Start Your New Year With Mindfulness

Thrive • January 22, 2021

The beginning of a new year usually means writing a list of goals that we want to accomplish. Although most of our goals may aim to be positive, they can have some negative impacts. For example, a common resolution we hear is ‘I want to start eating healthier’. This is a goal we may think is good for us but in reality we are labeling food, restricting ourselves from eating certain things, buying into a diet culture and damaging our relationship with food. Instead, try to aim for mindful, aware eating. This is a much more sustainable goal, then ‘eating healthy’. At Thrive, we would like to challenge the new year’s resolution tradition, and replace the practice with mindfulness.

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment, and calmly acknowledging your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. The technique is an amazing tool to slowly transition habits, instead of incorporating an immediate change in behavior through a new year’s resolution which typically does not last.

For example, if you become mindful of how much television you watch, you can slowly start to adjust that behavior. When you start to acknowledge how watching T.V. makes you feel and why it makes you feel that way, you are aware of how to change the behavior to your favor.

Unlike a new year’s resolution, mindfulness is a lifestyle. It is a process that takes time, patience and awareness in order to be successful. Many of us want immediate gratification and change to happen overnight. Unfortunately, that is unrealistic. Through gradual change, you can create a new lifestyle that blossoms naturally.

Mindfulness can be useful in structuring your daily routine. When you pay attention to your daily behaviors and habits, you notice the activities that you do and don’t like. Maybe you enjoy taking a morning walk more than going for a morning run. Your feelings about your activities is your body’s way of communicating with you, and it’s your role to mindfully listen to these cues. Mindfulness emphasizes creating these connections between your mind, body and soul.

Checking in with your feelings and mental state can be extremely beneficial to not only you, but also the other people in your life. As part of practicing mindfulness, it’s important to remember that focusing on yourself is far from selfish. You can only be there for others if you take care of yourself. Here are some helpful steps to get started on your mindfulness journey:

Reflect on your behavior and habits. You can only change what you are aware of.
Keep a mindfulness journal. Write down what you do each day. What did you like? What did you not like? What would you like to change? Each day, read this journal and start making mindful adjustments to create your desired lifestyle.
Be patient and kind to yourself. Changing your lifestyle does not happen overnight. Remain positive, patient and open minded throughout your journey.
It is okay to make mistakes. Humans are creatures of habit, therefore it is challenging to break out of unwanted habits. We all make mistakes, we all mess up, and that is okay!
Check in with yourself. Practicing mindfulness means creating a healthy connection with your body, mind, and spirit. As with any other relationship, you must respect, love and communicate with yourself.

Start your year thriving!

Thrive prides itself on treating the whole patient — mind and body. We incorporate mindfulness into our various therapeutic approaches to help clients on their healing journey. If you are struggling with letting go of last year or getting on your feet this year, you are not alone! Many of us had a tough year, but this is the time to start fresh. We specialize in treating individuals with an emphasis on eating disorders (food issues) , perinatal mood and anxiety disorders , anxiety disorders , obsessive compulsive disorders , and depressive disorders. Make mental health a priority, and start the new year thriving! To learn more about our services visit thrivewellnessreno.com.

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Join Us in Giving Back: Thrive’s 2025 Holiday Giving Tree

November 11, 2025

Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back this holiday season? Thrive Wellness is excited to continue our 6th Annual Giving Tree Program in collaboration with Perenn Bakery this winter. This year, Thrive Wellness Reno and Perenn Bakery are proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Northern Nevada. The organization supports families with children receiving treatment at area hospitals, providing comfort, hope, and a home-away-from-home during challenging times. Ronald McDonald House Charities offers essential services, removes barriers, strengthens families, and promotes healing when children need healthcare the most. How It Works Simply take one (or a few) tags from the Giving Tree, each listing an item you can purchase and donate for residents of the Ronald McDonald House. Then, drop off your item(s) at one of our designated donation locations by Friday, December 19. Items Needed: Restaurant gift cards Walmart or Target gift cards Games, puzzles, and coloring books Toys (Barbie, Hot Wheels, Lego sets, craft sets, magnet blocks, baby dolls, action figures, journals, infant toys, etc.) Children's books (picture, chapter, and graphic novels) Toiletry sets (for adults) Lotion/self-care gift sets (for adults) Sweatshirts/hoodies (adults, XS-XXL) Scarves, gloves, fuzzy socks, pajamas (all sizes) Infant diapers, onesies, and baby bottles Bulk individually wrapped snacks (granola bars, chips, etc.) Please ensure all donations are new, in original packaging, and unwrapped. Donation Drop-Off Locations Please deliver donations by Friday, December 19, to one of the following sites: Thrive Wellness 491 Court St., Reno, NV 89501 201 W Liberty St., Suite 201, Reno, NV 89501 Perenn Grocery 7600 Rancharrah Pkwy, Suite 130, Reno, NV 89511 Perenn Rancharrah 7750 Rancharrah Pkwy, Suite 110, Reno, NV 89511 Perenn Midtown 20 St. Lawrence Ave, Reno, NV 89509 Claio Rotisserie 3886 Mayberry Dr., Suite D, Reno, NV 89519 Why We Give Back Through our Giving Tree program, we’re honoring one of our core values at Thrive Wellness: staying rooted in community. This annual tradition allows us to give back to those who need support most during the holiday season. We invite you to join us by taking a tag at any Thrive or Perenn location and helping spread kindness throughout our community. There’s no better way to embrace the holiday spirit than by supporting local families with thoughtful, heartfelt donations. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and continued support. Thank you for helping us make a difference!

Eating Disorders in Adolescents: What Providers Need to Know for Early Intervention

September 22, 2025

Eating disorders are one of the most serious mental health concerns facing today’s adolescents. They can affect every aspect of a young person’s life, including their physical health, school performance, relationships, self-esteem, and more. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 2.7% of adolescents in the U.S. will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, and many more engage in disordered eating behaviors that may not meet full diagnostic criteria. The good news is that providers are in an influential position to notice early warning signs, open conversations, and connect families to support before these patterns of behavior become too engrained. Why Early Intervention Matters The earlier an eating disorder is identified and treated, the better the treatment outcomes. Research shows that getting support quickly after the disorder’s onset is linked to faster recovery, lower relapse rates, and healthier long-term development (Treasure & Russell, 2011). Waiting too long to seek help can mean medical complications, deeply ingrained behaviors, and a more difficult path to healing. For many adolescents, a caring provider who notices the signs and advocates for treatment can make all the difference in recovery and can even save lives. Recognizing Early Warning Signs Adolescents may not always disclose their struggles directly, so providers should keep an eye out for a range of indicators: Physical signs: noticeable weight changes, menstrual irregularities, digestive issues, dizziness, or fatigue. Behavioral patterns: skipping meals, restrictive eating, excessive exercise, frequent dieting, eating in secret, or leaving for the bathroom after meals. Emotional and cognitive signs: preoccupation with weight or body shape, food rituals, heightened anxiety around eating, or perfectionistic tendencies. It’s important to remember that eating disorders don’t always “look” a certain way. Teens can be distressed about food and body image even if their weight appears to be within a “normal” range. Screening Tools and Assessments Using free screening tools available online can be an effective way to gauge a patient’s needs and gain further insight on treatment options for a possible eating disorder. Here are 4 free screening resources we recommend you use before making a referral for a higher level of care. EDE-Q (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire) : helps assess eating attitudes and behaviors. Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake disorder screen (NIAS) : helps to assess the signs of ARFID in children. Eat 26 Screening Tool : a screening measure to help you determine attitudes towards food and eating. BEDS-7 (Binge Eating Disorder Screener) : for situations where binge eating is suspected. When possible, gathering input from parents, teachers, or coaches can also help, as teens may minimize their experiences out of fear or shame. The Role of Primary Care and Pediatric Providers Routine checkups are often where eating disorders first come to light. Providers treating children, teen, and adolescents can: Incorporate simple questions about eating habits and body image into wellness visits. Track growth charts and weight trends while pairing them with questions about mood, anxiety, and behavior. Foster trust by creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where adolescents feel comfortable sharing sensitive information and know there will be no weight stigma. Coordinating Multidisciplinary Care Supporting a young person with an eating disorder works best when care is collaborative . In order to treat the whole person, there are usually multiple members of a treatment team needed, including: Medical support: monitoring vital signs, lab work, and physical health. Therapeutic care: evidence-based approaches such as family-based therapy (FBT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) help address thoughts and behaviors. Nutritional guidance: dietitians provide education, meal support, and reassurance. Family involvement: engaging caregivers empowers them to support recovery in everyday life. Addressing Barriers and Stigma Many families face challenges in seeking help, whether due to stigma, lack of awareness, or limited access to specialists. To help, providers can: Normalize conversations about body image and mental health as part of overall well-being. Use culturally sensitive approaches that honor diverse experiences with food, body, and health. Connect families to community organizations, online resources, or telehealth when in-person specialty care is limited. Eating disorders in adolescents are serious, but with early recognition and timely support, recovery is possible. Providers are often the first to notice changes and can play a vital role in opening doors to crucial support. By blending professional expertise with empathy and collaboration, providers can guide adolescents and their families toward lasting recovery and a healthier future. References National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Eating Disorders . Treasure, J., & Russell, G. (2011). The case for early intervention in anorexia nervosa: theoretical exploration of maintaining factors. The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science, 199(1) , 5–7.