Blog & Updates
Currently, I primarily blog on this website, although admittedly not as frequently as recommended. Writing can be wonderfully therapeutic in a variety of ways. Whether you share what you write with the whole world, just your therapist, or no one, I hope you can experience the self-discovery, emotional dumping, and joy that writing can bring. And I hope you find this blog to be interesting and informational.
11 People Triggered by Photo Sharing Assignments
Getting to know you, back to school, introduce yourself exercises asking kids (or adults) to share photos can be a trauma trigger for way more people than you realize.Senior year and graduation events can be especially painful. I would recommend moving toward sharing “favorite photos” rather than “little you” pics.
Expectation Failed: Aim for Success with Appropriate Expectations
If we want to see growth, we have to set expectations that can be achieved. Expectations must be individual and we cannot set them without truly knowing and understanding another. Expectations cannot be set on chronological age, education, appearance, or even past performance
Adoption: All is welcome here
It was a joy to get to talk with Dr. Mark Grixti about our shared passions of Brainspotting and Adoption Therapy on his podcast. Therapists and attachment figures can benefit from fully meeting the child’s expression of their emotional world unconditionally to let their system feel heard and facilitate co-regulation. Pressures of time and expectation of outcome can inadvertently impede the sense of trust and safety in the therapeutic relationship
Unraveling Adoption Podcast: Brainspotting in Adoption Therapy
In this podcast, I share with adoptive parent Beth Syverson about Brainspotting in Adoption Therapy, the importance of openness in adoption, the importance of regulation and felt safety, working with adoptive parents and adopted kids, eye position in Brainspotting, in-person v. online Brainspotting, and more.
Understanding Therapist Training, Marketing, and Competence: What does it really mean?
What is the difference between trained, certified, and informed? Is it different when talking about therapy modalities or groups of people? Therapists’ ethical standards state we can practice only within the boundaries of our competence; however, when talking about populations and cultures, the research says competency requires more and we may be failing our clients.
Why Brainspotting for Adoption Therapy: 4 Foundational Elements
The things about Brainspotting that I believe make it ideal for working with the adoption constellation are elements foundational to good adoption therapy. These include being individual, relational, experiential, and neurological.
6 Therapy Meme Mugs for Your Holiday Gift Ideas
These therapy meme mugs were created by a therapist and make a great gift for anyone on your holiday list.
5 Gifts For Your Relationship
It may not be the traditional definition of romance, but these 5 ideas can make a major impact on your relationship whether you’ve been dating a few months or married for years.
Using Brainspotting for Anxiety & OCD | Hope for Anxiety & OCD podcast
On the Hope for Anxiety & OCD podcast, Brooke Randolph, describes Brainspotting and how it can benefit anxiety and OCD and compares it to other forms of therapy.
Therapeutic & Sensory Stocking Stuffers
Stockings are a great place to add in sensory toys and fidgets that can be therapeutic and fun. Perhaps your child is more likely to try a sensory toy from Santa than they are to accept it from you.
Holiday Gift Ideas for the Counseling Therapist
A list of gift ideas for counselors and therapists would not be complete without recommendations for a cardigan. I found several great handmade options on Etsy.
The Adoption Connection Podcast interview: Brainspotting for Adoptive Families
A few months ago, I was able to sit down with Lisa Qualls of The Adoption Connection to share a little bit about Brainspotting for adoptive families. We discuss what Brainspotting is, why I recommend it for Adoption Therapy, implicit v. explicit memories, and why your child doesn’t need to talk about their trauma for therapy to work. We also touch on ways that foster and adoptive parents can integrate Brainspotting principles into their parenting.
