Articles
Thoughts on Counseling and Therapy
Vulnerability in Relationships
I was recently given a coloring page from my nephew. This picture did not follow the rules; it was full of coloring outside of the lines and a blue horse. It was wild and he was proud of his work. He worked up the courage to hand his magical creation to me and I...
Hurry Sickness
Life gets busy, and gets busy fast. Between work, carting kids to and from school and their activities, errand running, church, volunteering, the schedule gets packed, and gets packed fast. Even think about when someone you run into or say hello to asks you how you...
The Second Arrow of Suffering
We all have had something upsetting or disappointing happen, and sometimes we get frustrated at ourselves or others. We wish things could be different. Our interpretation of events plays a large role in how we experience them. For example, someone at work or home left...
Toxic Positivity: The Damaging Results of Good Vibes Only
The world is a strange place right now. For many of us, we have experienced some major life changes during this pandemic and the statement, “the struggle is real” just seems to fit. Working from home, remote learning, missing out on your senior year of college, losing...
There’s no Place like “Alone” for the Holidays
Watching the heavy, gentle snow drift down between the trees outside my windows today, I began to consider the value of solitude. When I’m by myself, it can be a wonderful opportunity of uninterrupted contemplation. But here’s the thing: sometimes solitude can seem...
Grief and Gratitude in the Midst of COVID-19
It’s hard to believe it’s been seven months since I moved my entire clinical practice to telehealth and my kids have been home from school for most of that time. Seven. Months. Has it felt like seventeen years to anyone else? COVID-19 has impacted so many aspects of...
Weight Stigma Awareness Week
Last year kicked off the very first Weight Stigma Awareness Week (WSAW) courtesy of the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA). This September 28 through October 2, 2020 is the second annual awareness week to increase awareness of weight stigma. Weight Stigma...
Understanding and Overcoming Control Issues
The issue of control is a topic that comes up frequently in therapy sessions. It can be a complicated and confusing topic for people while they are struggling. When a person senses they are losing control they often begin to feel anxious. The other side of the coin is...
Black Lives Matter? Matter is a Minimum.
Black Lives Matter? Matter is a minimum. Black lives are NEEDED! Black lives are LOVED! Black lives are WORTHY! Educate yourself by asking and listening to a person of color about their experiences, so you can develop empathy for this long and ongoing movement. Please...
Why Suicide is at its Peak in May (and what you can do about it)
Ask anyone (particularly in Michigan) when they believe the highest suicide rates are during the year, and we’d probably all say January or February. Those dark, dreary days where the sun blends in with the darkness, leaving a pale gray weariness dipped in sludgy ice...