Blog

Mental Illness vs. Mental Health

What does it mean to have a “mental” illness? Where is your mental? What does it look like? If you can’t see it, how can you have one that is ill?

New York Life Foundation awards Grief Reach Grant to The Tristesse Grief Center

TULSA, OK–1 in 11 Oklahoma children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18.* Childhood grief, when unaddressed, can affect academic performance, mental health, and even mortality rates in kids. Timely intervention can have a gr...

4 Square Feelings Activities

This is a great activity to use in a group setting that allows the group members to focus on emotions. The activity can be modified to fit the specific needs of the group. The activity can also be adjusted to use with individual clients.

I’m Not a Therapist - But Here’s What I’ve Learned About Mental Health Working at a Grief Center for 6 Years

When I tell people where I work, I get a lot of different reactions. Some people clam up and try to change the subject, others immediately start sharing all their personal grief experiences, and others say “You’re too happy to work at a grief cent...

Camp Erin Tulsa: Why does it matter?

Camp Erin Tulsa is just around the corner! Camp Erin is Oklahoma’s first overnight grief camp for kids and teens who have experienced the death of a significant person in their life. Camp is provided completely free to campers and their families, ...

The Women Who Built Us

This month is International Women’s Month, and I am thinking about all the wonderful, strong women in my life.

New Year's Resolutions

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it is that 2020 was definitely unexpected. Personally, I felt blindsided. I had plans for the year, I had dreams to pursue, and routines that I had worked long and hard to cultivate that made me feel great...

Your Window of Tolerance

Let’s face it: 2020 threw us all for a loop.

Regulating Your Nervous System

Let’s face it: Life is hard sometimes. Daily activities can become stressors that pile up one on top of another until we’re buried until a giant list of “to-do’s” that can become piles “should-have-done’s”

Living in Tulsa 'Tine: Grieving, Healing, and Connecting on Socially Distant Tulsa Time. Episode 4: Create a Little Happiness

I have noticed during this time of seclusion that there are days when I struggle to feel happy. I find myself in the doldrums, feeling bored, vaguely unhappy, and generally distressed. I’m not particularly fond of these feelings. And when I’m ther...

Living in Tulsa 'Tine: Grieving, Healing, and Connecting on Socially Distant Tulsa Time. Episode 3: Spread a Little Kindness

Well, another week has gone by. Have you tried any of the ideas from the last two blogs?

Living in Tulsa 'Tine: Grieving, Healing, and Connecting on Socially Distant Tulsa Time. Episode 2: Information Management

Another week has come and gone, and we are still in quarantine. How long has it been for you?

Living in Tulsa 'Tine: Grieving, Healing, and Connecting on Socially Distant Tulsa Time. Episode 1: This Feels Crazy Hard!

This whole quarantine thing is challenging. It just feels crazy-hard! Some days I’m not even sure that it’s real. It feels more like a Sci-Fi movie than reality! But it is real. And every morning I get up I remember that my life has changed. No ge...

Springtime

This time of year we begin to see things change. We see the trees and shrubs that have been sleeping, having drawn their energy into their roots to rest for the winter, beginning to wake up.

Guard Your Heart

February is the month for hearts.

Facing Firsts

With the New Year in front of us I am mindful of “Firsts”. Walking the path of grief “firsts” can become roadblocks or potholes on our journey. Being prepared helps. Being aware that “firsts” includes anniversaries of the date your loved one left,...

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

This month is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

When You Drop the Ball...Bend Over and Pick it Up

It’s September, nearly the end, and this blog is just now getting published. Someone dropped the ball. That someone is me. Am I the only one that drops the ball, misses deadlines, or can’t manage 100% of what is asked of me? No, no I am not. And b...

Self-Awareness for the New School Year

I love having a fresh start at something. In fact, New Years is one of my favorite holidays because I get so hopeful and excited for the possibilities of what is to come. A new school year is often a significant marker in the year. There can be a ...

What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say

Have you ever sat with a friend who was going through an absolutely heartbreaking time, and you didn’t even know where to begin to help?