By: Dr. Andrew Cuthbert If someone asked you to describe who you are without mentioning your job title, company, or profession, how long would it take you to answer? For some of us, work isn’t just a localized activity we perform from 9 to 5 to secure a paycheck; it is the axis around which our entire lives spin. It dictates our daily schedules, shapes our social circles, influences our zip codes, and deeply impacts our mental well-being. For others of us, while we do not try

By Dr. Andrew Cuthbert We’ve all heard the line. It’s plastered on motivational posters, screamed by wellness influencers, and stitched into pillows: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” And to be fair, it feels true. If you’ve ever scrolled through social media at 11:00 PM, looked at someone else’s pristine kitchen, booming business, or perfect vacation, and suddenly felt a heavy sinking in your chest, you know the dark side of comparison. In her book Atlas of the Heart, resear

By Dr. Andrew Cuthbert A Loving, Science-Backed Look at Embracing Our Mistakes It is a question that usually arrives in the quiet hours after the kids are finally asleep: “Am I a good enough parent?” Maybe you snapped when someone spilled their milk. Maybe you were staring at your phone when your child tried to show you a drawing. Parenting is perhaps the only job where we expect ourselves to be perfect every single second, even though we are exhausted and have no instruction

Written by Caytlin S. LMSW Have you ever felt like a past memory is still "live"? Maybe it’s a car accident, a breakup, or a childhood memory. Even though it happened years ago, thinking about it still makes your heart race or your stomach knot up. Most of the time, our brains process experiences and file them away as "just memories." But sometimes, a distressing event gets "stuck" in the nervous system with the original sights, sounds, and emotions still intact. This is wher

Written by Amanda Frazier, LPC, PMH-C Note—this article discusses themes of depression, mental health crises, and suicide. If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts or are in crisis, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. You are not alone. Help is available. Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is May 4-10, 2026. While many are familiar with postpartum depression, there is actually a spectrum of mental health conditions that

Written by Amanda Frazier, LPC, NCC, PMH-C I’m a recovering perfectionist. For much of my life, I found my identity through meeting exceedingly high expectations– often expectations that I set for myself. I believed that perfectionism was a positive character trait– something I’d list as a strength in a job interview rather than a weakness. If I could just work harder, be more productive, achieve more, then I would satisfy some deep need within myself that would define my wo

Written by Dr. Andrew Cuthbert We’ve all been there: the surge of January 1st adrenaline that dissolves by mid-February. We set goals with the best of intentions, only to find our willpower running on empty three weeks later. Habits are not a January 1st topic, they are a topic for every day of our lives. As a psychologist, I often see people blame their "lack of discipline" for these setbacks. But the truth is much simpler (and a bit complex): Most approaches to habit-buildi

Written by Chris D, LLPC There is a moment some people recognize when someone asks them where they are from. It is usually small and just a brief pause before answering. In that pause there is often a quiet decision: Which version of the story should I tell? The short answer, the longer explanation, or the one that will make the conversation the easiest. Sometimes this moment plays out in real time at a social gathering. Someone asks the familiar question, “ Where are you fr

Written by Chris D, LLPC Some of the most put together people feel the least settled. They are competent and capable of handling what is in front of them. Many have spent years learning how to read a room and respond well to what is needed. Over time, that skill becomes automatic. What gets lost is a clear sense of self that is not constantly adjusting. This pattern often develops in environments where adaptation was necessary. That might mean growing up in a family whos

Written by Dr. Andrew Cuthbert We talk a lot about "self-care"—the solo walks, the boundaries, the therapy apps. And while that stuff is vital, I and all of us at Timber Creek have been thinking a lot about community-care. The truth is, we weren't meant to carry our heavy stuff in isolation. Mental health isn't just a "you" thing; it’s a "we" thing. But for a community to actually be healthy, we need more than just good intentions—we need the right spaces. The Power of the

Written by Abby Fedewa, LMSW Boundaries are important for your mental health, but they’re not always easy to set. If you worry that saying no will upset someone, make you look selfish, or hurt a relationship, it’s normal to feel guilty. That guilt usually shows up because you’re learning to include your needs too. Boundaries aren’t walls or punishments, they are simply a way of showing what you can and can’t do. Saying no to an extra favor, asking for space, or speaking up wh

(A gentle rebellion against New Year’s resolutions) As the New Year approaches, many of us start feeling the familiar pressure to reinvent ourselves. We’re told to start fresh, overhaul our routines, become a “better” version — thinner, calmer, more productive. It’s the cultural reset button we’re all supposed to hit at once. And for a few weeks, we try. The gym gets crowded, the planners get filled in, and we throw ourselves into new habits. The Dissolution of the Resolutio

Do you ever feel like psychological self-help advice is too easy? Too straightforward? I listen to a lot of podcasts and read many psychology books, with many unfortunately feeling far too formulaic while not having flexibility for my life. As a team, this year we have been having conversations and trainings on how to be the opposite of formulaic. How can we be flexible and adapt to the uniqueness of people’s lives while maintaining clear, helpful plans? Recently, we discusse

Remember that classic scene in old movies where the detective blows a thick layer of dust off a forgotten file? For a long time, that wasn't too far from the reality of a counselor's organizational methods. Counselors are experts in the human mind, but our filing systems sometimes are not too expert-like. Counselors would have towers of manila folders, handwriting that could charitably be called "artistic," and the occasional frantic search for a note from six months ago that

Life is a series of transitions, isn't it? From the many changes of our early years and adolescence, and from career shifts to moving homes, each new chapter brings a unique blend of excitement, challenge, and the need for adaptation. These transitions, while often personal, invariably ripple through our most intimate relationships. Suddenly, the unspoken agreements, the comfortable routines, and even our individual identities are gently, or sometimes not-so-gently, nudged in

You did it. After years of dedication, the acceptance letters are in hand. Getting into a competitive graduate program is a monumental...

Starting therapy is a significant step towards well-being, but figuring out your mental health insurance benefits can feel overwhelming. Many people to turn Google to search for "how to use insurance for therapy," "therapy cost with insurance," or "mental health coverage explained." At Timber Creek Counseling, we aim to make understanding your counseling insurance benefits clear and straightforward so you can focus on your journey to healing. This guide will demystify commo

The arrival of spring in Michigan brings with it a subtle yet powerful invitation: to step into the woods and engage with the natural world. For many, including myself, this season also signals the exciting hunt for a culinary and - stick with me - mental health treasure: morel mushrooms. For me, morel foraging isn't just about the delicious reward at the end; it's an immersive practice that naturally cultivates mindfulness and offers a unique opportunity to calm your mind. I

We often think about big, sweeping changes when we feel stuck. We envision dramatic overhauls and complete transformations. But what if the key to unlocking momentum isn't a wrecking ball, but a gentle nudge? What if the smallest of shifts can create the biggest impact? Think of a rusty gate. It’s jammed, unmoving, resistant to brute force. You could try to yank it open, potentially breaking something in the process. Or, you could apply a tiny bit of oil to a single hinge. Su

I recently texted a friend that during the Olympics I was pretty worthless to the world around me, as I spent so much time laying on my bed watching sports. It’s a bit of an odd experience, of course, to put in such little effort while simultaneously watching people give maximum effort. As a psychologist, one of the most intriguing things to me is the immense pressure put on Olympians to perform once every four years. For many athletes, the Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime