If you’ve noticed your mood dipping as the snow piles up and the days grow shorter, you’re not alone. Many North Dakotans face this seasonal struggle each year. The good news is there are practical, intentional ways to care for yourself and support your mental health during this season.

We can’t protect our children from everything they hear, but we can help them feel grounded, informed, and safe in a world that often feels unpredictable.

The effects of childhood bereavement can be profound, impacting school performance, relationships, and emotional well-being. Yet it’s important to remember that grief itself is not a problem to be solved. It is a natural, human response to loss. Children don’t need their grief “fixed,” but they do need our understanding, honesty, and steady support.

As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change, fall naturally invites families to slow down and savor time together. It’s the perfect season to create or renew family rituals—small, meaningful traditions that help children feel secure, connected, and part of something special.

Halloween can be a time of excitement and imagination—costumes, candy, and time spent with friends and neighbors. But for some children, the same things that make the holiday fun can also feel overwhelming...So how can parents help kids enjoy the magic of Halloween while coping with the parts that might be a little too spooky?

Brainspotting is a gentle, powerful therapy that helps people heal from emotional pain by using where they look to access deep feelings. It can help with trauma, anxiety, stress, and more. For many, it brings long-lasting relief and personal growth.