Blog

While everyone initially resisted our family’s transformation (including myself), I think we can all now agree that we are stronger and more connected than ever.

By Jenny L on September 15, 2022

Wondering Path

Selfcare & Personal Growth

My admiration of walking in the woods, as serpentine as it might be, did not translate to my expectation of a recovery path. Nope. Not one bit.

By Michael Fariello on August 15, 2022

The Gift of Gratitude

Selfcare & Personal Growth

Gratitude is a gift I give myself. Even in the darkest of times, it is waiting there for me to open it and explore what’s right in front of me so that I can appreciate life’s beauty.

By Jenny L on July 29, 2022

Being Okay with Not Being Okay

Selfcare & Personal Growth

I am not always okay and that is hard to say out loud. For years, I disassociated from my life due to trauma. This came in many forms and at often inconvenient times. I didn’t even know how to be present when my life was going well. I found a way to numb my feelings, any feelings, by not seeing it or acknowledging it.

By Casie Fariello on July 15, 2022

After about a year of battling depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, substance abuse, cutting, and suicidal ideation my 15-year-old daughter started telling me that I had changed. She said I wasn’t the same mother I used to be.

By Heather Ross on June 15, 2022

Peer support has a long history, both formally and informally. As applied to mental health support, “peer support” generally refers to the process by which individuals with lived experience of […]

By Casie Fariello on May 18, 2022

My Very First Blog

Parent Stories

When I first discovered my son Jon’s substance usage, it was as if the earth below me had fallen away. I was weak on my feet, blurred in my mind and hurting in my heart.

By Michael Fariello on April 29, 2022

My lifeline comes from support groups. Grappling with these issues in a welcoming peer environment has catapulted my growth.

By Jenny L on April 15, 2022

I am calm

Parent Stories

Read our Peer Parent York’s story about his journey with his son and family.

By York Ast on March 15, 2022

A few important things to remember while you create a process for you and your family to build self-awareness and explore personal growth and healing.

By OPLM on February 21, 2022

Meditation is an alternative form of healing that can be particularly beneficial for parents of children suffering from mental health issues or substance use.

By Michael Irvine on February 14, 2022

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnoses are becoming increasingly common, however, ADHD remains one of the most misunderstood neurodevelopmental disorders.

By OPLM on February 14, 2022

In 2022, being a teen or young adult is fraught with the additional weight of living in a pandemic, where social contact has been significantly altered, and life’s routines disrupted. […]

By OPLM on January 20, 2022

When your child is diagnosed with an eating disorder, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed and scared. As a parent, you feel a heavy responsibility to protect your offspring, and an […]

By OPLM on January 18, 2022

For most people, the past couple of years have demanded developing an ability to adapt to and assimilate a series of global events that have unfolded in an unprecedented sequence […]

By OPLM on December 17, 2021

As our children grow up and the protective blanket we place around them becomes unfastened, they come face to face with the difficulties of the modern world. Thrust into adulthood […]

By OPLM on December 10, 2021

Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in teens and is on the rise. The recently published 2022 State Of Mental Health In America Report released some […]

By OPLM on November 26, 2021

There is nothing quite as rewarding as being a parent. It is a vocation full of incredible inspiration, joy, surprises, and rewards; every day presents new opportunities to grow and […]

By OPLM on October 28, 2021

“Self-care is the intentional, proactive pursuit of integrated wellness that balances mind, body, and spirit personally and professionally.” – Paula Gill Lopez, Ph.D., Fairfield University. 1 Caring for others, particularly […]

By OPLM on October 5, 2021

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