Sometimes life gets away from me…a lot. Last year was one of those years that for awhile it seemed like I was just hanging on. I had some major knee, ankle, and foot problems that required many trips to the doctor, physical therapy, stem cell enhancement, and a foot surgery. Added to this were some […]
BEATING OURSELVES UP & FORGIVENESS
A topic that comes up often with my clients is the subject of self-forgiveness when we’ve done something wrong, and the constant mental beating we give ourselves afterwards. We’ll say or do something, recognize after the fact (or sometimes while we’re saying or doing it) that this is wrong, and even though we ask for […]
“Whatever your loss or whatever your hurt, you are designed to live in relationship, to reconnect, and to be vulnerable.” Dr. John Townsend, Beyond Boundaries.
This line struck me as profound because when we’ve been hurt, our first inclination is to push people away and to not trust again. Townsend goes onto say, “Intimacy is complex, but it’s not mysterious. Just as the laws of boundaries are clear, so are the rules of closeness and risk. You were meant to […]
Letting Go
This struck me this morning from both a professional level and a personal level. When we go through difficult times and we hear someone tell us that we have to let go whatever it is we’re holding on to, that advice or urging can seem rather simplistic. And sometimes it can seem very frightening. That […]
Taking a moment to be in the moment…
A technique I teach my clients is mindfulness or how to be in the moment, slow your life and mind down, and be aware of your surroundings and yourself. I’m sitting in my backyard this morning in my own mindfulness stupor. I like to have clients engage all their senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch, […]
Tips on How to Find the Right Therapist for You
I will be the first person to acknowledge that it can be hard to find the right therapist, even in a market like Denver in which there are hundreds of therapists. A few months ago, I was looking for a therapist to help me work through a few things and I, who know the field, […]
The Joy of a New Space
When I opened my private practice, I opted to lease a small office in a building close to my home. I liked my office as it was mine and a place I could finally do what I had been working so hard to do…be a counselor! However, after being in this space for about 18 […]
ABOUT MARRIAGES…
I attended a mental health conference this past weekend and one session focused on couples counseling using movie metaphors. The presenter used this quote from the movie “Shall We Dance?” (spoken by Susan Sarandon) and I loved it as it is so poignant about marriage. “We need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion […]
Finding Healing after Deception
Most of us have felt the sting of deception. It could be a spouse who has an affair, a business deal gone wrong, or a trusted friend who took advantage in some way. Deception always includes lies and/or broken promises. Deception shatters dreams and hopes of what once was or what could have been, and […]
I HAVE WHAT? COMING TO TERMS WITH A LIFE-LONG DIAGNOSIS/ILLNESS
A couple months ago, I was diagnosed with the early stages of diabetes, with the diagnosis coming after a routine blood test. After my doctor reviewed all the markers in the blood test, he looked at me and said, “you know what I’m saying right? You have diabetes.” He then went on to tell me […]