Jennifer Shannon, LMFT

As this election season closes in on us, I have a new article on the ADAA website that may be helpful for many of us experiencing anxiety as the election draws near. An except from the article is below, and a link is provided to read the rest of the article and to share with people you know who might benefit from it. ...

Riding the ‘Pollercoaster’ in an Election Year As this election season closes in on us, I have a new article on the ADAA website that may be helpful for many of us experiencing anxiety as the election draws near. An except from the article is …

Recently, Cosmopolitan magazine published a list of the 32 Books About Mental Health That Everyone Should Read, and I am pleased that my book, "Don't Feed The Monkey Mind," has made their list and that people are finding benefit from using it.

The very things we do to control anxiety can make anxiety worse. This unique guide offers a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based approach to help you recognize the constant chatter of your anxious “monkey mind,” stop feeding anxious thoughts, and find the personal peace you crave....

32 Books About Mental Health That Everyone Should Read Let’s be real, we all could use the advice.

When you look at this image, what do you see? Do you see a goblet or vase in the middle? Do you see the profile of two apes or monkeys? This vase/face image is a metaphor I have been using for differentiating between our will, which is based on survival, and our wisdom, which is based on our higher values....

Will vs Wisdom   When you look at this image, what do you see? Do you see a goblet or vase in the middle? Do you see the profile of two apes or monkeys? This vase/face image is a metaphor I have been using f…

And I thought vacations were supposed to be relaxing…

And I thought vacations were supposed to be relaxing… I met my oldest son on Oahu for a mother-son vacation. I looked forward to quality time with him, relaxing, and getting out of my usual work routine. I forgot that vacations can be stressful! We bo…

I went to Eastern Africa for two weeks on Safari in Tanzania with two dear friends of mine. It was a mind-blowing experience for me, and I learned a lot! On one of our drives, we wanted to hang out with a herd of elephants. While watching them, I noticed they would pull up grass and shake their trunks vigorously. I asked our brilliant guide about this, and he told me they were shaking off the dirt and rocks....

Out of Africa I went to Eastern Africa for two weeks on Safari in Tanzania with two dear friends of mine. It was a mind-blowing experience for me, and I learned a lot! On one of our drives, we wanted to hang out…

What is the Difference Between Caring for and Controlling our Loved Ones?

From Controlling to Caring Visit the post for more.

Do you care so much about the health and happiness of your loved ones that you end up trying to control what they do?

When you get stuck in negative emotions, try an Active Meditation! Three reasons to try an Active Meditation 1. You don’t think you are good at sitting meditation 2. It frees you from negative thinking 3. It helps you to feel more grounded and clear-minded Watch this video to learn how to do an Active meditation. Click on this link to listen to my 10-minute guided active meditation....

Active Meditation for Strong Emotions When you get stuck in negative emotions, try an Active Meditation! Three reasons to try an Active Meditation 1. You don’t think you are good at sitting meditation 2. It frees you from negative th…

Last week, reading the entertainment section of the newspaper, I noticed a grass roots band that looked interesting was playing this weekend at the Green Center. Since the pandemic, my husband Doug and I haven’t been to a live music venue and we were overdue, so I asked him to get tickets. It felt like a risky thing to do. Doug can be over-frugal, and I didn’t want to end up in the cheap seats, using my binoculars to see the musicians....

Why Mistakes Are Good For You, (And You Are Not Making Enough of Them) Last week, reading the entertainment section of the newspaper, I noticed a grass roots band that looked interesting was playing this weekend at the Green Center. Since the pandemic, my husband Doug…

A few days ago, Pat—my ninety-year-old mother-in-law who lives in an assisted living facility—sent us a text from her new iPad. Pat’s texts are often accompanied by a cartoon emoji of herself—sweet ones with hearts for eyes or funny ones with the top of her head exploding. But there was no emoji for this message. She’d just found out that the driver who’d taken her to her doctor’s appointment that morning, whom she had sat next to on the drive, who’d leaned over her to help her with her seat belt when she exited the car, had just tested positive for COVID....

Active Acceptance in the Face of Uncertainty A few days ago, Pat—my ninety-year-old mother-in-law who lives in an assisted living facility—sent us a text from her new iPad. Pat’s texts are often accompanied by a cartoon emoji of herself—sweet…

Since the pandemic, my gym requires us to reserve a lane in the outdoor pool for ½ hour blocks. This morning I went to get in my reserved lane at 7 AM, and there was a woman in my lane. I waited patiently for her to swim to the edge and told her that I had reserved this lane. She said she was sure that…...

I Was Rude, Stubborn, and Just Plain Wrong! Since the pandemic, my gym requires us to reserve a lane in the outdoor pool for ½ hour blocks. This morning I went to get in my reserved lane at 7 AM, and there was a woman in my lane. I waited pa…