This Christmas Holiday, I challenge you to focus on family and community. I want you to zone in on the things that you can improve on for Christmas 2020. Really focus on showing appreciation this Christmas.

A closet can really be an asset right now; you can create a space in your home to recharge your battery. A closet can be your own personal space to get some down time or just relax in between work and managing your house. You can paint your closet to have amazing color and build your closet around your personal needs through Covid-19.

This is the time to do real self-care such as journaling, deep meaningful meditation, understanding health communication and finding alternative ways to stay connected. If you are reading this blog, I want you to know you are amazing and an overcomer. This is your time to think outside of the box.

School and work are oftentimes a respite period from abuse and violence. During times of social distancing, many families will spend a lot of uninterrupted time at home. This new social distancing and quarantine give abusers more time to inflict pain.

So, it’s Valentine’s Day again and you are still single. Well, what are your going to do about it? February 14th is on the calendar every year, so let’s enjoy Valentine’s Day this year! I’m going to provide you some wonderful ways to enjoy this amazing day!

Never lash out at your ex because of your pain. Life happens and the relationship ended for whatever reason. You may never really understand why things needed to end. It’s okay to be sad. Let your emotions come through because they are real. What this person meant to you is part of your humanness. 

For many individuals, family get-togethers need preparation and strategies.  Christmas is one of the most difficult days of the year.  This day means putting up a strong front to see family without rehashing past hurts.  Here are some methods to assist you with those family gatherings.

The holidays are a particular time for many people to spend time with one another. As special as these occasions are, some family gatherings can be stressful. You know, the gatherings with the family member who complains about everything or the family member who intentionally tries to sabotage cohesiveness,

The holidays can be a stressful time for many people. When you are unable to come see your family because of work obligations, are in a difficult financial situation or don't have anyone to get together with, holiday depression can be incredibly difficult to cope with.

Hatred is the highest form of dislike for something or someone. This intense emotion has marked the Black Woman since the conception of America. The attacks on our skin color, bodies and natural hair has a long tradition in western culture. And these "put downs" have entered into the psyche of some Black Men as they act upon this through deeds and actions.

As women we get our education and start climbing the corporate ladder with our red bottom heels on. Our self-identity comes from material gain and our independent personal pursuits. And we wear the mantra of not needing a man proudly. We unknowingly become man haters and angry that we are still 35 and single.

She reported knowing for years that her husband had a double life yet she says she stayed for the sake of her son. As a professional clinician, I question when people say this. What is the benefit of staying in an unhealthy marriage and exposing children to the intensity of their parents not wanting to be together?

Sometimes a partner becomes overbearing and creates a relationship of isolation from the rest of the world. In other cases, doubt starts to become an issue and a toxic partner may question the belief system and loyalty of their significant other. A partner that is always checking your phone and accusing you of cheating is toxic.

Unrealistic expectations often keep many Black Men out of therapy. Stereotypes of men not needing help or being too strong to talk about their feelings is ultimately the precursor to depression. It doesn't make a man weak to acknowledge his concerns yet many of these labels were promoted during childhood, building “Toxic Anger”. 

Self-worth is the power of knowing who you are. It is having confidence in your own abilities. It’s the self-respect and regard that you have for the person you can never leave which is you. The first step in developing strong self-worth is avoidance of comparing yourself to others. 

This week our focus will be on depression which we all should speak boldly about. It is the silent killer of many disrupting the peace that each individual deserves to have.

Ms. McLean’s goal is to motivate people to stay in the fight, not to throw in the towel for any reason and most importantly, to understand failure is not an option when dealing with difficult situations in life!!!