***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...]
Shame, Sex and Love
May 2, 2018 by
Check out this amazing podcast with Alanis Morissette and trauma and recovery expert Pia Mellody from the Meadows. Great discussion about shame and so many other things! Here’s just a sample: “If you take on somebody else’s shame because they are being shameless, you wind up feeling worthless. That’s very, very toxic.… Your own shame feels like embarrassment or humility. It’s not a negative … [Read more...]
How Do I Say No?
April 29, 2018 by
https://youtu.be/g7NR4Wh7t2c 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...]
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...]
BOUNDARIES: WHAT, WHY AND HOW?
February 21, 2018 by
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX7mxU7lIVY 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 … [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...]
ATAQ: How do I find peace?
October 17, 2017 by
Take a look at everything going on in the world these days, and it’s difficult to be at peace. What it comes down to is this: Being at peace is a personal decision. It’s not necessarily a logical one, but it’s a decision nonetheless. There are several things you can do to find peace within, and I’ll talk about those in a minute. Ultimately, though, it’s a simple decision that gets you there. … [Read more...]
