Fall is a beautiful season, but it brings about lots of changes for a family.  Parents of school-aged children may be caught in the spending frenzy of clothing, school supplies, fees, and trying to make appointments for healthy returns back to school. For some parents, there may be an added stress of making sure any special needs for students are met.  Parents of children with Autism, ADHD, ADD, and cognitive disabilities may have added concerns when selecting schools and working with school staff.  Parents may also be involved in scheduling physicals/vaccinations and preparing for those “just in case emergencies”...

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, with summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer.

-Helen Hunt Jackson

For some people an attitude of gratitude just comes naturally. It just seems to be a part of their DNA. They appear to be naturally gracious. But if you are like me you have to remind yourself to be thankful.

According to Author Susie Michelle Cortright on the “Living Life Fully” website, http://www.livinglifefully.com, if we are focusing on things we are grateful for, we have less time to focus on the things we want or do not have. To put it another way we have less time to focus on the negative if we...

I recently took suicide prevention training through LivingWorks (https://www.livingworks.net/) that was geared towards professional therapists like me as well as members of the community. Grandmothers, elementary school teachers, and pastors were among the trainees. For two days, we learned how to talk with people at risk for suicide in a straight-forward and compassionate way. I was very touched to see non-counselors in the training. They were there because they knew that anyone anywhere can be struggling with suicidal thoughts....

Autumn has begun and children are returning to school, and as a result childcare needs tend to shift. Often in families with working parents and at least one child in school, navigating schedules becomes a tedious, and often stressful, balancing act. During this time of transition, parents, child care providers, school staff, and children often become more stressed than they were during the “days of summer”.  Anthem EAP can help in providing services regarding work-life support, child care, and emotional needs.  The needs of both parents and children vary, but what is consistent is that the more support that is provided the less...

"Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it onto future generations.”

– George Bernard Shaw

Last month, I shared a post on my Facebook wall entitled “What It’s Like to Have ‘High Functioning’ Anxiety” via The Mighty.  I remember reading the article and how much I could relate.  I wanted to share it, but became anxious about the thought of doing so.  Not surprising, since I suffer from anxiety myself.  It presents itself in various ways in my personal and professional life, but I’ve managed to be successful in both.  I don’t tend to share it for fear of being judged or treated differently.  But as a person of integrity and passion, I felt I needed to challenge myself and say “Why Not Share?!?”

In my role as an account manager for Anthem’s Employee Assistance...

Sometimes, we just need to be amazed by the small things.

-Angela Pacheco

During the summer many of us change our regular daily routines and slow down. We go on vacations. We sleep later in the morning. We lounge by the pool. We stay up late and forget to do our chores. In the summer everything becomes more relaxed.  After a few months of this relaxed schedule, we realize the new school year is upon us. There are stressors involved in transitioning from the end of summer to the start of the school year.  Stressors may include: re-adjusting...

Our jobs can provide us, as employees, a lot of personal satisfaction and fulfillment. They allow us the opportunity to interact with others, experience an array of emotional situations, and help us grow as individuals. Our workplace is a large part of who we are and who we often become. Although the amount of time that is spent “at work” varies between individuals and professions, the mere act of being at work and contributing as an employee helps shape who we are.

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