D'Arcy, Bruning & Associates

Many find the holidays to be specifically triggering in regards to body image issues, as this article by JR Thorpe discusses. Thorpe recommends it can be beneficial for those struggling with heightened body image issues to have conversations with those close to them to let them know what their triggers are and share with them how they can be supportive during this time. Along with this, Thorpe also recommends it can be beneficial to curate one’s social media during this time to keep their feed as body positive as possible to avoid potential triggers or negative posts. It is also important for one to keep their boundaries throughout this time as well, and to not feel guilty for setting them and changing the conversation when needed. Check out the article for more information! https://www.bustle.com/p/how-to-manage-body-image-issues-du

Due to recommendations of CDC and Philadelphia public health, we will be moving all of our appointments to Telehealth until March 27. Please speak to your individual therapist(s) for more information. We are also continuing to accept new clients! So please feel free to reach out to us if you're interested in working with one of our awesome therapists.

As many enter another lockdown, it is very important to focus on mental health. With the uncertainty of the pandemic and growing numbers, many are facing high levels of anxiety, depression, etc. In this article, Anna Borges compiled a very detailed list of numerous mental health apps & online resources to utilize during this time. This includes apps regarding self help and therapy skills, mindfulness and meditation, mood tracking, and peer support apps. https://www.self.com/story/mental-health-apps

As the pandemic continues, many individuals are struggling with their mental health due to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and overall an increase of negative feelings. Due to this it’s very important to focus on your mental health, especially right now. In this very informative article by Ana Borges, she points out 17 tips to help you focus and improve your mental health during the pandemic! https://www.self.com/story/stuck-inside-mental-health-tips

With election day coming up so quickly, many are experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety. For many people, this year’s election is a big turning point and there are a lot of feelings associated with it. In this very real and relatable article by Anna Borges, she points out the ways she is planning on practicing self care and gives her tips on how she will be keeping as calm as possible during election day. While these things may seem like simple tasks, practicing a bit of self care can decrease heightened anxiety and stress! What will you be doing to practice self care and prioritize your mental health tomorrow? https://www.self.com/sto/realistic-election-night-self-care

In this article by Katie Gold for Self, it’s stated With the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the unrest due to social injustice and issues related to systemic racism, a lot more people are experiencing an increased level of anxiety and even some hopelessness related to an uncertain future. It is important to recognize these struggles as part of our common human condition to some degree. With anxiety and depression rates rising, it is very important to normalize mental health and to end the stigma that is commonly associated. As this article points out, the stigma surrounding mental health often prevents people from getting the help they need and perplexes the issues they are facing. At the end of the article Author Jessica Gold also explains ways that you can partake in the normalization of mental health!

In this article by Katie Gold for Self, it’s stated With the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the unrest due to social injustice and issues related to systemic racism, a lot more people are experiencing an increased level of anxiety and even some hopelessness related to an uncertain future. It is important to recognize these struggles as part of our common human condition to some degree. With anxiety and depression rates rising, it is very important to normalize mental health and to end the stigma that is commonly associated. As this article points out, the stigma surrounding mental health often prevents people from getting the help they need and perplexes the issues they are facing. At the end of the article Author Jessica Gold also explains ways that you can partake in the normalization of mental health!

What is an ally? Defined by Merriam Webster, an ally is someone who is associated with someone else as a helper. In this article by Maggie O’Neill, she discusses how to be an effective ally to the LGBTQ+ community and why it matters. O’Neill states While being an ally absolutely hinges on support and advocacy for an underrepresented group they don't belong to, its' also important to acknowledge that it's a lifelong process in holding yourself and those around you accountab...le. O’Neill points out detailed tips on how you can be an effective ally and what you can do to help the LGBTQ+ community such as, getting to know LGBTQ+ members of your community, becoming and staying informed on policies that effect LGBTQ+ individuals, asking questions of yourself and others around you (such as asking someone there pronouns before addressing them) and holding yourself accountable, listening carefully, and actively fighting for LGBTQ+ representation. https://www.health.com/mind-body/lgbtq-health/lgbtq-ally

What is an ally? Defined by Merriam Webster, an ally is someone who is associated with someone else as a helper. In this article by Maggie O’Neill, she discusses how to be an effective ally to the LGBTQ+ community and why it matters. O’Neill states While being an ally absolutely hinges on support and advocacy for an underrepresented group they don't belong to, its' also important to acknowledge that it's a lifelong process in holding yourself and those around you accountab...le. O’Neill points out detailed tips on how you can be an effective ally and what you can do to help the LGBTQ+ community such as, getting to know LGBTQ+ members of your community, becoming and staying informed on policies that effect LGBTQ+ individuals, asking questions of yourself and others around you (such as asking someone there pronouns before addressing them) and holding yourself accountable, listening carefully, and actively fighting for LGBTQ+ representation. https://www.health.com/mind-body/lgbtq-health/lgbtq-ally

With the upcoming school year approaching, school is looking very different for many. Whether it is online learning, hybrid classes, or in person classes there are many new changes and guidelines put in place that students are adjusting to. This can be very confusing for children and cause stress and anxiety. In this article you will find a few ways parents/ guardians/ caregivers can support children and help their mental health during this school year! https://www.unicef.org//supporting-your-childs-mental-heal

As some have shifted their focus away from the Black Lives Matter movement, it is still as prominent as ever and many Black individuals are struggling with their mental health while also experiencing discrimination and a lack of diversity in the workforce. While many companies are pledging to do their part in fighting racism and expanding in regards to diversity and inclusivity, the fight is long from over. In this article Patia Braithwaite describes the importance of showing up and supporting your Black colleagues on an individual level and gives 11 tips on how you can do your part! https://www.self.com/story/black-coworkers-how-to-support

"Even if we’ve not been rendered sick or jobless during the pandemic, Fredrickson points out, we’ve all been traumatized. When the stoppage of routine life leads to positive outcomes, the effect is even more beguiling. 'It’s easy to forget that it’s still a trauma. Having virtually every aspect of our lives changed is traumatic.' " If you're feeling anxious, sad, angry or any number of mixed emotions, that's totally normal right now. It's been a roller coaster lifestyle adju...stments for several months, and even a return to normalcy is one more big change in a long line of big changes. There are a few things you can do to try to ease yourself back into your old routines, though, and WaPo has done a great job of laying them out, as well as outlining the reasons you may be feeling nervous, in this article. Is there anything you're especially concerned about or having trouble adapting to with lockdowns ending?

"Even those of us with accepting parents or supportive straight friends can’t always turn to them for advice on queer dating or sexuality, for help with trans-related questions about navigating a hostile world, or even just for things like outfit guidance." Making friends in adulthood can be really hard for anyone. According to reasercher Jeffrey Hall, it takes 40-60 hours of time spent together to make a casual friend and can take over 200 hours for a close friend. If you ...are LGBTQA+, it can be even harder to just find likeminded people, let alone rack up the time needed to get close to them. But Vice has a great list of strategies for finding new LGBTQA+ friends, even in adulthood! Check out their tips below. What have your experiences been finding and making new friends as an adult? Have you ever felt that it was challenging to find people similar to yourself to connect with?

TW: disordered eating and weight talk When we think of eating disorders or disordered eating, we often picture very thin young white women as those who suffer from them. This causes a lot of issues when it comes to diagnosing these problems in people who don't "look like" they have an eating disorder. But, disordered eating doesn't discriminate and can affect anyone of any gender, any race, and any size. And if we can become more conscious of that, we can be better equippe...d to recognize the warning signs in ourselves and others and ensure that proper support is more widely available to all who suffer from disordered eating. For a close look at what it's like to deal with disordered eating while being considered to have a body that "couldn't possibly" have that issue, read Savala Trepczynski's account at health.com.

Sometimes, it can be really hard to try to find words to express how you feel. But, that's where art can really be both helpful and powerful! Photagrapher Salgu Wissmath used their art to communicate how it feels to deal with gender dysphoria and the result is incredibly moving. Take a look at these brilliant photos and interviews with the subjects about their experiences. Have you ever had an easier time describing how you feel with art than with words? Leave a comment (or your art!) below!

We all have different needs, and different ways of processing hard emotions. What is comforting to one person, could be downright triggering to another. That's very, very OK and you don't have to justify the way that you need to work through difficult situations or feelings. It can be healthy to communicate your needs and methods so that others can better understand and help you, if you feel up to it. But it's not necessary to explain these things if you don't feel abl...e to in the moment, too. A thousand thank yous to @sonakasha for this beautiful art #sonakasha #cope #mentalhealth #health #emotion #selfcare #selfawareness #boundaries #therapy #mentalillness #mentalwellness #illustration See more

"Even if you’re not interested in full-blown art therapy, art-therapy-inspired exercises still have the potential to help you relax, express your emotions, and learn new things about yourself." Yes, yes and yes! It's OK to not be ready or able to enroll with an art therapist, and that doesn't mean that you can't practice art based self care. Self.com has five tips to get you started here and then, if you feel you would like to progress further, you can consider contacting a licensed art therapist to help you. Plus, in experimenting on your own, may discover that you have a better idea of the type of art-based therapy you would prefer!

Yes! For those of us who like to make things, showing others can be a great way to inspire and comfort people. And if you feel better making things privately, or not at all, looking at the art that other people are making can help you to feel less alone, less lost and more connected to the world around you. And this piece by @chibirdart is a great example of that! If you're feeling a little alone today, take a moment to create some art, or seek out some art and see if... it can spark a feeling of togetherness. #chibird #arttherapy #art #therapy #creativity #illustration #design #mentalhealth #mentalwellness #selfcare #selfawareness #selflove See more

Privilege can be a tricky thing to think about for most people. It's unlikely that anyone wants to believe that they are benefiting from a system that is excluding or downright hurting others. Unfortunately, the reality is that those of us with lighter skin really do have a much easier time with many things, even things as simple as finding makeup that suits our skin tone. This awesome YouTuber demonstrates how difficult it is to find a bronzer made for anyone with darker s...kin tones by buying every brand of bronzer in the darkest shade available at Sephora. If this isn't something that you've experienced personally, it's really easy to just not be aware that it's an ongoing issue in the cosmetic industry! So, a huge thank you to Nyma Tang for this eye opening (and interesting, and funny, and upsetting) look at this troubling standard. See more

@crazyheadcomics floors us again with this amazing #mentalhealth reality check Film and TV have a bad habit of romanticizing mental health problems, and it can cause some real harm to people who suffer from those problems. From the artist who 'needs' her depression to the obsessive-compulsive who just needs to get a little 'messy,' the media is sending the message that a mental health issue is just a charming quirk and can be overcome or made meaningful with a little effo...rt. Nope, nope, nope. Mental health issues are very real, often painful, occasionally debilitating chronic HEALTH problems that affect almost half of the population. Are they anything to be ashamed of? DOUBLE EXTRA NOPE! But that doesn't mean they should be glorified or simplified, either. #crazyheadcomics #anxiety #mentalillness #depression #therapy #realitycheck #mentalhealthawareness #smashthestigma #awareness #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthsupport #therapist #counseling See more