Top of Mind

Self-Compassion and Stability: Essential Strategies for Managing Bipolar Disorder

Understanding Bipolar Disorder: The Key to Long-Term Wellness Managing bipolar disorder requires a combination of medical treatment, lifestyle adjustments, and emotional self-care. Whether you are a patient, family member, or healthcare professional, understanding the role of self-compassion in treatment adherence and daily stability can significantly improve mental health outcomes. Below are three essential pillars for […]

Depression and Treatment: What’s Working Now and What’s on the Horizon

By Kelly M. Heitkamp, LISW-S   As someone who sits on both sides of the therapy couch – borrowing that perfect phrase from my colleague Dr. Laurie Bruce’s enlightening podcast “From Both Sides of the Couch” I’ve developed a unique perspective on depression treatment. Let me share what I’m seeing in the field today, both […]

Conquering Anxiety Together: Insights for a Healthier Mind

By Kelly Heitkamp, LISW-S          Anxiety touches everyone at some point. Whether it’s a fleeting worry before a big event or a chronic struggle that feels all-consuming, it’s important to know there’s hope—and help. Let’s break down what anxiety really is and explore effective ways to manage it, blending professional insight with […]

Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship

  By Kristina Tracy, LISW-S Outpatient Therapist We all know that relationships take work, yet we often forget how to do that work! Studies show that people who are more socially connected to family, friends, or their community are happier, physically healthier, and live longer. It is the quality of your relationship that matters. Most of us […]

Trauma-Focused Therapy for Children

By Megan Schrantz, Ed.D., LPCC Lindner Center of Hope Outpatient and Residential Therapist Many children and adolescents undergo difficult life experiences during their growing up years. Children may encounter a variety of events that are stressful to varying degrees, such as the divorce or separation of parents or the death of a beloved relative or […]

Child Mental Health Therapy Types and Applications

By Dawn Anderson, LPCC-S Lindner Center of Hope Staff Therapist/Supervisor         Child mental health therapy is a specialized form of counseling that helps children and adolescents cope with emotional, behavioral, and psychological challenges. It provides a safe and supportive space for young individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with a […]

Weight Gain in Patients With Psychiatric Conditions: The Need for a Systematic Approach

By Nicole Mori, RN, MSN, APRN-BC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Lindner Center of Hope       The prevalence of obesity and metabolic disorders is significantly higher among people with bipolar disorder than in the general population (McElroy and Keck, 2012; Taylor et al., 2012). In addition to contributing to medical comorbidities (such as […]

PANS & PANDAS- from symptoms to diagnosis and treatment options.

Heather Melena, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC   PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and encompasses cases of strep induced neuropsychiatric presentations (PANDAS), as well as presentations brought on by other infections, toxins, or stress. To understand the mechanism in which this autoimmune response is triggered, we must understand how and what our immune system does. […]

The Power of Kindness

By By Kristina Tracy, LISW-S Outpatient Therapist         What is kindness? Kori Miller defines kindness as a benevolent and helpful action intentionally directed towards another person, it is motivated by the desire to help another and not to gain explicit reward or to avoid explicit punishment. Kindness is about showing up in […]

More Darker Days Ahead: Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder

By Jennifer Farley, PsyD Associate Chief of Psychological Services, Lindner Center of Hope       In many areas, autumn’s colorful trees and darker mornings are reminders of the transition from summer to winter. Evening hours just don’t feel the same compared to the long days of summer when people are more active from sunrise […]

Persistent Depressive Disorder and Cyclothymic Disorder

                  By Danielle Johnson, MD, FAPA Chief Medical Officer, Lindner Center of Hope Mood disorders have distinct disturbances in emotions. Low moods are called depression and high moods are called hypomania or mania. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) categorizes mood disorders into bipolar […]

Medications for the Treatment of OCD

By Angela Couch, RN, MSN, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Lindner Center of Hope The goal of treatment for OCD is not to get rid of the thoughts but to learn to tolerate uncertainty. For someone who struggles with OCD, the idea of this, of tolerating uncertainty, can create a lot of discomfort.  Medications will not get […]

Is This OCD? Diagnosing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

  Common Assessment Tools for Identifying and Treating OCD By Whitney Peters LPCC OCD Specialist, Lindner Center of Hope  Beginning a successful journey in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) treatment starts with the right diagnosis. OCD occurs in people from any gender, age, or ethnicity, and happens to approximately 1 in 100 adults and 1 in […]

Brief Introduction to Nutritional Psychiatry

By Nik Raju, MD Lindner Center of Hope Staff Psychiatrist Disclaimer: This was written for general informational purposes only and should not be viewed as medical advice. Please consult with your personal physician/care provider and/or registered dietitian for specific recommendations tailored to your individualized needs. As the saying goes, food is medicine. While we often […]

Connection as the Key to Well-Being

Harnessing the power radical openness to enhance connection and psychological well-being. We as humans, from a biological perspective, are meant to be vulnerable and connected beings. We aren’t the strongest or fastest species, and yet humans dominate the animal kingdom. We do this because of our ability to have and express our emotions and thoughts […]

Why Diets Do Not Work

By Lauren Neiser, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC Keto. Atkins. South Beach. NutriSystem. Weight Watchers. Intermittent Fasting. Paleo. Low-Carb. The HCG Diet. Raw. Jenny Craig. Slim Fast. What do all these diets have in common? They are all ineffective and potentially harmful. We live in a diet culture driven society that celebrates thinness and is abundant with […]

Demystifying Mental Health Partial Hospitalization for Adolescents

An Untapped Resource in the Treatment Journey  According to a February 2024 article in the Journal of American Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the prevalence of mental health conditions in adolescents has been increasing worldwide, outpacing the availability of effective mental health care. More adolescents require acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, but do not have resources for […]

Ketamine Treatment for Mental Illness

                    By: Laurie Little, PsyD Chief Patient Experience Officer and Staff Psychologist, Lindner Center of HOPE In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring alternative and innovative treatments for mental illness. Among these novel approaches, ketamine has emerged as a promising treatment for […]

Understanding Executive Functioning Skills and Self-Regulation in Children and Teens

By Stacey Spencer, EdD Lindner Center of Hope, Staff Psychologist       Executive functioning and self-regulation are crucial skills for children and teens to learn to best manage their academic, social and personal lives. These skills are not just abstract concepts but are foundational to a child’s ability to succeed in various aspects of […]