As a psychotherapist, a lot of my work lies in helping my clients heal from childhood wounds. Often these wounds were inflicted by caregivers who were too critical, too cold, too overbearing, too abusive, too much of all the wrong things. In the beginning of my career, as I sat and witnessed the emotional wreckage… Continue reading Loving Our Children Imperfectly
My therapy practice is all about learning how to love yourself first. While most of my clients are apt at showing others that they love and care for them, when it comes to themselves, they struggle a lot with the idea of self-compassion. But what does “self-compassion” mean, and more importantly, how do you practice… Continue reading Learning to Love Yourself
You would think as a psychotherapist who says she works from a compassion-focused framework, I would be an expert at being self-compassionate. Not so. At best, I am reluctantly self-compassionate. Allow me to explain. I was introduced to the idea of self-compassion in December 2016. I had signed up for a workshop on how to… Continue reading Reluctantly Self-Compassionate
I believe that the ability to receive, and then give love, is akin to sending and receiving radio signals over the radio. For those of you who have never delved into the fascinating world of telecommunications, this is an extremely basic explanation of how your radio works: Your radio host’s voice is converted into electrical… Continue reading Tune into Love
I was nine months postpartum and my entire body ached. All. The. Time. Prior to having a baby, I was prone to back pain due to stress but this pain was something else. I found myself wincing at the simplest movements, my range of motion greatly limited. I would collapse every day in bed, wondering… Continue reading Pain is Not a Lifestyle
I take a deep breath and try to convey warmth through my smile. The young woman in front of me smiles back nervously, breaking away from my gaze. “Hi Alex. It is so nice to meet you. Tell me, have you ever consulted a mental health professional before?” A quick shake of the head, indicating no… Continue reading Frequently Asked Questions
Whenever I heard someone say “You have to let it go,” I would think of the cliché of serenely surrendering to whatever the universe had in store for you, mindfully breathing through the difficult times. I don’t know about you, but I found that an impossible image to recreate. These past two years of my… Continue reading Lessons from Fall
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