Is It Frustration, Anger, or Rage?
A few years ago, I bought my kids a pillow with an emotional wheel printed on it. At the time, I would hand it to them and say, “Tell me five things you felt today.” They would look, scan the…
When Intergenerational Legacy Showed Up for Christmas!
Sometimes insight comes ten years later. This is a longer story than usual, but stay with me — because it illustrates something important about what I call intergenerational legacy. Not trauma. Legacy. There is a difference. The Christmas That Changed…
When Your Self-Worth Changes Around Others
Have you ever noticed that your sense of worth shifts depending on who you’re with?Maybe you feel confident and comfortable with one person, but suddenly small or invisible around others. If that sounds familiar, you might be operating from what…
Clarifying the Language: Self-Worth vs. Self-Esteem
If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about self-esteem—and how we often learn to base it on external factors: achievements, others’ approval, how we look, or what we own. But I want to add…
Fear of Abandonment vs. Fear of Exile: Two Deep Wounds from Childhood
Today, I want to talk about something I’ve never really touched on before—because honestly, it only recently emerged for me in my own personal therapy. Most people have heard of the fear of abandonment. It gets talked about a lot…
What Does “Regulated” Actually Mean?
There’s a word we therapists use all the time—but when I try to explain it to family and friends (even my husband!), it doesn’t always land the way I hope. That word? Regulated. If you’ve been in therapy spaces, chances…
The Memory You Don’t Even Know You’re In: Understanding Implicit vs. Explicit Memory
Some insights don’t give you an immediate life hack—but they can change how you understand yourself forever. Today, I want to share one of those insights. It’s not a quick tip or a 3-minute skill to practice at home. It’s…
Are You Too STUBBORN?
Where Rigidity Lives—and Where Nuance Begins Let’s explore a simple but powerful concept that can help you better understand your brain and how you respond to the world around you. Imagine your brain as a hand. This idea comes from…
Do Self-Worth Affirmations Make You CRINGE?
Do you cringe when you tell yourself self-worth affirmations? Keep reading to learn how to cope with this resistance. What is Self-Worth? Self-worth is inherent. It’s the deep-seated belief that you have value simply because you exist. Your worth isn’t…
Understanding Emotional Responses in Relationships When Your Brain Thinks it’s Being ATTACKED!
The Salt Story: Understanding Emotional Responses in Relationships When I first encountered Dr. Dan Siegel’s hand model of the brain, coupled with insights from Terry Real and Robin Gobbel, it felt like a lightbulb moment. Their explanations about how our…