The Wellspring
a blog by Dr. Elizabeth Miller and WMB Team
The Calming Power of L-Theanine: Natural Support for Focus, Relaxation, and Stress Relief
This article focuses on key topics including L-theanine benefits, L-theanine for anxiety, and its role as a natural focus supplement and relaxation amino acid. It also highlights integrative mental health in Houston and the services offered by Well Mind Body.
Finding Balance in a Busy World: How Integrative Therapy Helps You Heal Mind, Body, and Soul
At Well Mind Body, we believe:
Emotional health and physical health are deeply connected.
Your story matters and we know that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
Change happens when you feel safe, supported, and seen.
Our team includes experts in anxiety, trauma, divorce recovery, parenting support, teen mental health, grief, and more. Whether you’re seeking calm after chaos, support for your child, or a fresh start, there’s a place for you here.
October: A Month for Awareness, Action, and Whole-Person Health
Every October, we see the world painted in color — pink ribbons for breast cancer, orange for ADHD, green for mental health, and teal for OCD. Each represents a unique cause, but together they tell one story: our well-being is deeply connected, and awareness is the first step toward healing.
For those of us in the mental health field, October is more than a month of observances. It’s a reminder of how intertwined our physical, emotional, and neurological health truly are — and how understanding one piece of that puzzle can transform the whole.
Finding Strength Together: Why a Women’s Divorce & Empowerment Group Can Change Everything
Divorce is more than a legal process, it’s an emotional, mental, and spiritual transformation. For many women, it can feel like the ground has shifted beneath them. Even when the decision is right, the uncertainty that follows can be isolating and overwhelming. That’s where joining our group support can make all the difference.
At Well Mind Body Integrative Psychotherapy & Wellness, our Women’s Divorce & Empowerment Group, led by Alberta Totz, JD, LPC, offers a compassionate, judgment-free space to process, rebuild, and grow stronger together. Whether you’re considering divorce, navigating it, or finding your footing afterward, the group provides structure, validation, and connection during one of life’s hardest transitions.
Choosing the Right College for You: Mental Health Tips for Making Early Decisions
For many high school seniors, October brings not only fall leaves and football games, but also the stress of early decision deadlines and the big question: “Which college is right for me?”
While academics and admissions stats often dominate the conversation, choosing a college isn’t just about rankings or acceptance rates. It’s about finding a place where you can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.
College, Careers, and Coping: Mental Health Tips for Young Adults in Transition
October is a stressful month for young adults. Midterms, new jobs, social changes, and seasonal shifts can leave many feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck. If you (or your young adult child) are navigating these transitions, you’re not alone.
In our latest blog, “College, Careers, and Coping: Mental Health Tips for Young Adults in Transition,” we share practical strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and creating healthy routines during this pivotal stage of life.
Plus, meet Zoe Sheehan, CSC, LPC-Associate, who specializes in supporting teens and young adults at Well Mind Body. Zoe offers a compassionate, nonjudgmental space to explore challenges, strengthen coping skills, and move forward with confidence.
Why Is It So Hard to Ask for Help When You’re Struggling?
Most of us have been there, carrying the weight of stress, anxiety, or emotional pain in silence, even when we know deep down we could use support. Reaching out for help should feel simple, but for many, it is one of the hardest steps to take. At Well Mind Body, we see this every day, individuals who have been suffering quietly for months or even years before they finally walk through our doors. Please know that you do not have to suffer alone.
Why is it so difficult to ask for help when we need it most? There are SO many reasons!
Living with POTS: Challenges, Perspectives, and Hope
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that affects blood flow and heart rate. When someone with POTS stands up, their heart rate increases abnormally, often by 30 beats per minute or more within 10 minutes, leading to symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and even fainting (Raj, 2013). Though once considered rare, POTS is now recognized as a common cause of chronic disability, particularly among young women.
Living with POTS can be overwhelming. Everyday activities such as standing in line, walking across a room, or taking a shower may trigger dizziness, brain fog, and exhaustion. Research shows that the quality of life for individuals with POTS can be as impaired as those with conditions like congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Benrud-Larson et al., 2002). Many patients face delays in diagnosis, which of course can increase frustration, isolation, and functional decline.
AI Is Not Therapy: Why Human Connection Matters for Mental Health
Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and mental health apps are becoming increasingly more common. They promise instant support, low cost, and even advertise themselves as “AI therapists.” While the appeal is obvious, the truth is that AI is not therapy. and should not be used as such. Using AI as a replacement for licensed mental health care isn’t just insufficient, it is dangerous. At Well Mind Body, we want families, parents, and individuals in Houston and beyond to understand the difference between quick fixes and true healing.
The Brain-Boosting Benefits of Climbing for Kids
Climbing is much more than child’s play. Climbing is a brain-boosting, resilience-building activity that supports kids emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Whether it’s scaling a tree in the backyard, navigating a playground structure, or tackling an indoor climbing wall, every climb helps shape stronger, more capable brains.
At Well Mind Body, we believe in supporting children’s mental health through both mind and body. Encouraging playful movement like climbing is one way to help kids grow into confident, resilient, and thriving adults.
The Importance of Family Rituals for Connection and Mental Health
Family life is often very busy. Between school schedules, extracurriculars, work demands, and household responsibilities, it can feel like there’s little time left for intentional connection. Yet research consistently shows that the rituals we create within families, whether big or small, play a vital role in strengthening relationships and supporting mental health.
How Trauma Shows Up in the Body: The Mind-Body Connection Explained
When most people think of trauma, they think of memories, flashbacks, or emotions. But trauma doesn’t just live in the mind, it lives in the body, too. If you’ve ever felt tense, restless, or physically drained after recalling a painful event, you’ve experienced the body’s powerful role in storing trauma.
At Well Mind Body, our trauma-informed therapists specialize in integrative care that addresses the full picture: your thoughts, emotions, and physical wellbeing. Understanding how trauma shows up in the body can help you take the first step toward healing.
How to Know if My Teen Needs Counseling?
Adolescence can be a challenging time for teens and their families alike. Between academic pressures, shifting friendships, identity exploration, and rapid brain development, it’s natural for teens to experience ups and downs. But when do these challenges go beyond “normal teenage behavior” and signal that counseling may be needed?
At Well Mind Body, we often hear parents ask: “Is this just a phase, or does my teen need help?” Knowing the signs can empower you to provide timely support that makes a lasting difference in your child’s life.
Suicide Prevention Month 2025: Together in Strength, Dignity, Hope, and Purpose
In 2023, suicide was still among the leading causes of death in the United States, taking more than 49,000 lives (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024). Behind each number is a family, a circle of friends, and a story of both loss and resilience. For me, suicide prevention is not just professional, it’s deeply personal. Years ago, I lost my best friend to suicide, and that experience has guided my life’s work as a therapist, teacher, and advocate.
Guide to Grounding When You’re Ruminating or People-Pleasing
Ruminating thoughts and people-pleasing behaviors are common cognitive and behavioral patterns that can contribute to heightened anxiety, stress, and emotional exhaustion. While these responses often develop as coping mechanisms to manage uncertainty or maintain relationships, they can interfere with authentic, values based decision-making and overall well-being. Grounding techniques are evidence-based interventions designed to reduce physiological arousal, increase present-moment awareness, and interrupt unhelpful cognitive cycles. This guide provides practical strategies to help individuals regulate distress, improve emotional clarity, and re-engage with values-driven choices.
7 Books to Help Kids Navigate Peer Pressure with Confidence
Peer pressure is something every child will face as they grow up. As parents, we want to equip our kids with the skills to stand strong, think for themselves, and make healthy decisions.
One of the best ways to start these conversations early is through stories. Books allow children to see characters working through challenges, making mistakes, and learning how to be true to themselves. Here are seven children’s books you can read with your kids to help them navigate peer pressure with confidence:
Finding the Right Therapist in Houston: A Guide to Starting Your Counseling Journey
Research shows that people who attend counseling experience improved emotional well-being, stronger relationships, and healthier coping skills (American Psychological Association, 2022). Therapy provides a safe and supportive space to process your experiences, gain perspective, and make meaningful changes.
Vitamin D: The Sunshine Nutrient for Mind & Mood
When most people think of vitamin D, they imagine strong bones and immune support. But in functional medicine, we see vitamin D as much more than a nutrient for bone density, it is a neurosteroid hormone that deeply influences mental health, mood regulation, and the way the body responds to stress and inflammation.
Alcohol Abstinence: Trends and Health Benefits
A growing body of evidence demonstrates both increasing prevalence of alcohol abstinence and significant associated health benefits. These benefits span physical domains, including reduced cancer and cardiovascular risk, as well as psychological domains such as improved sleep and mood. The increasing normalization of alcohol-free living, particularly among younger cohorts, suggests a potential cultural shift in how alcohol is perceived. Public health efforts promoting abstinence, even temporarily, may have broad implications for population health.
Folate, Mood, and Attention: Research and How EnBrace HR/MF Fits In
Inside neurons, folate is required to regenerate tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a cofactor needed for producing serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine (Liwinski & Lang, 2023). Low folate status is also linked with increased homocysteine, which can impair vascular and brain health (Lukovac et al., 2024). These pathways explain why folate deficiency is associated with depression, cognitive decline, and neurodevelopmental concerns.