for protecting your well-being and preserving meaningful relationships. Start by identifying what you need—whether it’s quiet time, limits on conversations, or help with hosting. Communicate these boundaries early and clearly, using calm, respectful language. Be consistent, even if others push back, and remember that saying “no” is a healthy choice, not a rejection. Plan ahead by
Becky Lopez
Nov 25, 20251 min read


It’s Okay if the Holidays Feel Complicated
The truth is, the holidays aren’t a single emotion — they’re a blend. They can be warm and overwhelming, joyful and exhausting, comforting and bittersweet. They can hold happiness in one hand and grief in the other. And that complexity doesn’t mean you’re doing the season wrong; it means you’re human. Holidays carry our histories; people we miss, traditions that changed, places we used to gather. It's normal to feel a tug between what was, what is, and what you imagined this
Becky Lopez
Nov 18, 20252 min read


Beyond Thanksgiving: The Year-Round Practice of Gratitude
These simple practices can help you build and maintain relationships with others and yourself, resulting in hope, life satisfaction, and higher self-worth.
Erin M. Parcell
Nov 11, 20251 min read


The Brighter Health Story
Our highly trained and experienced therapists are here to help you on your journey towards greater mental and emotional wellness. We believe that every person's needs are unique, which is why we offer a variety of therapy techniques and approaches to address our clients' individual needs. We're here to support you, whether you're looking to manage stress, overcome anxiety or depression, manage your relationships, or cope with life transitions. We are accepting clients of all
Laura Hickner Plee
Nov 4, 20251 min read


The Art of the Pause: Why You Shouldn't Rush to Respond
What if the pressure to reply immediately is actually counterproductive?
Becky Lopez
Oct 28, 20251 min read


The Power of Morning Mantras: 8 Sentences to Transform Your Day
Your mindset in the morning sets the tone for your entire day. According to research from the Mayo Clinic, Harvard Business Review, and other leading institutions, your brain is most suggestible right after waking up. If you don’t intentionally direct your thoughts, your mind gets hijacked by headlines, emails, or negative self-talk. Mantras are a quick, powerful way to take control. They activate the Reticular Activating System (RAS), your brain’s filter, helping you notic
Jazmin Guy
Oct 21, 20251 min read


How Are the Gut and Brain Connected?
Have you ever watched a cooking show and suddenly felt hungry? Or felt butterflies in your stomach when you felt nervous? These are perfect examples of how our brain communicates with our gut and vice versa. The gut contains trillions of microbes that help us digest our food and even absorb the nutrients we consume. The microbe’s digestive process actually enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the body- even reaching the brain. Did you know that about 90% of serotoni
Mental Health America
Oct 14, 20253 min read


Creating Routine & Why it Matters
Everyone has routines—even if you don't realize it. Maybe you always make coffee before checking your phone in the morning. Maybe you...
Melanie Craw
Oct 7, 20252 min read


Navigating “Autumn Anxiety”
As the days shorten and summer ends, many people experience a decline in mood and energy, sometimes called “autumn anxiety”. Autumn...
Becky Lopez
Sep 30, 20251 min read
bottom of page

