How many of us feel like we don't fit in? That we are too much, or not enough. I like to call this, "a case of the shoulds".

Where does this idea come from? That we should be different from who we are?

If you are someone who gets confused about different roles within a Mental Health context. Maybe you don’t really know the difference between a counselor, a clinical counselor, a coach, a clinical social worker, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist then this blog post is for you.

Part of my healing journey has been to look back, to make peace, to understand where i’ve come from. Here are some peices of me, some of my experiences - maybe you can find solace in my words. Maybe a reflection in your own story. Maybe you want to begin the journey of looking at where you came from too.

I’m sharing Adrienne Maree Brown’s writings on love as political resistance. I love love. I am a heart-centered, deeply feeling, deeply caring human, who wrote an entire thesis on Love. Love is my guiding light and the root of my ethics. But, Western ideology has a VERY narrow viewpoint of what love is. I am excited to share with you Brown’s framework when thinking about Love and how it relates to political resistance.

*** If you are looking for the original copy, I’ve included the link in the post

I’ve mentioned in other areas of my website, that decolonization guides my work and in this writing, I will try and tease apart some of what I mean by that.

This week I am getting ready to be part of a panel discussion at the Queering Mental Health online Conference. The panel will be discussing Substance Use and Harm Reduction. As with all of my prep when I’m getting ready to speak, I write, I spend time looking inwards at what lives within me already, and then try and fill in the gaps with research.

Trigger Warning: Discussion of Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating.

Last month I was graciously approached to participate in a Recovery Talk with the Looking Glass Foundation for Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

Eating Disorders and disordered eating behaviors are topics that touch close to my heart. As someone who has personal experience with disordered eating as well as who has seen the dangerous impacts of eating disorders firsthand, I was honored when given the opportunity to share the research and open up dialogue too difficult topics.

Throughout today’s writing, I will be speaking to some of the issues that the LGBTQ2+ community faces relating to eating disorders with a highlight on considerations for trans and Gender Diverse folks.

My favorite OG therapist is Carl Rogers. He is one of the founding fathers, who changed the world of therapy for what it is today, he allowed humanness to show up in the room.

Today’s post was inspired by a quote by Carl Rogers, in his writing: On Becoming a Person: “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ..”

Today I’m sharing my thoughts on stuckness and why it is important to be with the stuck.

Today we will be using our imagination.

We will explore the world of therapy through the lens of Mapping and Cartography.

When I’m working with someone, I am never 100% sure where we will go in a session. My clients are the map holders of their inner world, and together we create more detail and expand out the areas of the map that feel the most important to look at.

A quote inspires today’s post—thoughts about professionalism, perfectionism, and hierarchy. About bringing self into the therapeutic space. and the Alchemy of connection

The word of the day is: Story Telling

Today I will share with you my thoughts on what I mean when I say I work from a narrative framework

Today’s post is based on the teachings of Richard Wagamese

Wagamese was an incredible Canadian writer. An indigenous poet and storyteller.

I hope to use my blog to explain some of the clinical jargon that we tend to use in this field. I want the information to be accessible to everyone, not only to communicate with others who work in the area of health.

the word of the day is: Trauma-Informed

I often have a difficult time explaining what I do. Counseling can look so different depending on who you are going to see. What is counseling? How do I explain this process to people? I’m often clumsy with my words and find that I can do better with writing. Here is my best explanation of what my goals are as your therapist: