If you have children, or have ever spent any time around small children then you have seen a temper tantrum. Some temper tantrums are loud and wild and look like kids throwing themselves on the floor of Target because their mom won’t buy them a certain toy. Other tantrums are quieter, more subtle—like the child […]

As my husband and I were leaving my in-law’s home during our last visit, I witnessed a scene that has played out countless times during my 12 years in this family. While we are pulling out of the driveway, my mother-in-law began to stifle tears so we wouldn’t notice she was crying. My husband, noticing […]

“Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” -Unknown June is a month to celebrate a very important person in many people’s lives. Dad. Happy Father’s Day to all of those men that play such an important part in their children’s lives, men that play such an important […]

I wish I could tell you that I am perfect at setting personal boundaries with others, but alas–as with diet and exercise–I am a work in progress. Boundaries are tricky and sometimes they are hardest to set and maintain with our closest loved ones, family members and friends. Nevertheless, I try to be mindful of […]

One of my daily, never-ending lifelong goals is to eat well and drink plenty of water. Some days I excel at eating healthy food, drinking plenty of water and even managing to squeeze in time to exercise too.  Other days, I do not. Eating well and taking care of my physical body is a goal […]

Anger is tricky. It’s another one of those emotions that are “uncomfortable” and we’re often taught not to feel it: “Don’t be mad-it was an accident” “I already said I was sorry-why are you still angry about that?” “That incident was years ago-you can’t still be mad at me for that!”

“You can’t pour from an empty cup.” -Anonymous As I was speaking with my mother over the weekend, she was telling me how difficult it was to take care of my grandmother. I love my grandmother, but I can completely understand where she was coming from. My grandmother, at 76 years old, only recently stopped […]

As a therapist certified in EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy, I have found this approach to be very effective in helping many clients for a variety of issues. The current treatment guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association designate EMDR therapy as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress. EMDR therapy is also used to treat […]

Years ago, I spent countless hours delving into the topic of trauma. I worked intensively with some trauma survivors, talked to specialists in the field and read many, many books. Back then two things really stood out to me about trauma.

Fear is a basic, yet powerful emotion. It shows itself to us in many forms; a racing heart, surge of energy, “butterflies” in the stomach. These physical cues usually result from our most primal form of fear that sets off the fight, flight or freeze response. A near miss on the highway, physical confrontation or […]