Elisa A. Escalante/ LCSW/ 12-18-2024 When we enter the Holiday Season, I like to encourage my patients to “make the Holidays whatever they need it to be”. Do you need to grieve? Grieve. Do you need to keep it low key because you are overwhelmed? Okay. Are you in a celebratory mood and you wouldContinue reading “Be Merry”
Author Archives: functionallymentall
Veterans helping Veterans
Elisa A. Escalante/ LCSW/ November 2024 This years Veterans day blog is very simple. I asked Veterans to offer advice to military members that are close to getting out of the military and/ or brand new veterans that recently got out of the military. We need to stay proactive in building our veteran community andContinue reading “Veterans helping Veterans”
What I tell my patients
Elisa A. Escalante/ LCSW/ 10-23-2024 There is no way to ever fully explain the magic that goes on in the therapy or consultation room. But, most therapists have their go to phrases, sayings, or feedback that has helped patients make more ground breaking revelations or soothed them during hard times. Not everything I say comesContinue reading “What I tell my patients”
The Rainbow after the Storm
10-13-2024 Interviewer: Elisa Escalante/ LCSW Interviewee: Katie Sheynkman Intro: Katie is one of my closest long term friends. We met in early 2015 at an MMA gym in Brooklyn. We bonded over grappling and punching each other in the face. We also bonded over relationship drama and break ups. We are there for each otherContinue reading “The Rainbow after the Storm”
Vet Rise
10-6-2024 Interviewer: Elisa A. Escalante/ LCSW/ Air Force (OEF) Veteran/ Martial artist/ Author Interviewee: Juan Perez/ USMC (OEF) Veteran/ Chicago PD/ Entrepreneur; The Veteran online coaching program; The Vet Rise academy/ The Vet Rise Podcast Intro: Juan Perez stood out to me initially on Instagram and TikTok. I couldn’t help but notice that his videosContinue reading “Vet Rise”
The Situationship
Elisa A. Escalante/ LCSW/ 09-02-2024 My friend showed me her journal entry about her mental struggles adapting to a situationship. She had allowed me to post the journal entry anonymously, and I will write my responses below the pictures. I love this journal entry from my Friend, because it’s talking about something that is soContinue reading “The Situationship”
Half Awake
Elisa A Escalante / LCSW/ 08- 18-2024 I’m half awake. Only half at play. Only half yours. Only half this day …will be mine. Only half my mind. Only half my fears, just half this body …. is here. I’m for the sky’s. My true demise… is my soul is gone. But the flesh isContinue reading “Half Awake”
Single Cat People Epidemic
Elisa A. Escalante/ LCSW/ 7-30-2024 Recently I noticed the viral TikTok videos of people posting their cats or themselves with their cats in response to J.D. Vance’s rant. I’m not one to dive into politics. But following this incident, I decided to do a little bit of social media research. I created a Facebook pollContinue reading “Single Cat People Epidemic”
Trauma Puzzles Pieced Together
Elisa A. Escalante/ LCSW/ 7-14-2024 My trauma puzzle poems take you through my life from the ages of 3 y/o to roughly 22 years old. It’s the perspective of what I witnessed, felt and thought about through the majority of my childhood traumas. I keep an element of mystery because 1- it’s not always aboutContinue reading “Trauma Puzzles Pieced Together”
Grammaw’s 95th Birthday
Elisa A. Escalante/ LCSW/ 7-7-2024 Two weeks ago, I flew back to Houston to Honor my grandmother (Gram) for her 95th Birthday. We must have talked at least 10 times this year leading up to the Bday celebration. Anytime I reminded her that I would be ‘seeing her soon’, she would say: “God Willing”. And,Continue reading “Grammaw’s 95th Birthday”
Functionally Mental 