In high school, I had a dream—to become a documentary filmmaker, exploring people’s stories. And I even started down that path, studying film and radio and TV broadcasting in my early college days. But life took me down a different path, and I discovered that my passion for stories didn’t fade—it simply transformed. Though I […]
The Storm of PTSD
During this PTSD Awareness Month, I’m reminded of my early work with people experiencing extreme trauma. I’ll never forget meeting survivors from the Gulf Coast area after Hurricane Katrina and bearing witness to the rawness of having lived through such an extremely overwhelming experience. Unless one has experienced a traumatic event, it’s hard to fathom […]
The Ghost in the Lorapetalum
She showed up in some shrubs near my carport a few weeks ago, a fleeting ghostly image with a very bold voice. As I would enter and exit my car, she would talk to me loudly as she hid beneath the lorapetalum leaves, eyes eerily shining in the dark. I didn’t know exactly what she […]
Lizard Brain
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 […]