Category: Mindful Moments

🎉 Happy Nevada Day & Happy Halloween from Desert Peace Therapy! 🎃 This weekend, Nevadans across the state come together to celebrate something special — Nevada Day! October 31, 1864 marks the day our great state officially joined the Union, earning the nickname “Battle Born.” It’s a time to remember Nevada’s proud history of resilience,… Read more

Introduction: The Middle Ages and the Birth of Mindful Thinking When we think about mindfulness, we often picture meditation cushions, deep breathing, and calm awareness. But long before modern therapy techniques existed, medieval scholars were already exploring how the mind shapes perception and emotion. Their ideas—known today as Naturalistic Cognitive Theory—were some of the earliest… Read more

Helping Kids Build Emotional Vocabulary Have you ever asked your child how they’re feeling and gotten the same answer every time—“mad,” “sad,” or “fine”? Kids often default to simple words because their emotional vocabulary is still developing. But emotions are layered and complex. A child who says “mad” might really be frustrated, disappointed, embarrassed, or… Read more

Socratic Questioning: A Guide to Healthier Thinking In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), one of the most effective tools for changing thought patterns is Socratic Questioning. When a stressful situation happens, it’s easy for our thoughts to spiral: “I’m not good enough.”“I always mess things up.”“This will end badly.” These thoughts feel real — but are… Read more

Helping Students Transition Back Into School Our Clinical Director, Alicia Runyan, LCSW, recently joined JC Fernandez on 8 News Now to share valuable insights for helping students make a smooth transition into the new school year. They covered important topics like:✅ Establishing Routines✅ Addressing Bullying✅ Navigating Classroom Dynamics✅ Staying Motivated with Positive Praise Alicia closed… Read more

Stillness in the Storm: Stoic Wisdom for Couples Raising Young Children When you’re raising young children, peace can feel like a luxury—something that comes after the dishes are done, the toys are picked up, and everyone is asleep (hopefully for the night). But what if peace wasn’t something you found after the chaos, but something… Read more

When Kids Push Boundaries, What Are They Really Saying? Understanding the Behavior Beneath the Behavior Children test limits. They say “no,” throw tantrums, slam doors, and refuse to comply. While this can feel frustrating or even defiant, these moments are often not about disobedience — they’re about communication. At Desert Peace Therapy, we help families… Read more

Ken Wilber’s Quadrant Model and the Four Faces of Healing “What is healing?” Is it a change in our thoughts? Our behavior? The quality of our relationships? The systems we live within? At Desert Peace Therapy, we often find that healing rarely comes from just one place. It emerges from multiple layers—within us and around… Read more

When School’s Out: Supporting Kids’ Mental Health During Summer Break Summer break is supposed to be a time of fun, freedom, and family connection. But for many children and teens, the unstructured weeks ahead can bring unexpected emotional challenges. At Desert Peace Therapy, we’ve noticed recurring themes in how kids react to these long summer… Read more

The Inner Critic: How to Quiet the Voice That Holds You Back We all have a voice inside our heads. Sometimes it uplifts us—offering encouragement, clarity, and perspective. But other times, it whispers judgments, doubts, and harsh criticisms.That second voice? That’s the inner critic. At Desert Peace Therapy, we see the damage this internal narrative… Read more