It is Summer!! My favorite part of summer is the lighter clothing, letting my feet breathe in sandals, summer mocktails (and an occasional cocktail), my annual painting retreat, and outdoor swimming. What about you? For many, summer means open schedules, adventures, vacations, hanging out with friends and family, and catching up with yourself. But what […]
June is best known for heralding the start of summer breaks and school vacations, but there is much more to this vibrant month than meets the eye. The Origins of June: Juno and Hera June is named after Juno, the ancient Roman goddess of youth and protection. Her name, derived from the Latin “Iūnō,” stems […]
Are Mother Wounds exclusive? Picky? Gender-specific? I don’t think so, actually, I know so. Mother Wounds are not only “sex blind” but they will be different for each and every one of us – whether we are male, female, trans, or nonbinary/gender-nonconforming. A mother wound can happen in the presence or absence of a mother, […]
The journey to break a generational cycle isn’t easy, yet it is necessary and rewarding. If you have been following my blogs and articles, then you are surely no stranger to this topic. I talk a lot about identifying how the Mother Wound manifests in certain relationships– such as with a lover, friend, or the […]
Self-reflection and healing are difficult tasks made harder if we don’t have caring and supportive people around us. These people are often our lovers but not always. Finding a connection in a girlfriend, a fellow woman who sees you and accepts you – as well as makes herself open to you – is the kind […]
Every year when the ball drops, revelers around the nation hear the song “Auld Lang Syne” spread the message of leaving behind things we no longer want in the old year so we can bring our dreams into the new year. Some may take this literally, making grand resolutions to change themselves for the coming […]
Loss, both big and small, is a part of life. In fact, we’re guaranteed to experience loss and grief at some point or another. While this difficult truth can be challenging to recognize, it ultimately lessens the discomfort when going through loss. When this reality of life is acknowledged, accepted, and approached with intention, grief […]
Most women come into being with hope, warmth, and playfulness. Critical mothers interrupt the trust and safety needed to foster a secure identity. How do their daughters make sense of that as they make the transition into womanhood? Daughters of Critical Mothers are in need of a safe space for healing. As clinicians, we hold […]
A mother’s presence is a powerful thing. It has the strength to uplift and inspire, and the potential to damage and disparage. When the mother is unavailable, critical, or not attuned to the child’s needs it plants seeds that can take years to unearth and transform. Being able to recognize and heal a Mother Wound […]
The word Focusing means something very specific in the therapy world. Think of Focus, Mindfulness, and Stillness. That’s close, but the focusing I am referring to is Internal Relational Focusing (say THAT 3 times fast!). This sort of Focusing cannot be without the body. I’m not talking focusing on your crooked knees or love handles. […]
We all have one, a Central Autonomic Nervous System. We don’t think about it, we don’t have to do anything for it to work, it does everything on its own, and without it, we could not survive. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) never stops doing its job. Put simply, it’s part of our early “let’s […]
EMDR as a tool used in therapy has gained increasing popularity over the years. Yet, exactly what it is and what really happens when it’s practiced remains mysterious. Some will talk about it being used with war Veterans to help with trauma (which is true), but its wider reach is still elusive. Because I’ve seen […]
People often feel anxiety is a horrible thing. It can feel scary and you just want it to go away! But what if it’s like the Wizard of Oz? You think the wizard is this big frightening thing, demanding and yelling, and then it turns out to be a bumbling little person behind the curtain. […]
