In the past trauma was considered an event... something that happened to you.  This is obviously still true but doesn’t tell the whole story.  Trauma is now defined as an event that overwhelms the brain's ability to adapt to it.  It is more than just the event, it is that individual's reaction, the meaning that is made and the way it is stored in the brain.

Delve into the Repetition Compulsion phenomenon with me, examining how ingrained patterns affect our lives and relationships. Discover effective treatments and self-awareness strategies, taking the first step toward understanding and breaking free from unproductive cycles.

Coping with becoming an empty nester is never easy, learn some of the best tactics that helps you manage any major life transition.

The connection between trauma and dissociation often goes unnoticed, but it can have a huge impact on a person's life

The use of metaphor can be very helpful in therapy. You may or may not have heard the Tale of The Two Wolves, this one in particular has helped me and my patients greatly by navigating us through both the big and small struggles.

Learn about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and how this psychotherapy can be utilized to combat the stressors of traumatic memories.

Some of the smartest people I know are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is a complicated disorder, often seriously misunderstood. Much of the focus is on inattentiveness and hyperactivity. These are things that certainly challenge the ADHD brain, but they can overshadow other equally important symptoms.

Learn more about yourself with enneagrams! An enneagram test will help you progress your self-discovery and personal growth!

So you want to change, and you think therapy will help. It can, and very often does. Psychotherapy can be useful to help guide someone on this journey. Therapy provides a non-judgmental space to take an honest look at not only what someone wants to change, but why and how it matters.

Has life disappointed you in some way? Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the concept of “how to move on” from hurt. This could be hurt feelings, a broken relationship, or life’s inevitable disappointments.

The Spotlight Effect is a term used in psychology that refers to our tendency to overestimate the extent to which other people notice us. We will often feel as though a spotlight shines directly on us, revealing all our mistakes and flaws for others to see.

One of the many important takeaways from  Attachment Theory is the understanding that the behavior a child displayed toward an adult caregiver in childhood, is often consistent with social behaviors later in life.  Meaning that this early childhood attachment to our primary caregiver provides an emotional blueprint that we take into adulthood. 

In therapy, there is a lot of talk about self-love, self-compassion, self-awareness, and self-care.  There is one more to add to the list, “Self distancing”…

Affirmations, quotes, intentions, metaphors, journals, are all building blocks for healing. This use of individual words and stories are a common source of growth and insight in psychotherapy. When life is overwhelming, words help you to gain understanding and a sense of control.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) comes from a study done by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente back in 1998. It is a very short screening tool and measures several areas of abuse, neglect, and household struggles in childhood.  The screen is still used today because of the shocking results of that past study. 

There are as many ways to trigger you out of your window of tolerance as there are ways to guide you back in.  What is most important is the awareness that you are outside of your window.  Becoming more aware of your body sensations, thoughts, and feelings is a crucial first step.

If we take a step back, we might even admit that the thoughts about the problem are more problematic than the problem itself.  For example, the thoughts might be “My boss should be nicer”, “I should have spoken up”, “I could lose my job”.  These thoughts link together to create a story in our heads.  A story that often gets far off course from the facts of the situation. 

The Flip side of despair might be grateful - "That’s the thing about unhappiness. All it takes is for something worse to come along… and you realize it was actually happiness after all." - Queen Elizabeth II (The Crown Season 2, Episode 8: Dear Mrs. Kennedy)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a modality that combines self-awareness/acceptance with mindfulness practices. What I love most about ACT is the Life Map.

By letting go of the need to be perfect, or even above average, we make room for self-compassion.  You already know how to do this.   Using love and kindness toward a loved one or a pet is the same concept.  We instinctively know how to extend compassion and kindness to others.  Often it is much more difficult to treat ourselves the same way.