Third Place - A Wellness Space

06/19/2026

Juneteenth reminds us of the importance of freedom, hope, resilience, and the ongoing work of creating communities where everyone belongs.

At Brittney's Counseling, all are welcome. Every story matters, every voice deserves to be heard, and everyone deserves access to compassionate mental health care.

Wishing you a meaningful and reflective Juneteenth. ❤️💛🖤💚

06/19/2026

❤️💛💚🖤 Today we honor Juneteenth, a day that commemorates freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equity.

At Damiana Health PLLC, we recognize that health is about more than labs, medications, and diagnoses.

True wellness is deeply connected to safety, community, access to care, cultural identity, and the ability to thrive.

Research continues to show that chronic stress, discrimination, and barriers to healthcare can have lasting effects on physical and mental health. Integrative healthcare seeks to address the whole person - mind, body, spirit, environment, and community - while creating spaces where every individual feels seen, heard, and respected.

As we celebrate Juneteenth, we also acknowledge the importance of advancing health equity, supporting community connection, and ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to all.

Today is a day to learn, reflect, celebrate, and uplift the voices and contributions that have shaped our communities.

Freedom, healing, and wellness belong to everyone.
❤️💛💚🖤

06/19/2026

❤️💛💚🖤

06/19/2026

Ready...set...go (tomorrow morning) 😁

06/19/2026

🌿💛 Managing Social Anxiety: An Integrative Approach ❤🌿

At Damiana Health PLLC and Brittney’s Counseling PLLC we believe social anxiety deserves compassionate, whole-person support. Therapy can help build confidence and coping skills. Integrative health approaches may provide additional support for the mind and body.

✨ Mindful Breathing – Slow, intentional breathing can help calm the nervous system and reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety before or during social situations.

🚶 Regular Movement – Physical activity can help decrease anxiety symptoms and improve mood by supporting healthy stress-response pathways.

🥜 Nutrient Support – Maintaining adequate levels of nutrients such as magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids may support healthy nervous system function and emotional well-being.

😴 Prioritize Sleep – Poor sleep can amplify anxiety and stress responses. Consistent sleep habits help the brain regulate emotions more effectively.

🤝 Practice Safe Connection – Social anxiety often improves gradually through supportive, manageable social experiences. Working with a therapist while slowly expanding your comfort zone can help build confidence over time.

Social anxiety is not a character flaw or a lack of willpower. It is a real experience that deserves understanding, support, and individualized care.

Together, counseling and integrative health approaches can help create a foundation for greater resilience, confidence & connection.

damianahealth.com 💛
brittneyscounselingpllc.com ❤

06/17/2026

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For many years, Body Mass Index (BMI) has been used as a quick screening tool to estimate health risk, but it is not a direct measure of health.

BMI simply compares height and weight and can misclassify individuals who have high muscle mass, larger body frames, or differences in adipose distribution.

Likewise, some people with a "normal" BMI may still have significant metabolic or other health concerns.

From an integrative and weight-inclusive perspective, health is much more complex than a single number.

Research increasingly supports evaluating factors such as blood pressure, blood sugar regulation, cholesterol, inflammation, sleep quality, nutrition, physical activity, stress levels, mental health, social connection, and quality of life rather than relying solely on BMI.

People of all sizes deserve the right to comprehensive and compassionate healthcare.

Focusing exclusively on weight or BMI may contribute to stigma, delayed healthcare seeking, disordered eating behaviors, and missed opportunities to address the true drivers of health.

Instead, a weight-inclusive model prioritizes sustainable lifestyle habits, metabolic markers, functional health, mental well-being, and patient-centered goals.

This approach seeks to understand the whole person rather than reducing health to a single measurement.

https://healthiertomorrows.com/dietitian/addison-allee-rd-ldn/

🌼 damianahealth.com 💛
🍊 healthiertomorrows.com 💚

06/15/2026

Prepping for the new parking lot. Hoping to begin this weekend! Getting so close to being able to open this space!

06/12/2026

🌩 We are without power and internet service at our space, so we are closed today.

06/12/2026

The “Third Place” Concept

The term “third place” was introduced by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his influential book, The Great Good Place. Oldenburg argued that healthy societies depend on three types of spaces:

*First place – Home
*Second place – Work
*Third place – A neutral, communal environment where people gather informally

Oldenburg described third places as:

*Neutral ground
*Inclusive and accessible
*Conversation-centered
*Regulars present but welcoming to newcomers
*Low-cost
*A "home away from home"

Today, “third place” is used across:

* Public & Community Gatherings, especially for mental well-being and social connection, like Connection Café
* Workplace design (coworking as a modern hybrid) Brittney’s Counseling PLLC, Damiana Health PLLC, Renewal Lounge & Blossom & Herb Apothecary are all permanent members of Third Place - A Wellness Space along with several visiting independent businesses.

It remains a key idea for strengthening social ties in a fast-paced & largely digitally connected world.

We're so thankful and grateful to have been able to create this space and are looking forward to all it will continue to bring.