Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! Today, we will begin a new Fall book review series with The Sugar Jar by Yazmine Cheyenne. Turning the Page Together A Fall Book Series As summer winds down and we begin looking toward Fall, many of us may be reflecting on the rest we hoped Summer would bring. We often associate relaxation with vacations, summer breaks, or time away from our weekly routines. However, slowing down can feel difficult and sometimes like a fantasy re

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! Today, we will discuss how easy it is to miss out on things happening around us on a daily basis. The Key to Being in the Moment Rediscovering the world through your five senses Have You Ever Missed A Moment in Time? It’s interesting how easily life becomes routine. We move from one responsibility to the next, answering emails, checking our phones, making plans, crossing things off our to-do lists. We become experts at thinking a

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! Today, we focus on the Fathers and Father figures in our lives and how their presence provides a meaningful impact. The Power of Presence Reflections on Fatherhood, Caregiving, and Connection As Father’s Day approaches, many people find themselves reflecting on the fathers, father figures, and caregivers who have influenced their lives. For some, these reflections bring gratitude and appreciation. For others, they may bring mixed

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so we are taking space to discuss how supporting your mental health can be like tending a garden. Tending to Yourself Like a Garden The birds are chirping and the feeling of warm air is moving across your face and body. Flowers are blooming like an ode to the beginning of summer. Growth like this doesn’t happen by accident. It is nurtured, tended to, and cared for over time. Your mental healt

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! Today, we introduce the concept of Overfunctioning and how the short-term benefits may outweigh the long-term costs. Sometimes being “dependable” can take its toll Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U.! In March, we focused on “Spring Cleaning for Your Brain” by clearing mental clutter, softening self-criticism, and creating space for clarity and creativity to return. As many of you may have noticed, when the noise quiets, somethin

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! Today we explore what it means to have mental clutter, why that can be problematic, and how to reduce it. Making mental space for who you are today Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U.! In February, we explored the idea of “Falling in Love with You.” This topic focused on tending to your heart, honoring your needs, and practicing care that begins within. Love, in this sense, was not about perfection or performance, but about attent

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! Today we step away from the typical messaging of romantic love in February and embrace loving yourself first. When you love yourself, everything else will fall into place. Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U.! Last month, you were invited to return to yourself with greater awareness and compassion. We hope you found even a small moment to pause, breathe, and reorient. That alone is meaningful. As we move into a new month, we invite

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! Today we will be discussing how to resist the temptation of moving too fast during the traditional time of reset and restructuring. Slowing down when the natural urge is to move faster Welcome back to a new year! Before we begin, I invite you to consider this question: Are you feeling rested? Are you ready to embark on another 365 days? If not, you are in the right place. There is no need to rush. I encourage you to become awa

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! Last month, we discussed how the holidays can be a challenging time. Today, we will discuss how to connect with those experiencing difficult emotions at the end of the year. Holding Space for Others During the Holiday Season For many, the holiday season is associated with celebration, connection, and tradition. For some, it can be a time of profound grief, disconnection, or quiet survival. For others, the season may feel heavy n

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! We’re now in the full swing of the holiday season, so today we will discuss how exhausting it is to keep up and manage our own, often unrealistic, expectations. Reclaiming rest, release, and real gratitude in a season of feeling mentally drained The Weight of “Should” Are you feeling like you just don’t have it in you right now to give anything more? With the holidays creeping up, you might say to yourself, “I’m tired,” or better

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter! Today we will reflect on take-aways from the Spotlight video series while also highlighting themes as they relate to Domestic Violence Awareness month. The Mind - Body Connection to Physical Wellness October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and as we reflect on last month’s three-part Year of Y.O.U. Spotlight series, we’re reminded that physical wellness begins with safety in both body and spirit. For many, healing the body

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. Spotlight Series! Our previous video introduced the value of finding the right trainer by your side , someone who helps you move well, stay consistent, and discover the joy in movement. We’re finishing strong with our final spotlight: busting the biggest myths about strength training. Myth: “Lifting will make me bulky.” Truth: Muscle mass doesn’t just appear overnight and it certainly doesn’t come from picking up a set of weights a few tim

Welcome back to the Year of Y.O.U. Spotlight series! In our last edition, we explored how to know whether to see an athletic trainer, physical therapist, or physician when injury or pain shows up. Today, we’re shifting focus toward personal training : the field that helps you move well, build strength, and prevent injury before it happens. Personal trainers are not here to treat pain, but to teach safe movement, encourage consistency, and keep you motivated toward your goals.

By Dr. Erica Wade This month, we’re launching a special edition Spotlight series for the Year of Y.O.U. newsletter focusing on a...

By Dr. Erica Wade Ever feel like you’re always just going, doing, moving, but not really getting anywhere? Life moves fast and is so busy these days that it’s easy to slip into autopilot. Most of us are juggling a million things without pausing to recover and fine-tune our efforts. This means that while we’re constantly moving we’re not allowing ourselves to reach a sense of accomplishment. That chronic motion without mindful reflection can leave us feeling unsatisfied even w

Welcome back to Year of You! Today we will discuss practicing body positivity both in-person and online. What Do You See When You Look in...

Dr. Erica, known as drericaandyou, is a seasoned professional with a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Northern Illinois...

As the year winds down, the world outside might become adorned with festive lights, cheerful melodies, and endless gatherings, but for...

As the leaves fall and the air turns crisp, change surrounds us. With daylight saving just around the corner and Winter approaching, many...

Welcome to the next dial in on the C.H.O.I.C.E.S. series! Welcome to the final installment of our C.H.O.I.C.E.S framework series. This...