Our Favorite Month: Mental Health Awareness

Hello Pamela,

We may be a little biased, but May is our favorite month because we get to officially celebrate mental health awareness! Each May, we like to provide our followers and community with some of our favorite resources, advice and supports as a mental health practice.

Read on to learn about the benefits of therapy, some anxiety-reduction techniques, and get to know how our MFS staff best prioritizes their mental health.

All my best,

Dr. Pam McCaskill

office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com

734-416-9098

McCaskill Family Services Newsletter

Term: Spring | Issue 65 | May 30th, 2025

We Take Our Mental Health Seriously, Too!

"No matter how busy life gets, I always make time to ride my horse. Even if it is getting up early before work or riding after a long day. Riding is my passion and what resets me from the daily grind. It's the best time to practice mindfulness. Taking "me" time is so important for my well-being."

-Dr. Nicole

"My most-used strategies are mindfulness (keeping my focus on the present moment to try not to dwell on the past or worry about the future) and reading fantasy books when I have a chance, because it's nice to get lost in another world sometimes." -Dr. Amanda

"Walks and time outside is always a winner for me!" -Daylan

"I always have something fun planned on my calendar. Whether it's a big adventure or a weekend getaway, having something to look forward to helps me better manage the mundane and stressful days. I frequently look back on photos of trips to shift a negative mindset and practice gratitude." - Jaclyn

"Working out has the most mental health benefits for me! I love cycling, lifting weights, hiking, and pickleball!" -Dr. Pam

"To support my mental health I take walks, either alone or with my family. I pay special attention to the small gifts that each season brings." -Emily Brzak

"Spending time outdoors in the fresh air. I can soothe my senses by closing my eyes and just listening to the sounds around me, enjoying the smell of fresh cut grass, and feeling the breeze! I do my best to slow down and enjoy these moments rather than focusing on the running 'to-do' list in my mind. Cuddling with pets helps, too. " -Emily Kavanagh

"One thing that I use personally is exercise to expel nervous energy and calm my mind (i.e. going for a quick walk, jumping jacks, etc. to get my heartrate up a little bit and release some endorphins/burn off adrenaline to tell my body that the "threat" has passed). I also like to spend time in nature as part of my general self-care! -Sierra

"I take care of my own mental health by doing mindful yoga at the end of a long workday, going screen-free, taking walks outside when the weather is nice, and going to therapy myself." -Sydney

A DBT Skill for Anxiety & Stress

One of our favorite DBT Skills is Progressive Muscle Relaxation.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation is easy to do anytime, anywhere, to help relax the body,

mind, and ease stress. It works by activating your parasympathetic nervous system, the part of your body that controls your "rest" functions.

The Benefits of Therapy

12 Things Everyone

Can Gain From Therapy:

A lot of times when we think about therapy, we think about it as being a place where we go to vent, get support, have a big "A-HA!" moment, or a good cry. Although all those things can happen, therapy is SO much more than a place we go to just "talk." Here are 12 inspiring reasons to be an active therapy participant.

Further understanding the “root cause” of why you act, feel, and think in certain ways (and help to adjust these reactions if necessary).
45 minutes to focus on yourself as an act of self-care. A place where you can just be and show up exactly as you are.
An enhanced realization of your own personal values: determining what’s most important to you, what should take up most of your time/energy, and how to consistently live in accordance with those values.
A place to celebrate your accomplishments, achievements and personal growth (with someone who is just as excited to see your gains as you are!)
A reset. A guaranteed time to pause.
An opportunity to externally process messy or complicated life events, and lay out everything out on the table without judgment from the person listening.
Accountability. Are you spending time in between sessions working on the goals you set for yourself? This leads to an increase in self-esteem.
Learning proactive skills for handling the negative events and emotions that life throws at you.
Support and guidance for total health (not just mental): improving eating habits, sleep hygiene, managing pain, adapting to chronic illnesses.
A place where you can reminisce and share stories that are special to you.
An opportunity to practice relationship dynamics that feel scary outside of the therapy room, such as communicating your needs, being vulnerable, or setting boundaries.
A safe environment in which you can brainstorm, problem-solve, make informed decisions, plan for the future, or dream.

Support on the Spot

Need Support now?

Check out our newest addition to our MFS website:

Virtual Learning Lab

Instantly learn empirically supported strategies and therapists' top tips for a wide variety of mental health issues from the comfort of your own home, presented by our MFS clinicians.

Current Learning Labs:

Raising Resilient Kids: Effective strategies for parenting strong-willed kids
It's not you, it's the diet
Surviving the Summer Break with your Kids
Stress Management Strategies
The ABC's of ADHD
Pitfalls to Healthy Eating
How to Recognize Depression in Teens

Browse Our Courses

A Thought From Your Therapist

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409 Plymouth Road, Suite 250, Plymouth, MI 48170 • 734.416.9098

McCaskillFamilyServices.com