From a Therapist Who Gets It I have to be alone often. I need a lot of personal space. I say no—a lot. And I’m socially selective— not out of avoidance, and not because I don’t enjoy connection. I do it because I care about my peace, my nervous system, and how I show up in the world. It took me years to stop feeling guilty about it and start accepting it as essential. If you're an ambitious, deep-thinking woman who finds herself craving space—even from people you love—this p

Sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed with the demands of the day or I need a word of encouragement, I pull out my Bible and randomly...

Are you dealing with the stress of navigating difficult friends and family members this holiday season? You are not alone. All year round I talk with clients about setting boundaries in their relationships. Typically, they request examples of specific language to use to communicate their wants, needs, and limits to others. The holidays are often a time when boundaries are necessary, but difficult to establish due to various expectations, traditions, or behaviors of others. He

This is the final post in the series on anger. Read the first three posts here: When Anger is a Gift , Ways You Avoid Anger and Why , How to Deal with Anger and Set Boundaries. Today I'm sharing Julie's story which reveals a powerful truth you can apply to your own life to help with anxiety. Julie* sat on my sofa anxious and confused. She expressed how she was introduced through a mutual friend at her church to a lovely man named Liam, whom she began dating. She shared how

Learn practical ways to from an experienced therapist on how set boundaries and stick with it! Including how to practice self-care.

Did you know anger is a gift and serves to protect you? In the last post, we looked at Kate’s story and how avoiding anger can cause you to lose yourself and become vulnerable to unhealthy relational patterns and lack the boundaries needed for self-care. You might not realize that your avoided anger is the hidden culprit behind your current struggles. Avoiding anger does not make it go away. You can ignore it, medicate it, or pretend it does not exist for days, even years a

Did you know that anger is a gift and serves to protect you? Kate has been consumed by her work as the CEO of an organization she is very passionate about. In addition to feeling scattered and stressed, she feels disconnected from God and from people. Although Kate feels blessed by her career, great husband, and church community - she is confused by her underlying feelings of sadness, loneliness, and unexpected moments of emptiness. People look to her as a leader and she feel

Christine came for counseling due to anxiety and feeling stuck because of a challenging relationship with her younger sister, Sarah. She had two sisters and was very close with her other sister, Mary, whom she considered a best friend. After spending time with Sarah, she would feel drained and emotionally exhausted, but she could not put her finger on why. Our sessions helped her understand that her anxiety was a symptom that was masking her real emotion of anger toward Sarah

In the previous post, we began to address the question: Should I stay or leave the relationship? The answer is neither straightforward nor black and white. It is complex and nuanced. Many of my clients do not know what to do, and they become trapped in the land of indecision. My goal is to help you make the decision to stay or leave from a place of clarity, not from a place of being stuck. Overthinking the question of staying or leaving the relationship keeps you stuck and

You might be wondering, Should I stay or leave the relationship? The answer is neither straightforward nor black and white. It is complex and nuanced. Many of my clients do not know what to do, and they become trapped in the land of indecision. My goal is to help you make the decision to stay or leave from a place of clarity, not from a place of being stuck. I’ve created an initial 3-step process addressing the multi-layered healing that takes place when people are willing t