The Grove
Your Anger About the Planet Is Not the Problem
The Boundary Waters. The emperor penguin. The Atlantic current system. This week's news was bleak — and this Earth Day, if you're carrying something heavier than anxiety, something closer to rage, that's not an overreaction. That's what it looks like to pay attention.
Science Said You Were Worth Helping. We Agree.
This year's World Health Day theme is Together for Health. Stand with Science — and we're here for it.
More than 1 billion people worldwide live with a mental health condition. Effective, evidence-based treatments exist. We use approaches that are grounded in research: EMDR, Gottman Method, ACT, IFS, and Lifespan Integration.
Coping Skills Won't Fix Your Life — And That's Not the Point
Coping skills aren't meant to erase hard feelings — they're meant to keep them from taking over. Most people walk into therapy expecting a fix. What they find instead is something more useful: tools that interrupt escalation, create space to think, and build capacity over time.
Who Decided What a Woman's Body Should Look Like — And Why It's Time to Stop Listening
Who decided what a woman's body should look like? When you start pulling that thread, the answer is uncomfortable. The beauty standards we've internalized weren't designed for our wellbeing — they were designed to keep us insecure and desperate to stop the clock and roll it back. We don’t have to listen to these standards any more.
The Solve It Grid: A Color-Coded Approach to Building Your Balanced Energy Diet
Feeling stuck in a cycle of chaos and collapse? Dr. Tamara Rosier's Solve It Grid helps you understand where your energy goes each day. Learn how color-coding your tasks—red (urgent), yellow (mundane), green (energizing), and blue (depleting)—can help you build a balanced energy diet that actually works with your brain, not against it.
Postpartum Nutrition: The Science Behind Fourth Trimester Recovery
Postpartum nutrition isn't just about "getting your body back"—it's about giving your body what it needs to heal, adapt, and sustain you through the demands of new parenthood.
The fourth trimester is a critical window for physical and emotional recovery, yet it's often the time when parents are least equipped to prioritize their own nourishment. Between feeding schedules, diaper changes, and survival-mode exhaustion, cooking a balanced meal can feel impossible.
What you eat matters. Protein supports tissue repair. Iron replenishes what was lost during delivery. Omega-3s stabilize mood (and may help protect against postpartum mood disorders). Fiber keeps your digestive system functioning.
The Lasting Impact of Mission Trauma: Understanding Post-Mission Mental Health
Research by Madelin Pepper reveals that LDS mission stress often causes lasting mental health impacts, with 24 of 39 survey respondents reporting continued effects. Common issues include anxiety, depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation, exacerbated by perfectionism and lack of support. Healing pathways include psychoeducation, therapy, and improved institutional mental health approaches.
Simple Ways to Reduce Stress in Your Home Environment
As summer vacation winds down and children prepare to return to school, many families find themselves navigating a whirlwind of emotions and stress. The transition from carefree summer days to structured school routines can be overwhelming for both children and parents. However, creating a calm, supportive home environment can significantly ease this transition and provide a foundation for managing stress throughout the school year.
Behind the Name Tag: How Gender Shapes LDS Missionary Experiences
Research from Madelin Pepper reveals female LDS missionaries face additional stressors including appearance pressures, weight-shaming, dismissal of concerns, and limited leadership. These gender-based challenges often go unacknowledged but significantly impact mental health. The study suggests standardized support systems and addressing systemic gender disparities could improve missionary experiences.
Beyond Awareness: Addressing the Social Determinants of Mental Health
True mental health awareness must go beyond reducing stigma and promoting individual treatment. It requires acknowledging and addressing the social conditions that create and perpetuate mental health challenges.
When the Mission Takes a Toll: New Research on Stress and Mental Health in LDS Missionaries
Uncovering the Mental Health Impact of LDS Missions
Madelin Pepper's eye-opening research reveals a concerning reality: 95% of LDS missionaries experience significant stress during service, with 62% reporting lasting negative mental health effects. Beyond the statistics, her work identifies key contributors: perfectionism culture, privacy limitations, and mismatched expectations. Most importantly, these struggles often persist long after missionaries return home—highlighting an urgent need for comprehensive support throughout the missionary journey.
Understanding Trauma: Beyond the Buzzword
Trauma goes beyond everyday stress—it rewires the brain and nervous system after overwhelming events. Learn to recognize trauma's physical and emotional symptoms, which can emerge years later. At our practice, we offer specialized healing through IFS, Lifespan Integration, and ACT therapies, helping clients achieve not just recovery but post-traumatic growth.
Embracing Imperfect Action
Small discomforts can feel overwhelming, but they don't define our reality. Building emotional resilience requires pushing through off days rather than retreating. While society often encourages avoiding discomfort to "protect your peace," growth often comes from leaning into discomfort. Change happens through action—especially imperfect action. By recognizing that current emotions don’t predict future feelings, we can reshape our experiences and foster growth.
Emotional Flexibility: Bending without Breaking
A candid reflection from our practice manager Shelli Armstrong on developing emotional flexibility through life's challenges. When comparing herself to her mother's seemingly effortless household management while she recovers from surgery, Shelli discovers a powerful truth: like an acrobat's poses, life's demands require us to bend—but we're not meant to hold these positions forever.
Friends Don't Flake: Rebuilding Adult Connection
When we constantly flake on friends and justify it with "self-care," we're fueling an epidemic of disconnection. While setting boundaries matters, we've twisted this concept to avoid vulnerability and meaningful relationships. Good friendships require showing up, being honest about our capacity, and matching others' energy. It's time to stop ghosting and start nurturing the connections that truly bring us peace.
Gratitude Isn’t About Ignoring Your Pain: Finding Balance This Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, gratitude isn’t about ignoring your pain. It’s about making space for all your emotions—letting them exist alongside each other. By starting small, like reflecting on peaceful moments or acknowledging your own resilience, you can practice gratitude in a way that feels authentic to you. It’s about recognizing your growth, appreciating what you’ve overcome, and being gentle with yourself.
Insight into Faith Transitions
Navigating a faith transition can be emotionally challenging, impacting your mental health through uncertainty, loss of community, and identity shifts. Therapy provides a safe space to explore these feelings, process grief, and manage cognitive dissonance. It can help you build resilience, find new support systems, and align with your evolving beliefs.
When Friendships Fade: Navigating the Grief of Letting Go
The end of a close friendship can be as painful as the death of a loved one. The emotional distance can feel overwhelming, with feelings of guilt and heartache amplifying the grief. Understanding this loss as part of life's evolving seasons can help in processing these complex emotions and finding healing.
The Importance of Support in Mental Health Recovery
Supporting someone with a mental illness is crucial to their recovery, offering emotional and practical help while respecting their independence. At Roots & Branches, we recognize the importance of strong support systems in overcoming trauma and mental health challenges. As we observe National Recovery Month, remember that your compassion and understanding can make a significant difference in someone's healing journey.
Redefining Therapy Spaces: From Safe to Brave
In therapy, we introduce the concept of "brave spaces" - environments that prioritize safety while acknowledging the inevitability of discomfort in healing. In individual therapy, brave spaces encourage you to confront difficult emotions, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, and process trauma. Your therapist creates this space by supporting you through uncomfortable moments, recognizing them as signs of growth. While therapy can be challenging, it's in these brave spaces that true healing occurs. By embracing discomfort and facing your challenges head-on, you're taking courageous steps towards not just surviving, but thriving in your mental health journey.