Stress is not bad. Life involves stress, and working from a brain-based or trauma-sensitive lens does not mean removing all stressors. In fact, our stress response gives us the cortisol and adrenaline we need for navigating daily life. The little bit of oomph provided by those get-stuff-done chemicals is much-needed! Living with chronic or toxic […]

A note to all who feel empty inside There’s a lot of talk in the mental health community about holding space. To “hold space” for someone involves listening or being present in a nonjudgmental way. The goal is to help someone feel seen and heard.  The term is appealing with its imagery. When I am […]

Book launch edition I love my job. I get to help lots of humans with big, human things. But sometimes my downstairs brain gets loud. Last month marked my eighth time (what!!??? How can that be?) sharing a precious book baby of mine out into the world, and I have noticed some patterns. 2-3 months […]

Anyone else thinking about this?? With all that is going on in the world, and in this age of instant information access and excessive media, I am trying to get really concrete about what is (and is not) in my control. I CANNOT have perfect self-control all the time. I CAN: The brain develops patterns […]