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Mindfulness Apps
Here are four apps focused on meditation and mindfulness:
1. Happy Not Perfect:
This app, which caters to millenials, provides access to more than 250 meditations.
It advertises itself as a "five minute per day mental workout." Costs $9.99 per month.
2. Smiling Mind:
The aim of this app is to make mindfulness accessible to everyone, including children as young as 7 years old.
3. Insight Timer:
The most popular free meditation app on Android and iOS stores. It offers guided meditations, talks and podcasts by mindfulness experts.
4. Aura:
Named the No. 1 new app by Apple in 2017.
It costs $11.99 per month, which allows unlimited access to meditations of three minutes, seven minutes or 10 minutes.
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What Happens After Pride?
Five Ways to Reconnect
By Jason Nicholsen, LICSW, ACSW
The month of June is celebrated as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. In recent years, this recognition has included parades, rallies, celebrations and memorials for those lost due to HIV/AIDS or violence.
These are all outstanding reminders of the strength and vibrancy of the LGBT community, but what happens after Pride Month, after all the confetti is cleaned up?
Feelings of isolation, disconnection and despair are rampant within the LGBT community. Far too often these feelings are dealt with alone. So, how can people connect, or re-connect, to their community?
Here are five ways to keep the momentum going after Pride Month.
1. Psychotherapy
Reaching out for help from a trained therapist well-versed in LGBT issues can be incredibly transformative.
Working with a therapist to create a plan of action -- one that's aligned with what's important to you -- can be an important step in addressing feelings like anger, sadness and shame.
2. Community Centers
The D.C., Maryland, Virginia area (DMV) has several ways to make connections to others. The DC LGBT Center (
http://thedccenter.org/
) provides opportunities to volunteer, explore potential new interests or hobbies with other LGBT folks, and it provides an LGBT safe space to explore.
Northern Virginia Pride is celebrated in September, which includes a festival with area organizations, religious groups, youth and family activities.
Montgomery and Baltimore Counties have LGBT centers that offer opportunities to meet new people and get involved in the LGBT communities.
3. Work/School Programming
Increasingly, companies and schools are creating LGBT groups within their organizations that provide opportunities to connect with others and do community outreach and volunteer work.
It can, however, provide a challenge for those who have not or cannot publically share their sexual and/or gender identities at work or at school.
4. LGBT-Friendly Sports or other Activities
Opportunities exist all over the DMV to play darts, bocce, kickball, softball and Dodgeball with other LGBT folks. For those more interested in exploring nature and the outdoors, there are LGBT hiking groups, some of which also offer camping and rafting trips.
5. Social Media
One immediate way to connect with the LGBT community is via social media. There's a vast collection of Facebook groups, Tumblr, Reddit, Twitter and Instagram pages available to us. Groups include everything from LGBT CrossFitters to the challenges associated with coming out at work to groups that offer support for LGBT-identified writers.
Online-based communities can be particularly helpful for those who live in rural areas or for those who may not be out at work. Online groups or forums provide the safety and anonymity we sometimes need.
Whatever way you decide to connect with others, it's important to remember that you are never alone. Connection should be done on your timeline, and we at DC Talk Therapy are here to help in that process.
Jason Nicholsen, LICSW, ACSW is an openly gay man who offers daytime, evening and Saturday appointments. To schedule an appointment with him, please call 202.588.1288 or email us at [email protected].
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Tip of the Month
Couples often hear that they have to communicate better, but they sometimes struggle to understand what that means. One hallmark of happy couples is their willingness to take seriously their partner's needs; that need could be emotional, physical or sexual. Doing so not only demonstrates a level of respect for the other person but it also shows that you value their overall well being.
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