Breaking the Silence: Understanding Mental Health Stigma in the Black Community from a Young Woman’s Perspective
Author: Zakiya Johnson PMHNP-BC Mental health has become a common topic in recent years, especially with social media bringing conversations about anxiety, depression, trauma, and healing into the spotlight. But for many African Americans, especially young Black women, talking about mental health still feels difficult. Even though we face stressors like racism, colorism, discrimination, financial […]
Hank Pym’s Many Masks: What Ant-Man Teaches Us About Accountability, Identity, and Mental Health
Andrew J. Hewitt, PMHNP-BCCaliper Wellness — Pasco County, Florida AbstractHank Pym—best known to many as the original Ant-Man—has occupied a singular space in Marvel storytelling for six decades. Across identities (Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket), groundbreaking science (the Pym Particle), and catastrophic consequences (creating Ultron), Pym’s arc has become a cultural case study in genius, guilt, […]
New Year, New Mindset: Why Intentions > Resolutions
By: Haley Bland, LCSW Every January, many of us feel a familiar pull: the urge to set “resolutions.” Lose weight. Work out more. Save money. Be a “better version” of ourselves. But by February or March, many of those resolutions silently disappear. As a social worker, I’ve witnessed how this cycle, the hopeful surge, then […]
Merida and the Mother–Daughter Journey: What Pixar’s Brave Teaches Us About Autonomy, Attachment, and Repair
Andrew J. Hewitt, PMHNP-BC — Caliper Wellness (Pasco County, Florida) Author Note. Andrew J. Hewitt is a board-certified psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioner at Caliper Wellness. Caliper provides telehealth mental health services in Pasco County, Florida, integrating talk therapy, medication management, and whole-person care. Abstract The mother–daughter relationship is a powerful crucible for identity formation across adolescence. […]
Preventing Holiday Burnout: Staying Focused on the Gift of the Present
Written by: Haley Bland, LCSW The holidays often bring warmth, joy, and connection, but they can also bring stress, exhaustion, and emotional overload. As a licensed clinical social worker, I’ve seen how the “holiday hustle” can take a serious toll on mental health: juggling events, financial pressures, family obligations, and internal expectations can leave even […]
Hua Mulan’s Enduring Power: Identity, Resilience, and Well-Being Across a Changing World
Andrew J. Hewitt, PMHNP-BCCaliper Wellness — Pasco County, Florida AbstractMulan, first immortalized in the “Ballad of Mulan” and later reinterpreted by studios, schools, and global media, remains a remarkably flexible cultural figure. Over the last three decades, she has shifted from dutiful daughter and patriot to an international emblem of empowerment, self-definition, and courage under […]
Finding Light in the Winter: A Therapist’s Reflection on Managing Sadness and Reclaiming Joy
Written by Yvette Triana, LMHC- a Therapist at Caliper Wellness, New Port Richey Winter has a way of slowing us down. The days shorten, the air grows colder, and even the most familiar routines can suddenly feel heavier. Many people notice a shift in their mood this time of year: less motivation, less excitement, more […]
“Rapunzel” and the Stockholm Syndrome Story: How Pop-Culture Myths Can Obscure Trauma, Coercive Control, and the Work of Healing
Andrew J. Hewitt, PMHNP-BCCaliper Wellness — Pasco County, Florida Author note. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Andrew J. Hewitt, PMHNP-BC, Caliper Wellness, Pasco County, FL. This blog is informational and not a substitute for individualized medical or mental-health care. If you are in danger, call 911. If you are experiencing intimate partner violence, […]
“Everyone Comes to Me for Help”: The Psychology of Being the Go-To Friend—and How to Care for Yourself Without Letting Anyone Down
Andrew J. Hewitt, PMHNP-BC — Caliper Wellness (Pasco County, FL) Author note. Caliper Wellness provides telehealth mental-health care in Pasco County, Florida, integrating talk therapy, medication management, and whole-person strategies. This article is informational and not a substitute for individualized care. Abstract Being the friend everyone turns to can feel meaningful and exhausting at the same […]
Shang-Chi, Representation, and Mental Health: A PMHNP’s View on Why Superheroes Matter for Well-Being
Andrew J. Hewitt, PMHNP-BCCaliper Wellness — Pasco County, Florida Author Note. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Caliper Wellness, Pasco County, FL. Telehealth services available across Florida. Views expressed are for education and do not replace individualized care. Abstract As the first Marvel Studios film led by an Asian superhero, Shang-Chi and the Legend of […]