It’s been said that the nature of life is to change, but the nature of people is to resist change. There exists a significant distinction between the way our natural world automatically changes and evolves and the way individuals often resist the change occurring around them. We see our natural world change every day, with […]

One of my favorite parts of my Master’s research was trauma and how it affects the brain. Have you ever been in a car accident or lived through something sudden and traumatic? Did you notice how your body responded and what you can and cannot recollect? When working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual […]

Our society perceives counseling, and those who receive it, in a negative and inaccurate light. Some view it as something only for people who’ve experienced tragedy or unspeakable hardships, the mentally ill or for people who are “too weak” to handle the difficulties of everyday life. It’s sometimes portrayed as a frivolous pastime for those […]

Ever heard the saying, “high school is the best years of your life.” I am going to let you in on a little secret. They were not the best years of my life. I was involved in various clubs and organizations in high school which I still hold as some of the best experiences of […]

The saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” could not be farther from the truth. After years of being a therapist, I continue to be astounded by the negative words my clients can remember others speaking over them—especially hurtful words they heard as children.

What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness has become an increasing trend in today’s world, not only in the field of mental health but in physical health and overall well-being as well. Simply put, mindfulness is all about awareness of the present moment: the here-and-now.

The concept of perfectionism is something we are all familiar with. Just take a moment to consider the messages we receive from advertisements and social media and it’s easy to see the perfectionist culture we live in today. The pressure to have the perfect job, the perfect marriage, the perfect family, the perfect body, or […]

Hollywood has an unrealistic way of portraying the true dynamics of domestic violence. We typically see a successful businessman who finds the less fortunate woman and woos her into his charming good graces. She falls in love with a man who later unveils his controlling and abusive behavior. It becomes so violent the woman takes […]

June can be a wonderful, joyful time of year for the LGBTQ+ community. Every year we march, along with our allies, to commemorate birth of the modern gay rights movement-kicked off by the Stonewall riots on June 28, 1969. In most cities around the world parades, festivals, musical events and parties specifically geared toward LGBTQ+ […]

My mother and father, my mentor, a best friend I have had since age 14 and many others. It is easy for me to rattle off the people who have loved me the hardest, shaped me the most and sewn into the good parts of the person I am today.