BHSVA Blog

Life can be unpredictable, and we all face situations that can cause stress and distress. Distress tolerance is the ability to cope with distressing situations in a healthy and effective way. By mastering distress tolerance, we can improve our mental health and...

Life can be tough sometimes, and we all face difficult situations that can trigger a range of emotions such as fear, anxiety, anger, and sadness. Emotions are a natural response to what's happening around us, but sometimes they can become overwhelming, making it hard...

Personal relationships are essential for a fulfilling and happy life. They provide us with love, support, and companionship. However, building and maintaining healthy personal relationships requires more than just an emotional connection. Developing personal skills...

Mindfulness is a state of being fully present and engaged in the current moment without judgment. It's a simple concept, but can be challenging to incorporate into our everyday lives. However, developing mindfulness skills can have numerous benefits, including reduced...

Finding motivation can be a challenge, particularly when life gets hectic or when we are dealing with challenges and setbacks. However, knowing how to stay inspired about life and maintain a positive outlook about life can help us navigate the ups and downs of life....

Family dynamics can be complicated, and common family problems can arise for various reasons; such as communication breakdowns, unresolved issues, and differing opinions. These conflicts can create tension, resentment, and even lead to estrangement. However, family...

When seeking treatment for addiction, there are several options available, including inpatient therapy and outpatient therapy. When it comes to inpatient vs. outpatient therapy both approaches have their unique benefits, and the choice will depend on the individual's...

Relapse can be a challenging and frustrating part of the addiction recovery process. It occurs when an individual who has been sober or clean from their addiction returns to using drugs or alcohol. There are various factors that can trigger a relapse, and it's...

We all want to raise responsible children. And we all want to live in a world where others have been raised to be responsible, a world where adults don’t shrug off their responsibilities as citizens.   So how do we raise our kids to take responsibility for their...

Since the beginning of COVID, people have become more and more isolated from the world. We spent a long time indoors, away from work and all of our friends and family. Gradually, things are going back to normal. But a lot of people still choose to remain isolated from...

Nobody is immune to rejection, and it has an effect on everyone - even the most confident and talented people. When you take risks in life, you face the possibility that you might be shut down or might not make the cut.  Different phases of life bring different...

The word “community” gets thrown around a lot - but what does it really mean? What is a community? Creating community requires understanding community.    A community is a group of people who share something in common. You can define a community by the shared...

As the temperatures begin to cool outside with Summer coming to an end and Fall being on the doorstep, you can use these tips to cool your internal temperature as well. No one likes feeling angry. An all consuming anger is extremely discomforting and has physical...

In families, in relationships and in friendships, conflict is inevitable. But remember - conflict is natural and happens in every ongoing relationship. It’s just unavoidable. So in saying that, we must learn to manage it. Conflict is a sign of a need for change and an...

Did you know BHSVA has a mental health crisis hotline that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? While national hotlines are essential resources for everyone in our immensely large nation, the BHSVA crisis hotline offers localized help for people in Virginia. Using a...

You may have seen interventions take place on the TV show Intervention, which popularized the broad awareness of this therapy method. These interventions bring together a struggling individual’s social peers and family for an intensive group therapy session in which...

You may have heard of family therapy before, but what is it exactly? And how can your family benefit from family therapy? Well, family therapy focuses specifically on family relationships. It works from the premise that a problem lies within the family as a whole,...

Have you considered going to therapy, but have some reservations? You’re not alone. The difficulty of actually accessing professional healthcare can be a huge obstacle. People may also be reluctant to seek help publicly because of the stigma attached to mental...

You may think it’s an interesting collaboration, but crisis response counselors are now partnering with cops.  Why?   Well, it’s estimated that around 20% of police calls involve a mental health crisis, and that statistic continues to grow. 84% of law enforcement...

While our adult lives are full of their own stress and responsibilities, childhood isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Children are learning new information all the time, being tested on it, changing schools and neighborhoods, going through changes, encountering...

Becoming a foster parent is a big step - for you and the child. But before you decide to take in a foster child, be sure you're in the process of mastering some necessary parenting skills.   To help you prepare, here’s some key skills needed to master foster...

When you’re at the hospital, doctors have processes in place to make sure you receive the right medication at the right time. But when you’re at home, you have a lot going on, which makes it difficult to keep things straight on your own.  Here are some tips for...

Our days are packed with work, kids and household tasks, so we often neglect the thing that’s most important to us: self-care. Why is it the most important thing? Because if you take care of yourself, you will be a better you, and a better you will be better at work,...

A strong community can definitely have a positive effect on your mental health. It can provide a sense of belonging and social connection. It can also add meaning and purpose to your life. How can a strong community be built? A strong community can be built through...

Taking the role of a mentor can seem like big shoes to fill. You’re becoming the person that a child or adolescent looks up to. But they need to become more independent, and someone has to do it.  So why not you? There are many ways to go about mentoring youth to...

Trauma-informed care shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” A trauma-informed approach to care acknowledges that health care teams need to have a complete picture of a patient’s life in order to provide effective healthcare services....

Whatever type of loss you’ve suffered, there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. But by understanding the stages and types of grief, you can find healthier ways to cope. Myth: The pain will go away faster if you ignore it. Fact: Trying to ignore your pain or keep it...

Having bad mental health can have negative effects that ripple through your entire life and prevent you from living a healthy and happy lifestyle. Here are the top 5 signs your mental health is suffering. 1.) FEELING IRRITABLE Everyone becomes annoyed from time to...

Unprocessed trauma can continue to negatively impact your life when it is pushed aside. Here are the top 5 signs you still have unprocessed trauma. 1.) AVODANT BEHAVIORS For instance, you may avoid places or activities that make you think about the event. 2.) SOCIAL...