Navigating the Holiday Season: Tips for Coping and Thriving Ah, the holidays—a time of year synonymous with joy, family gatherings, and a whirlwind of festive activities. While it's often painted as the “most wonderful time of the year,” the reality can be quite different for many. The holidays can bring stress, anxiety, and a myriad of emotions that may seem overwhelming. If you're finding it hard to cope during this season, you're not alone. Here are some tips to help you manage the holiday hustle and bustle with a bit more ease and a lot more grace. 1. Set Realistic ...

Acupressure is an adaptation of acupuncture.  Acupuncture is an ancient healing intervention.  Though recently western science has been able to pinpoint the ways that electricity moves within the human body, many world cultures held this knowledge intuitively.   Here’s a simple analogy.  Sometimes there’ is a “short” in electrical wiring.  The signal doesn’t flow smoothly due to a break in connection along the way.  Sometimes we might use duct-tape to keep the connection intact so that the electricity can move smoothly.  It is understood that some, perhaps many, mental and physical ailments can be seen as problems with the electricity flow ...

As a therapist, I often find myself supporting clients through various life transitions. As a new mom myself, I found myself seeking support as I navigated a major transition in my own life. One significant transition that is often overlooked is what is often called the fourth trimester: the three months following childbirth when things are sometimes a little…hectic (to say the least). While most energy during this time is typically on the well-being of the newborn, it is so important to not neglect the mental and emotional health of the new parents. Here are some practical tips and insights ...

Panic attacks can be incredibly overwhelming and distressing experiences. They often strike without warning and can leave you feeling helpless and out of control. However, it's important to remember that there are effective strategies you can learn to help calm a panic attack and regain a sense of calm and control. In this blog post, we'll explore some proven techniques that can help you manage and eventually overcome panic attacks. Understand the Anatomy of a Panic Attack Before diving into techniques to calm a panic attack, it's essential to understand what's happening in your body and mind during one. A ...

In the journey of healing from trauma and managing stress, the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has emerged as a valuable tool. Among its many techniques, the EMDR Calm Place exercise stands out as a powerful way to find inner peace and stability. In this blog post, we will explore what the EMDR Calm Place exercise is and when and how to use it effectively. Understanding EMDR Calm Place Exercise EMDR therapy is designed to help individuals process and heal from distressing memories and experiences. The Calm Place exercise is one of the key components of EMDR that ...

In the realm of stress reduction and emotional healing, there exists a simple yet highly effective technique known as "Butterfly Hugs Tapping." This gentle self-soothing method is designed to calm the mind, ease emotional distress, and provide a sense of comfort and serenity. In this blog post, we will explore what Butterfly Hugs Tapping is and how you can use it to promote relaxation and well-being. Understanding Butterfly Hugs Tapping Butterfly Hugs Tapping is a therapeutic technique often used in practices like Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). It involves a rhythmic pattern of tapping ...

Healing from trauma is a courageous journey that can be both empowering and challenging. For many clients, the process of working through trauma can trigger fears and anxieties. It's important to understand that these fears are natural reactions to the emotions and memories trauma brings to the surface. In this blog post, we'll explore some common client fears when working through trauma and provide insights on how to address and navigate them. Fear of Reliving the Trauma One of the most significant fears clients may face is the fear of reliving the traumatic event. Recalling painful memories and emotions can ...

You may or may not have heard of EMDR therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. This is a therapy that is fairly new to the counseling field (the last 30 years or so), introduced by Francine Shapiro. It uses bilateral stimulation of your eyes or hand tappers to help stimulate your left and right sides of your brain while you process troubling incidents from your past or a current issue. It also uses dual focus of the issue to process and the moment in the room. With your mind fully stimulated in this way, you will be able to ...

My therapy practice specializes in seeing clients who have experienced trauma. This could be a one time event, a series of events, or a repeated enduring time that was disturbing, destructive, or threatening. Examples of these types of events may be: + Experience of Natural Disaster + Sexual Abuse or Rape + Domestic Violence + Illness or Injury + Witnessing the death of a loved one or friend All people respond to trauma differently. Many people who have suffered trauma may have feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt, shame, anger, and grief. Sometimes the trauma can lead to long term issues, ...

“Don’t rely on someone else for your happiness and self-worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can’t love and respect yourself – no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are – completely; the good and the bad – and make changes as YOU see fit – not because you think someone else wants you to be different.” – Stacey Charter ...

Many clients ask me for tools to begin helping to decrease their anxiety and depression. Research shows that one thing you can do is slow down and appreciate one thing at a time. Our rush to do many things at once keeps us from appreciating and savoring each aspect of our lives. Try doing one activity and focus on only that activity. For example, slowing down to fully appreciate a meal. Savor each bite and appreciate the aroma, fullness and warmth from the food, creates happiness. We miss this everyday in our busy rush of checking cell phones, going to ...