Medical Articles

A new study investigates how a walk outdoors has positive effects on the brain. Life in a large city can be incredibly stressful. Psychological research has shown that people who live in cities may have an increased risk for depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia compared to people living in more rural areas. In contrast, many people perceive hiking and spending time in nature as stress-relieving and calming. What has been largely unclear so far, however, is the question of how specifically spending time in nature affects our brain function to reduce stress. The positive effects of nature on mental well-being A new [...]

Solstice is excited to announce the addition of Justin Martel to the clinical team! Justin is delighted to be joining Solstice as a clinical intern as he completes the final year of his PhD from the University of Florida. Justin comes to Solstice with 4 years of experience working with various clinical populations in counseling and sport psychology settings. As a doctoral fellow, he researched the interface of mental health and sports psychology services of student-athletes. These topics are both professionally and personally close to his heart as a former Division I athlete and amateur golfer. He finds [...]

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While some areas may be currently able to connect to the Lifeline by dialing 988, this dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022. When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary. [...]

The desire to get back to normal can prevent us from accepting the new normal. People often come to talk therapy for help dealing with a major change in their lives. In fact, I would say dealing with change is one of the most common situations that create issues for people to address in therapy. It could be a change in a relationship, a change within their family, or a change regarding work. It could be caused by something internal and specific to the client, or it could be something external and universal. The clients I see have much in [...]

Many of us give our homes a deep clean in the Spring, but not many provide the same time and attention to their psychological health. Here, Psychotherapist Noel McDermott offers his top tips for your mental health Spring cleaning. Decluttering your brain is just as important, if not more so, than organizing your home. If you’re looking to improve your well-being, then take some time to look at your emotional and mental space. With Spring comes a renewed sense of hope with warmer weather, increased daylight, and the joy that nature brings us at this time of year. Spring cleaning checklist: How [...]

It’s no secret more and more of us are becoming addicted to technology. As Richard Louv says in his book The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age, “What would our lives be like if our days and nights were as immersed in nature as they are in technology?” In an age where everyone has a tablet, smartphone, and/or computer, maybe it’s time we turn our attention back to nature and the roots of human connection to the earth. Here are five ways nature can lead to a healthier life: 1. EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING Have you ever taken a walk and [...]

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry electrical signals between neurons in the brain. Dopamine and serotonin are two important neurotransmitters for mental health. They affect your mood, memory, sleep, libido, appetite, and more. Imbalances can contribute to addictions, mood conditions, memory issues, and attention difficulties. Over the past several decades, the world has seen an increase in medications for serotonin and dopamine imbalances. These prescriptions can treat symptoms of many mental health conditions. Yet they have a long list of potential side effects, from dizziness to insomnia. Also, their effectiveness varies from person to person. Some people want to try some non-drug treatments before committing to medication. Others take medication [...]

Ecotherapy, also known as nature therapy or green therapy, is the applied practice of the emergent field of ecopsychology, which was developed by Theodore Roszak. Ecotherapy, in many cases, stems from the belief that people are part of the web of life and that our psyches are not isolated or separate from our environment. Ecopsychology is informed by systems theory and provides individuals with an opportunity to explore their relationship with nature—an area that may be overlooked in many other types of psychotherapy. While some professionals teach and practice ecopsychology exclusively, other mental health practitioners incorporate aspects of ecotherapy into their existing practices. CONNECTION WITH EARTH: THE CORE [...]

Dr. Shawn Miller, inspired by his lifelong love of skiing, has created an individualized and integrative holistic process which combines elements of western psychology and applies it in a natural setting played out on the ski slopes of Utah. Participants will engage in a 3-part personal growth process: Assess and Plan (Materials will be emailed to you) 1-hour Individual Session (in person or Telehealth) 3-hour on Snow Experience (at a pre-determined location in the Northern Wasatch Range) By engaging in this process, participants will expand their conscious level of awareness to assist them in improving their general wellness [...]

by Dan Buettner Life expectancy of an American born today averages 78.2 years. But this year, over 70,000 Americans have reached their 100th birthday. What are they doing that the average American isn’t? To answer the question, we teamed up with National Geographic to find the world’s longest-lived people and study them.  We knew most of the answers lied within their lifestyle and environment (The Danish Twin Study established that only about 20% of how long the average person lives is determined by genes). Then we worked with a team of demographers to find pockets of people around the [...]