I’ve had an unusual invasion in my office lately. Lizards. I’ve had lizards in my waiting room, patiently waiting for their turn to be seen. I’ve had lizards in my therapy office, keeping a watchful eye on clients who are distressed. I’ve encouraged more lizards than I’ve ever met before to return to their outdoor […]
The Empathy of Dogs
Those of us who are dog lovers know how cued in and responsive they can be to our emotional state. I’ve been under a great deal of stress the past several weeks and my Nani Girl has been constantly at my side, following me and keeping an eye on me. And yes, while she wants […]
Don’t Avoid the Grieving
As we have another Memorial Day I have been thinking about what it is actually about. While Veteran’s Day is a day to honor all who have served in our armed forces, Memorial Day is designated to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, while serving in our armed forces. Sometimes the […]
Complex Trauma Doesn’t Have to be a Life Sentence
I first came to hear the term Complex Trauma many years ago when I was trained in Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS), a group model for teens living in chronic stress. Prior to that most of my training in traumatic stress had been around Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. There are […]
The Peak is Always There
At a recent mindfulness retreat I was guided through a mountain pose meditation. I thought of Haleakala, with her long, gradual slopes encompassing most of the island of Maui. I thought of how she is always there with a universe of beings on her. Her movement is imperceptible. She is massive and steady. She allows […]