The pain of depression is emotional, mental, and physical, all-consuming in its demand for our attention and energy. It’s hard to live life fully when bent under its crushing weight.

Henri Nouwen, a Catholic priest, spoke openly about his experience of chronic depression, and how he worked painstakingly toward joy through his life. Much of his insight falls into what we call mindfulness.

Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebration‑heavy holidays are often portrayed as uncomplicated experiences of joy and connection. But for many, the reality looks much more like dread, grief, anxiety, resentment, or exhaustion.

Crying can feel confusing. Sometimes the tears make sense — a loss, a conflict, a painful memory. Other times, they seem to appear without warning, leaving you wondering why you’re crying or why you can’t seem to hold it together.

Chronic pain is a complex and often misunderstood condition that affects millions of people. Many individuals feel discouraged after years of searching for compassionate, effective care that truly reduces suffering.

Whether you’re seeking support for anxiety, chronic pain, grief, spiritual questions, or simply a desire to grow, the decision to reach out for help is an act of hope. Knowing what to expect can ease anxiety and help you enter the process with clarity and confidence.

Chronic pain makes it hard to work, sleep, regulate mood, exercise, socialize, or sometimes just think. Pain becomes all-consuming, interfering with the activities and relationships that we hold near and dear. Pain is suffering.

Holy Week is a time when Christians come face-to-face with the reality of human condition and the full participation of Christ in our suffering. Things get really dark, and we’re left with the weight and the silence of death.

Maybe that “thing” that keeps you from belonging is what helps you belong. It’s the spice you add to the mix, the uniquely you thing that blends with other people’s uniqueness.

Stress and anxiety may seem like modern inventions, but these feelings are as old as time. The season of Lent invites Christians into reflection on our anxiety, and offers examples of how Jesus managed stress.

Anxiety swirls when we are centered on false hopes of security and ease. Sometimes we don’t notice our expectation that life will be easy, and then we are thrown when it is not.

Christians sometimes think that self-care is selfish and should be avoided as we follow Jesus' instructions to "take up your cross and follow me." In fact, self-care is crucial.

Dwell Psychological Services opened in 2024, but I’ve been blogging since 2014 at www.TheMindfulChristian.com. This post bridges the two projects and explains the origins of the name “Dwell.”