Losing a loved one is always difficult. The sadness, emptiness, and loss can be overwhelming, even if the loss is one that the person is prepared for. Losing a child, however, brings a level of sorrow and pain that no parent should ever have to..
Latest Articles
3 Ways to Support Social-Emotional Development in Children
By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, EdD PMHNP — As part of the Raising Mentally STRONG Kids program, I developed what I now call “The Growth Wheel”. The Growth Wheel is divided into eight parts. Each part focuses on an area of normal development as we grow and age…
Grieving A Living Loved One: Coping With Grieving Someone Who Is Still Alive
To continue the series on grief, this article is going to discuss grieving a living loved one. Grief can be experienced in many forms. It can be painful and overwhelming and is almost always handled differently by everyone who experiences it. Dealing with the grief..
What is Anticipatory Grief? Preparing for the Loss of a Loved One
As this series on grief continues, remember that grief comes in many different forms, and everyone experiences and handles grief differently. If someone is struggling with anticipatory grief that comes with preparing for the loss of someone, Mentally STRONG can provide them with healthy coping..
Survivors Guilt: How to Forgive Yourself After a Loss
Last Updated: August 17, 2026 | Author: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, PMHNP-BC When you lose someone you love, you expect to feel sadness. What you might not expect is the crushing weight of guilt. In my work as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, I see..
A Letter To Someone Who is Struggling
Life can be really hard, and no matter how hard you’re trying, if you feel like you are not getting any better, I want you to know that there are people and interventions that can help you. Even if you feel like you just want..
Inner Critic: How to Stop Negative Self-Talk & Build Worth
Last Updated: August 17, 2026 | Author: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, PMHNP-BC Practicing self-compassion can feel impossible sometimes. If you are struggling to manage all of the stress and tasks in your life, it is incredibly easy to blame yourself. You might feel like you are not..
Reframe Your Thinking by Learning to Adapt When You Don’t Succeed
By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara EdD PMHNP — Do you feel like you are always repeating the same patterns even though you are trying really hard to make changes that positively impact your life? When this is happening, it’s important to remember that you are not..
Positive Parenting: How to Empower Your Child Through Big Emotions
Last Updated: August 17, 2026 | Author: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, PMHNP-BC Sometimes it can be incredibly difficult to feel like you are empowering your children. It always feels like there is so much to do, and you just need your kids to cooperate so you can..
Understanding Relationship Levels: Being Mentally STRONGer Together
By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara EdD PMHNP — Every day you encounter people, and even if it was only a brief interaction with someone, you can choose to turn it in an opportunity for a positive relationship. It is important to take the time to evaluate..
Stress is Growth: Building Resilience in Children Through Anxious Situations
By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, EdD PMHNP — Let’s try to change our mindset. “Stress is Growth.” As a parent, protecting your child from anxious situations is a natural instinct, but letting a child move through a stressful time can teach them how to handle stress…
3 ways You can Help Change the Mental Health Culture Right Now
By Dr. Cristi Bundukamara EdD PMHNP –The current mental health culture and system surrounding care and treatment for mental illness has failed us. Every day, we hear things like “suicide rates for teens are highest in Colorado” or “access to mental health care is nearly..