I have a nine year old son who loves to read. Before bed, we’ll often grab a classic tale to read together. As I’m writing this, we’re deep into Treasure Island, enjoying the harrowing tale of a young boy named Jim Hawkins who winds up...
Recent decades have seen an increasing interest in the healing and therapeutic potential of nature and the perspective of various nature-based interventions for the benefit of mental health. The field of nature-based therapies is expanding in line with this interest. During the formative years of...
A healthy, regulated nervous system is vital for good mental health. The nervous system is responsible for discerning our general wellbeing and it warns us when we’re no longer safe. For example, we may be experiencing fear or heightened anxiety in the face of a...
My husband and I are in the middle of a home renovation. We are adding a bathroom. There are so many decisions to be made. There are major decisions about placement of the toilet and minor decisions about how many electrical outlets to install. I...
As the New Year rolls around, many of us are reflecting on the past year and considering what we want to focus on during this next trip around the sun. As I’ve spoken with clients and thought about my own goals, the topic of holistic,...
When I was 23, I had an exceptionally difficult year. If you want to know more about what happened, come talk to me… but suffice it to say I was in rough shape, mentally and emotionally. I recently came across some writing (in the form...
Almost everyone has heard of self-esteem. It’s fortunately being talked about more frequently within society. However, another concept about the self that needs to be addressed along with self-esteem, is self-compassion. Dr. Kristin Neff describes self-compassion as “being warm and understanding towards ourselves when we...
It is easy to identify a physical boundary. Just take a look at the fence around your yard. You know the line of demarcation that designates where your property ends, and your neighbors yard begins. The area in your responsibility is clear. You have to...
Self-care is a term that has hit the mainstream culture. Many of us have heard the term, but don’t know what it’s all about. It’s important to know what self-care is and what it’s not. Self-Care is NOT being selfish. It’s taking care of your...