How Can I Make an Impact
When I reflect on the time I spent working with inner city Allentown School District kids, I can’t help but think about the resilience they had. After school was dismissed, they came to the Salvation Army, where they were able to be kids – laugh, play and create with their friends and us, the volunteers. […]
The Longest Journey Of Our Lives
When I first began practicing psychotherapy in 2001, there was so much I didn’t know. I was naive in believing that in order to be in a healthy relationship, we need to start by possessing a healthy center within ourselves. Well, of course that would be helpful, but that is not how reality works. We […]
Community Is Key To Well-Being
The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared an “Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf In his opening address of the report, Dr. Murthy urges us to understand the potential consequences of not investing in our social well-being. He explains- “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is […]
The Long Bond
During my pregnancies, my husband and I chose to wait until birth to find out the sex of each baby. A midwife myself, I found these “surprise” births to feel extra-joyous for all involved. When my first baby arrived – suddenly, quickly, and a month early – my biggest surprise wasn’t learning “it’s a girl”. […]
Parenthood Knocked Me on My Butt
Before you become a licensed mental health therapist, there is a lot of time dedicated to self-reflection. This is meant to help you understand what you bring to the table, or to the therapy room. I was really scared of this process of being open and vulnerable, but I was determined to heal so that […]
What Defines Family?
With Spring approaching, many things are on the horizon: warmer weather, National Sons day, National Women’s Month, National Disability Awareness Month, and, as explored in this blog, National Family Day. How do we define family? Well, it depends on who you ask. Some people identify their family as biological relatives and extended family. Others identify […]
Healing Childhood Trauma Through Relationship
What is trauma? Seriously, I’m asking. What is it for you? It is different for everyone who answers that question. Trauma is defined in the mind of the person who uses that word. In all honesty, that is a hard question to answer. So, let me approach it from a different angle. What are your […]
“Why me?” to My Why
“Why me?” to My Why There is a technique used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) called “reframing.” Reframing is the act of identifying automatic thoughts and replacing them with more reality based thoughts. This technique can be used to help improve mindset and expectations, and without fear of sounding a bit dramatic, reframing can change […]
How to Prioritize Yourself in the New Year
Let today be the day you give up who you’ve been for who you can become. – Hal Elrod. New Year, New Me … a phrase that we all hear all too often between the week of Christmas and New Year’s and even after! “Oh, January is my trail run; I’ll start my new goals […]
Lose Your Mind, Find Your Body
Lose Your Mind, Find Your Body I regularly put drums into the hands of adults that would not consider themselves to be musical. But well before I begin teaching “non-musicians” how to make improvised, cohesive group music together, I start by creating conditions of safety. This means getting people out of their heads. It may […]