Emotional Wellness: Practical Strategies and Clinical Interventions For Emotional Health

Thrive • October 31, 2022

By Thrive Wellness Reno Outpatient Clinical Lead & Therapist Lynn Carver, LCSW

By allowing individuals to face adverse circumstances with resilience, emotional wellness influences overall quality of life. Overlapping with mental and physical health, emotional wellness also impacts general well-being. When a person’s emotional health is suffering, mental health therapy can help them process their pain, manage their emotions, and develop skills for lasting emotional wellness.

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL WELLNESS?

Emotional wellness is the ability to handle stress , adapt to change, and prevail through difficult times. A state of being, emotional wellness can ebb and flow. Those with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) , trauma , and mental or physical illness are more at risk for acute emotional struggles, such as emotional dysregulation , which coincides with many mental and behavioral health disorders. Additional factors that can deteriorate emotional wellness include:

STRATEGIES FOR PROMOTING EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

By focusing on bettering the fundamental elements of one’s life, a person can promote emotional wellness and protect against prolonged periods of emotional pain.

Ways to support emotional wellness include:

Eating adequately, consistently, and from a wide range of food groups
Caring for one’s hygiene
Going to work or school
Incorporating positive experiences into one’s life
Practicing good sleep hygiene
Practicing mindfulness strategies
Refraining from misusing drugs and alcohol

These strategies for improving emotional health may seem simple, but depending on the intensity, frequency, and duration of a person’s emotional suffering, the process may be more complex and require deep therapeutic work.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

The mind, body, and emotions are interrelated . Unfortunately, this means that a person can become stuck in a negative feedback loop that propels their overall health into a downward spiral. However, changing any one factor — whether it’s one’s thoughts, body sensations, or emotional outlook — can stop the downward spiral and promote wellness.

Some examples of this include:

Changing one’s thought patterns from catastrophizing to describing without judgment can settle the mind, emotions, and body sensations
Engaging in an activity that elicits positive emotions can evoke positive thoughts and body sensations
Using distress tolerance skills that encourage acceptance of undesirable circumstances can calm one’s body sensations, emotions, and thoughts

Professional mental health support can guide individuals in implementing these shifts and advancing their emotional health.

WHEN TO SEEK CLINICAL SUPPORT FOR EMOTIONAL HEALTH

If a person is experiencing depression , anxiety , or difficulties adjusting to loss or change, they may benefit from attending therapy, which can help foster their emotional wellness. Additional signs that a person’s emotional health could benefit from clinical treatment include experiencing periods lasting two or more weeks of:

Agitation
Anxious mood
Decreased motivation
Depressed mood
Hopelessness
Poor appetite
Slowed thinking or body movements
Thoughts of death
Urges to avoid role obligations

Similarly, a person may benefit from professional help for emotional health if they find it difficult to:

Create and maintain healthy relationships
Hold a job or attend school
Keep oneself and others safe
Leave their house
Manage their anger

TREATMENT TO SUPPORT EMOTIONAL HEALTH

Emotional pain is an inevitable part of life, but persistent emotional suffering can be improved or eliminated through therapeutic support.

Treatment modalities for emotional struggles include:

Individual psychotherapy: Traditional talk therapy that involves a single client and their therapist.
Family psychotherapy: Therapy that involves a family and therapist.
Group psychotherapy: A therapist-led group of individuals facing similar mental or behavioral health struggles.
Psychotropic medication management: Medication prescribed to the client to help with their mood, often implemented alongside mental health therapy.
Skills coaching : An intervention that emphasizes the integration of practical strategies and can involve real-time coaching from the therapist outside of regular sessions.
Substance abuse treatment: A specialized form of therapeutic support that helps individuals who struggle with addiction.
Occupational therapy : A practice that helps empower individuals to participate in meaningful daily activities by teaching them different types of skills.
Recreational therapy: A modality that leverages therapeutic recreational experiences .

EMOTIONAL HEALING AT THRIVE

Our multidisciplinary specialists are skilled in a variety of therapeutic interventions for treating emotional struggles and any associated mental or behavioral health conditions. By approaching client care in a way that accounts for the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and emotions, our clinicians work to help individuals achieve holistic healing. To learn more about our outpatient therapy services for mental and behavioral health, reach out .

About the Author

Thrive Wellness Reno Outpatient Clinical Lead & Therapist Lynn Carver, LCSW

Lynn Carver, LCSW, earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). She is an intensively-trained dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) therapist and is also trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), child-centered play therapy (CCPT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) modalities. Lynn is also an experienced DBT educator who has trained clinicians, line staff, families, local agencies, and multiple army bases across the nation.

Her experience spans all levels of care — outpatient, inpatient, intensive outpatient, and residential — and also includes supervising clinical interns, serving in various leadership roles within agencies, and teaching undergraduates in the school of social work at UNR by Letter of Appointment (LOA). In addition to her traditional career experience, Lynn has provided pro-bono services through the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD) and various community-oriented organizations.

Lynn specializes in treating children and adults with borderline personality features, trauma histories and behavioral concerns, and eating disorders as well as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and attachment issues. Her passion is helping clients create a life worth living unique to them by partnering with them to identify and reduce behaviors that interfere with their quality of life. She strives to help individuals and families learn, practice, and build mastery around more effective responses to emotional pain. In every endeavor, she is committed to continually acknowledging and advocating for the unconditional worth and value of all people.

Outside of work, Lynn enjoys being a grandmother to five granddaughters and one grandson. She loves spending time at the beach and her personal favorite quote is “Don’t try to win over the haters; you are not a jackass whisperer,” by best-selling author and marketing executive Scott Stratten.

The post Emotional Wellness: Practical Strategies and Clinical Interventions For Emotional Health first appeared on Thrive Wellness.

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Is It OCD or an Eating Disorder? What Parents Need to Know

July 17, 2025

As a parent, noticing alarming behaviors around food or routines in your child can raise some important questions. You might be asking yourself, “Is this an eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or something else entirely?” Understanding the signs and differences between these disorders is key to getting your child effective, timely treatment. In this blog, we’ll break down the overlap between OCD and eating disorders, what signs to watch for, and how to get professional help. If you're a parent wondering “Is my child’s eating disorder actually OCD?” or “OCD vs eating disorder in teens,” know that you’re not alone and you’re in the right place to find specialized care for your child. What Is OCD? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause anxiety, leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) intended to ease that anxiety. OCD can be focused on any subject. Common obsessions include contamination, perfectionism, scrupulosity, and harm, but sometimes, the content of obsessions can be focused on food, body image, or weight. What Is an Eating Disorder? Eating disorders , like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) involve disturbed eating behaviors and intense concerns about body weight or shape. These conditions go beyond dieting or “picky eating” and can become life-threatening without professional intervention. The Overlap: Why It Can Be Confusing OCD and eating disorders often share similar symptoms : Ritualistic eating (e.g., needing to eat foods in a certain order or at a certain time) Rigid rules about food (like only eating certain food groups or certain amounts of food) Excessive checking (like weighing food or body or repeated checking of expiration dates or thorough cooking) Avoidance behaviors ( like avoiding carbs, fats, or other food groups or avoiding places or objects that can trigger obsessions) Distress when routines are disrupted (either around mealtimes or exercise routines) So, How Can You Tell the Difference? Use the following chart to compare and contrast symptoms of OCD and eating disorders.

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Navigating Coming Out: Emotional Wellness Tips for Every Stage

June 4, 2025

Coming out is a deeply personal, courageous, and in many cases, life-changing act. Whether you're sharing your sexual orientation or gender identity, coming out is about embracing authenticity and sharing an essential part of who you are. During the process of coming out, prioritizing your mental health at every stage is crucial. In this blog, we'll discuss insights and strategies to support your mental health before, during, and after coming out. Wherever you are in your journey, know that your experience is valid and you are not alone. Understanding the Mental Impact of Coming Out Coming out can bring about a lot of big feelings, including fear, relief, joy, anxiety, grief, and hope, sometimes all at once. Know that heightened emotions during this time are completely normal. Sharing such an integral part of yourself with the world can feel intense, but even with the ups and downs, being authentically you is worth it. Because LGBTQIA+ individuals face added mental health burdens due to stigma and discrimination, taking care of yourself during this time is more important than ever. You might experience increased anxiety, mental exhaustion, or avoidance ahead of coming out, so don’t be afraid to reach out for support. At its core, coming out is about authentic self-expression and showing your truest self, which can feel both exciting and scary at the same time . The self-acceptance and community gained from coming out is a vital part of finding long-term strength and joy. Still, it’s okay if you feel uncertain or conflicted, and these feelings are just part of the process. Before Coming Out: Emotional Preparation Coming out starts with reflection. Remember that there’s no rush when it comes to figuring out who you are. It’s okay to take time to understand your identity and what coming out might mean for you. Here are a few questions to consider: What do I hope to gain by coming out? Who feels emotionally safe to talk to? What are my fears, and how can I manage them? Mental wellness tips before coming out: Journaling can help you better understand your feelings and fears and explore different ways to share your truth. Talking through your feelings and different scenarios with a therapist , especially one who is LGBTQIA+ affirming, can help you to feel more supported and ready to come out. Practice grounding techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or visualization to ease anxiety ahead of sharing your identity. Helpful resources for coming out include: Trevor Project Lifeline (1-866-488-7386) TrevorSpace (an online community for LGBTQIA+ youth) OurCenter (a local community center for the LGBTQIA+ community in Reno) During the Coming Out Process: Staying Grounded The act of coming out can feel intimidating, as you’re sharing such a vital part of who you are. You might experience fear, panic, or doubt. While these feelings are real, know that you don’t have to navigate them alone. Tips for emotional resilience: Practice conversations ahead of time with a therapist or supportive friend so you feel ready when the time comes to share. Choose a time and place where you feel safe and in control. Use affirming statements, like, “I deserve to be loved for who I am.” Coping with negative responses: Set emotional boundaries with people who aren’t supportive. Create an emotional safety plan: know who you can call, where you can go, and what can help soothe you in moments of distress. After Coming Out: Processing and Healing Coming out, no matter how it went, deserves to be celebrated. An act of strength and authenticity like coming out is no small feat, so be proud of yourself for sharing who you are. Even so, the emotional aftermath can be complicated. You might feel joy and empowerment or loss and grief, especially if relationships shift. Healing strategies: Acknowledge your courage . Even difficult conversations are acts of strength. Rebuild your safety if you've experienced rejection. This might mean changing your environment or seeking new support systems. Release guilt or shame. Being who you are is never something you should feel ashamed or guilty for. Support networks can make a huge difference. Seek out different forms of support like: LGBTQIA+ support groups (in-person or online) Peer mentors or community leaders Allies, friends, or family who affirm and respect your identity Therapeutic options to deal with stress, grief, or isolation associated with coming out: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can help process trauma. Narrative therapy helps you rewrite your story in your own empowering voice. Coming Out More Than Once: Navigating the Long Game Coming out isn’t just a single milestone, it’s a recurring process. You might come out again and again: to a healthcare provider, a neighbor, a partner, or a friend. It can feel exhausting or unfair to have to come out more than once, but each time, you’ll continue to find more strength, confidence, and understanding for yourself. Other tips for coming out: Focus on cultivating a strong inner identity that doesn’t rely on external validation. You know who you are, and you don’t need to prove yourself to anyone. Create a personal toolkit of coping and grounding strategies to deal with stress or burn-out associated with coming out. Thrive Wellness offers a free breathing exercise guide to help relieve anxiety and calm the nervous system. Download it here . Find affirmation and support through community. This can look like finding a chosen family, looking up to queer role models, attending events that celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and its history, and working on embracing authenticity and having pride in who you are. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to coming out, and it’s never too late to share who you are. Whether you're preparing to come out, in the midst of sharing your truth, or processing what came after, know that you are worthy of love, safety, and joy. Your truth is worth celebrating, today and everyday! For support during the coming out process and beyond, reach out to our team of affirming, inclusive, and compassionate mental and physical health care providers. We're here for you.