Holistic Living for Mental Wellness

Meet Dr. Tamara C. Hill

Doctor of Psychology: Mind and Body

First and foremost, this is a space for myself. It is a space for reflections and a space for digesting. This is a space for me to work through and work on my own mental wellness journey.

It is my hope that in sharing, it excites something in you.

i am not here to give advice or to tell you what to do. i am here to be authentic, to be genuine and to share how i work through all the things related to mental wellness through focusing on a holistic lifestyle.

i am excited… to share with you some of the knowledge that i learned while studying clinical psychology. i received a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, meaning that i work at an intervention level with people individually or in groups. i take the information that researchers and scientists discover about human functioning and apply those findings in a practical way to hopefully improve overall mental wellness. Throughout my work, i have focused a lot on the mind body connection, as i believe that they are strongly intertwined. i have my biofeedback certification to help me understand physiology at a deeper level. The training i have in yoga comes in handy as a form of therapy as well.

Community and connection are also priority in my life. Research again and again shows us that having social support aids in creating a fulfilling, long life.

Everything, every being and every object is made from the same energy and i hope this space fosters relational networks.

Holistic Health

Holistic health is an approach to life. It is an ancient method to health that considers the whole person and how daily habits, choices and environmental factors impact overall functioning. Holistic health emphasizes the connection of mind, body and spirit with a goal of achieving greatest possible well being for both physical and mental wellness.

the hype

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Food and Nutrition

The gastrointestinal system is more than the body’s primary site of taking in and absorbing nutrients. This system of critical digestive organs also acts as a type of switchboard or communication center to and from the brain, and functions as one of the body’s frontlines in the fight against disease.

Community and Support

Social support provides a network of individuals that one can turn to in times of need. Having community aids in enduring stress, reducing depression and opening the mind to new ideas. When community is strong, it helps each individual thrive.

Movement

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Sleep

It can be tempting to trade sleep for a few precious hours of wakefulness, but it is important to consider the hidden costs. Sleep is just as precious as diet and movement. Numerous studies have found that insufficient sleep increases a person's risk of developing serious medical conditions including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Awareness

Many people do not think of perception or awareness as part of our health, however what we focus on and pay attention to greatly matters. The mind can spend a lot of time in the past, being critical, judging and oftentimes it is hard not to worry about the future. Mindfulness practice can help us become more present in life.

Stress

There really is no way of avoiding stress in life, however the ways in which we cope with stress can have a profound impact on wellness. Remaining in a stressed state burdens the digestive system, energy levels, mood, the immune system and heart health.

Any amount of movement is exercise not only for the body but for the mind as well. Movement stirs the blood and fluids of the body and helps keep muscles and joints supple. Movement also aids in cardiovascular and heart health. When the body is functioning well, the mind and mood tend to follow suit.