“Tools for Emotional Wellness: Navigating Life Transitions and Aging” will be the focus of a community presentation and interactive discussion led by Estes Park counselor Sarah Hills, Thursday evening, hosted by the Estes Park Health Foundation as part of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Hills, who also writes the Mental Health Minute column for the Estes Valley Voice, said the sold-out presentation is designed to give participants practical tools to strengthen emotional well-being as they navigate the challenges that often accompany aging and major life transitions.
“Emotional health is the same as physical health,” Hills said during an interview with the Estes Valley Voice. “They’re so connected.”
The presentation will explore strategies for coping with caregiving responsibilities, grief, uncertainty, family dynamics, and the stress of living through periods of rapid social and personal change.
Hills will also discuss the connections among the biological, psychological, social, relational, and spiritual dimensions of well-being. The session will include grounding techniques, practical coping strategies, and opportunities for audience participation.
“My intention is for it to be very interactive,” Hills said. “I’m going to talk a lot about grounding, about being one day at a time, about doing what you can do and getting support for what you can’t.”
Registrants were invited to submit questions and topics anonymously in advance to allow Hills to tailor the discussion to the concerns most relevant to attendees.
A longtime mental health professional, Hills is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Addiction Specialist, and Certified ARISE® Interventionist with a private practice in Estes Park.
Before entering private practice, she worked extensively with individuals and families in addiction treatment in both inpatient and outpatient settings and served as the director of a nonprofit outpatient treatment center.
Hills earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in community counseling from the University of Northern Colorado.
She describes her therapeutic approach as client-centered and “reality-based,” drawing from a variety of methods to help clients meet their goals.
Hills’ professional and personal experiences have reinforced her belief that growth and resilience can emerge from difficult circumstances.
“There is beauty and benefit and gifts to be gained from walking through difficulty,” she said.
The event comes as mental health concerns remain widespread across the United States.
According to data compiled by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, depression and substance use disorders account for an estimated 16% of mental health conditions among adults, and approximately 19% of U.S. adults experience anxiety disorders.
In communities such as Estes Park, where roughly 40% of residents are aged 60 and older, conversations about emotional wellness, caregiving, grief, and resilience are particularly relevant, but not always easy.
The 60 and older generation was raised by parents who grew up as children of the Great Depression and World War II, and many were taught not to talk about personal or emotional problems.
Hills said one of the key messages she hopes attendees take away is that they do not have to navigate life’s challenges alone.
“Things can feel so huge,” she said. “You have to break them down into bite-sized pieces.”