Author Archives: Chardyce Kott

Do you consider yourself an honest person? Is there something you are currently hiding? At any given moment, the average person is mentally guarding 13 secrets. A person will tell over 109,000 lies during their lifetime (unless you identify as female, then apparently you are slightly less dishonorable and will only tell 65,000 fabrications). The […]

Have you ever felt like you were sharing with someone, and they were hearing you but not actually listening? Maybe you feel like conversations are an uphill battle that will end in a disagreement or misunderstanding. Most of us can feel like we operate on different wavelengths than others and we can never really get […]

Modern society, particularly a modern society in the midst of a pandemic, can be an enemy for those who struggle with mental illness. Our lifestyles are often a direct reflection of the values held by our culture. And if our culture is image-obsessed, overworked, and driven toward instant gratification, it should come as no surprise […]

Take a moment to visualize or think about what you might say to yourself throughout the day. Are you self-critical or make judgments about yourself? It is often easy to jump to the negative, and many of us have developed unhelpful thinking styles as a result. The cycle of negative self-talk contributes to low self-esteem, […]

Self-Love is defined as regard for one’s own well-being and happiness. It is not selfish, narcissistic, or even ego-driven. It is the product of respecting and honoring yourself. And just like all aspects of positive mental health, it must be practiced on a daily basis if we want to feel its impact on our life. […]

Wise Mind is a core concept taught in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This skill helps us develop and bridge the gap between the Emotion and Reason Mind. Wise Mind balances thinking and feeling, reinforcing beliefs that we are more effective when we both think and feel our experiences. The Emotion Mind: Emotions control our thoughts […]

Someone recently asked me what I believe are the five most essential components to “the good life.” A concept debated to exhaustion by the greatest philosophical minds, one would think this would be a daunting question to even contemplate. If Plato and Socrates were unable to find a harmonious solution, how could anyone else? Turns […]

As 2020 comes to an end, I wanted to take a moment to write about reflection and responding to the close of one year and the start of a new one. Granted New Year’s Eve may feel very different than previous years, feelings of hope, anticipation, sorrow, fear, and many others are still ever-present. If […]

Of all the reasons one may choose to grab a seat on a therapist’s couch, the need to be heard and understood is never absent. All humans, no matter how independent and self-assured, are inherently social creatures. We possess a desperate need to be seen for who we truly are and to be accepted for […]

This time of year often is filled with excitement, joy, and togetherness. But for a lot of us, it can equally be a difficult, dreaded, and lonely time of the year. Now more than ever, this time brings a complicated mix of emotions and situations as the holiday season looks very different than what we […]