The past few weeks have been about letting go for me. I've had to let go of people, money, sadness, regret, pride and fear. As I write this, I'm thinking, "Gosh, it sounds like a really awful few weeks when I write it all out like that!" But, you know me, I'm looking for what I'm supposed to learn and share with others! So, here goes... The issues I've been letting go of were issues … [Read more...]
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: Why do good things happen to bad people?
July 17, 2018 by
Pastor Ryan of Palm Valley Church: In order to answer the question of why do good things happen to bad people, we first need to determine: What categorizes a person as “bad?” Who are these bad people? How bad do you have to be to fall into this category? Where is the line? The more you think about it, the tougher it is to draw it. I mean, we can sort out extreme cases pretty easily in our minds: … [Read more...]
14 Lessons from The Greatest Showman: The Story of P.T. Barnum
May 23, 2018 by
***Spoiler Alert: Important plot elements revealed below.*** A patient of mine recently found out that I’d not seen the movie The Greatest Showman, the story of P.T. Barnum. She couldn’t believe it and thought the message was one I simply MUST know. At her next session, she brought her copy of the movie for me to borrow and urged me to watch it. I’m so glad I did. Thank you. Regardless of how … [Read more...]
ATAQ: How can I be so blessed and depressed at the same time?
April 26, 2018 by
Many times I’ve heard people say that they feel so blessed in their lives and so fortunate, yet they feel depressed and they don’t know why. Some of them feel guilty about it, and others are just confused. Well, I have news for you: Gratitude and depression are NOT mutually exclusive. How can this be true? First, consider genetics: Just like our parents can pass on their eye color or skin tone or … [Read more...]
Lessons from Alice in Wonderland
March 19, 2018 by
In my opinion, Alice in Wonderland may very well have been written by someone under the influence of LSD. Nonetheless, I think there are some important lessons to be learned from the story. Here are 5 of the many… Don’t go down the rabbit hole. The rabbit hole represents uncertainty—you never know what you’re going to get, so it’s really best to steer clear of a possible trap. In other words, … [Read more...]
ATAQ: Who should get therapy, and how does it work?
February 19, 2018 by
Who should get therapy? I think everyone can benefit from therapy! I'm only a little biased. ; ) In all seriousness...God is the only perfect being, so that leaves room for improvement in the rest of us! We all have issues, baggage, luggage, cargo, freight, a U-Haul...whatever you choose to call it. I believe that when we stop growing and changing, we die--spiritually, emotionally, … [Read more...]
Perception is Reality
February 18, 2018 by
https://youtu.be/vWy4Wrhz3Ig DISCLAIMER: Material on this site is for informational purposes only. The content of this site is not intended to be a substitute for evaluation or treatment by a licensed professional. Information contained on this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a mental health issue without consulting a qualified provider. The use of this website does not convey any … [Read more...]
Where Did the Words Go?
February 4, 2018 by
Today, I’m sharing another incredible story of hope and resilience. This was written by a psychiatric nurse practitioner colleague of mine. She wrote it for a women’s health essay competition at her local DAR chapter, and she graciously agreed to let me share it. In addition to her determination and adaptability, God’s presence is evident throughout the story of her challenging journey, especially … [Read more...]
ATAQ: How do I let go of the past?
October 17, 2017 by
Letting go of things you’ve done or things that have been done to you in the past can be difficult. Let’s start with a definition of letting go to make sure we’re all on the same page. To “let go” of something doesn’t mean that you say that what you did or what was done to you is okay or no big deal, nor does it give you or the offender a pass. Like forgiveness, what it means is that you’re … [Read more...]
How Do I Stop Being Afraid?
August 4, 2017 by
ATAQ: How do I stop being afraid? When we are blocked from doing something, however big or small, it’s fear that’s in charge. Fear is generated by negative automatic thoughts, or NATs, as I call them. These NATs are far more annoying and troublesome than the winged-variety gnats—even when they’re in a swarm! So, how do we overcome the fear that blocks us? Check out these 3 steps: Start by … [Read more...]
