Mass shootings are, literally, out-of-control in America. The sense of safety that we once took for granted can no longer exist in the realm of realistic living. Bars, schools, shopping spots, places of worship, festivals, yoga classes – these are all places that each of us, on some level, fear going at this point. As I sit here today and …

Oh, life. Sometimes it is flowing and easy and effortless and fun. And others, you are a conversation or a phone call or a tidal wave away from an epic downward spiral. That is the thing about life, though. It is literally, and almost in every possible situation, totally out of our control. At least most of the time. I …

I am lucky enough to work with clients all over the world who are willing to put in the time, effort and emotional work to make dramatic shifts in their lives. One of the number one characteristics of the people I work with who make the most epic changes is a willingness to do the small stuff in order to …

I like to talk about boundaries. Like I really like to. There was a time in my life when I didn’t even know what that word meant, and as a result, havoc was reeked in my life and those of the people I loved. In so many of our families growing up, healthy boundaries were not only never discussed, but …

It is that time of year, isn’t it? Where all the pressures of the “real lives” of people on social media can awaken both an internal fear that you are the only person on the planet who is grieving or sad and that you are all alone. It is interesting that despite all the appearances so many of us place …

We live in a divided world. This division, in part, is due to the individual divisions we all carry within. Most people on this planet aren’t bad people (there are some, of course). Most people are just wounded. And in those wounds; those internalized fissures and splits and shadow aspects of self, is where a lot of the hurt that …

Living a life that is full requires being in connection and relationships with the people and communities around us. Being in relationships with other people on the planet is a large part of what brings joy, success, and pleasure in life. On the flip side, when a member of your family or community is suffering, the same relationship that once …

As children, we really should only have one job – to be children. Unfortunately, in some families, there are dynamics that lead to children being treated like para-adults. Not only does this happen for many reasons, but it also has far-reaching effects that can change the course of a person’s life – even well into adulthood. In an ideal world, …

One thing we have historically fallen short on in the mental health field is providing quality therapy to people who are either extremely medically challenged or who are so depressed or isolated that they literally cannot leave the bed. Sometimes (a lot of times actually) people are dealing with both. The good news is even though, as a profession, we …

Rumi got lots of things right (obviously), but one of my favorite Rumi quotes of all time is, “The cure for pain is in the pain.” It may sound morbid at first. Almost like suggesting that suffering is a good thing. But upon further contemplation, that isn’t what it implies at all. What it DOES imply, however, is that in …