What’s going on, Sequoia Counseling community! I am in a great mood today because it is the 4th of July holiday weekend ! This is a time to celebrate our country and the freedoms and gift we have to live here. As I think about the concept of independence, I also think about our ability to live independently, without relying upon the care of others. What can we do to live our best lives and prevent future health/mental health issues? The answer is to develop lifestyle habits that target your whole person health!
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A 2009 study of 23,000 adults found that basic life habits such as eating healthy, not smoking, exercising 3.5 hours a week, and maintaining a healthy weight resulted in an 80% reduction in chronic disease! Specifically, the researchers concluded that 93% of diabetes, 81% of heart attacks, 50% of strokes, and 36% of cancers would be prevented! That is amazing news! 

As a therapist that takes a lifestyle medicine approach, I believe in helping you be as healthy as you can be. Diabetes is a common chronic illness which can be prevented. A UCLA study (2016) found that nearly 50% of California adults, including 1 out of every 3 young adults have either prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes. Another 9% of adults have a diabetes diagnosis.  In this post, I share general tips and resources on how to protect yourself and loved ones from chronic illness and how to develop a healthy workplace culture. 

​ Linda Rodgers’ article discusses the emotional challenges faced by those that are isolating from others and limiting their usual activities to limit risks of catching and spreading COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2. The article offers specific strategies for coping with the loneliness, recommendations to self-monitor for signs of worsening emotional health, and tips to limit risk when leaving the home is necessary.

​Primary insomnia refers to sleep difficulties that are not due to medication side effects, caffeine/stimulant or other substance use, or psychological/physical health conditions. Primary insomnia is characterized by:

• Difficulty falling or staying asleep, or waking up too early
• Poor quality sleep; feeling tired upon waking

​Hi everyone, in this blog I will focus on the practice of mindfulness and its health benefits. I was in the mood to geek out this weekend  I did some simple research on how mindfulness practice relates to the leading causes of death and health factors associated with these

What is lifestyle medicine? Following specific guidelines and practices for food choices, stress management, being physically active, avoiding risky substance use and nicotine use, getting enough sleep, and having a strong emotional support system in your life can powerfully prevent, treat, and often even reverse chronic disease and select autoimmune conditions (source: The American College of Lifestyle Medicine).

Memory and brain functioning change with age; for many older adults, memory changes trigger worry that something is not right. Psychologists, healthcare providers, and other trained professionals are able to evaluate for abnormal memory changes and suggest strategies for coping and treatment.

A UCLA study in 2016 found that ​more than half the adults in California and a quarter of teenagers had diabetes or pre-diabetes. Diabetes is especially rough because it affects your whole life. There are no vacation days. There are no “rewinds” to prevent onset. What are some of the emotional challenges that can trigger or result from a diagnosis of diabetes? How can this affect glycemic control?