Back to School Tips From Your Neighborhood Therapist

The month of September hit off the back to school season for kids, teens, and youth. Whether you’re in school or in college, SOMA Therapy in Wichita, Kansas compiled various pieces of advice to help make your back to school transition smoother. Parents: Listen! It is crucial to listen to your kids so you can […]

Be Yourself. Science Says You’ll be Happier.

“Positive emotion alienated from the exercise of character leads to emptiness, inauthenticity, depression, and as we age the growing realization that we are fidgeting until we die.” What makes a person truly happy? Not the, “I just ate a really awesome slice of cheesecake happy” but true, lasting emotional satisfaction? Scientists like Martin Seligman have […]

Being Okay with “Good Enough” from a Recovering Perfectionist

Jenny Helms, LCMFT Discusses her Journey as a Recovering Perfectionist You Aren’t Alone, Trust Me Admittedly, I still struggle with accepting “good enough” or being “okay” at things from time-to-time. Noticing patterns of my past, I used to work as hard as I could to be as good as I could at every venture that […]

Coping with PTSD in Wichita: Understanding Symptoms and Treatment Options

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is estimated that around 8% of the US population will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. PTSD is not only limited to soldiers or war veterans but can happen to anyone who […]

Domestic Violence: Why Can’t They “Just Leave”?

Prior to becoming fascinated about the dynamics of domestic violence, I remember thinking: “Why don’t women/men in these relationships just pack up their bags and leave?” or “Why don’t they just go to a shelter?” Initially, I understood very little about the complexities of walking away or the complexities of staying. According to NY Times […]

Eating Disorder Prevention: How to Save a Life

What’s the Problem? With rising rates of eating disorders, it is impossible to have enough treatment providers for all of those who suffer. And unfortunately, many suffer with little to no resources. Eating Disorder Prevention has either never been prevalent, or seems to have taken a seat on the back burner. I became intimately aware […]

Exercising Compassion

Compassion is an ever-growing area of interest within psychology and psychotherapy. Although definitions of compassion vary, there is broad agreement that compassion is comprised of a combination of affective, cognitive, and motivational components. While everyone has, to some degree, a level of compassion, for some it can be beneficial to develop these skills further through […]

Hitting Rock Bottom: What Can We Learn and Gain from Life’s Woes

Whether by fate, transition, or poor choices – we all struggle with the horrible, hitting rock bottom (i.e. “woes“) in our life. Throughout my life I’ve faced trials in multiple arenas (I’m far from perfect – and that’s okay). However, the gifts I take from these moments are opportunities for growth and learning.  We can’t […]