Karen J Richardson, LPC

Peace to all this Christmas Eve

Minnie works at Awareness, LLC and occasionally joins me for lunch. #extratreats #happytherapydog

Gazing into your loved one's eyes helps decrease cortisol. Try it...works with humans, too. #lifeisbetterwithapet #pettherapy #positivepsychologyinterventions

Just a reminder for all of us to be mindful of our news consumption.

www.awarenesscounselingcenter.com

Please take a minute to read about our accommodations in light of the COVID-19 virus. Of course, if you have any symptoms as described by the CDC please do not come to your appointment. Telehealth appointments may also be an option; check your insurance plan and visit awarenesscounselingcenter.com for more information.

This is the world’s first ever magnetic resonance image showing a mother and child’s bond. The image is of neuroscientist Rebecca Saxe kissing her two month ol...d son. The child’s brain appears to be smoother and darker. This is because it has significantly less white matter. White matter is comprised of myelin, which is fatty tissue that acts as insulation for the wires that communicate messages inside your brain. The activations in the image do not refer to the act of kissing but to the organisation of functional activity in infant brains when viewing meaningful images. Kissing causes a chemical reaction in your brain, including a burst of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is often referred to as the ‘love hormone’ because it stirs up feelings of affection and attachment. Kissing activates the brain’s reward system; releasing dopamine which makes us feel good. It also releases vasopressin which bonds mothers with babies and romantic partners to each other. It also releases serotonin which helps to regulate our mood. #nhneurotraining #love #neuroscience #neuro

The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection." Johann Hari Thanks for sharing Barbara Jo Koehnemann.

True story! There is a significant shortage of psychiatrists in central Georgia...only one psychiatrist per 9000 residents in Bibb County. Nice contribution to the article by Jason Hobbs.

Tuesday goals: 1. Wear your fancy glasses 2. Enjoy the view. #tuesdaygoals