Welcome to My Blog
Life is hard!
With so many things to juggle, it can be difficult to know when you are struggling and even more so to reach out for help. My hope is that these articles provide insight, discernment, and healing. Please know that you are not alone on this journey and therapy is available.
Recognizing Warning Signs and How to Help When Your Teen is Suicidal
Suicidality may appear without warning. Or, perhaps, your teen has been depressed for quite some time or experienced a traumatic event. In that case, their desire to die may come as no surprise. No matter the circumstances or the cause, being a parent to a suicidal teen is enough to take your breath away. Even…
The Silence After: Understanding Grief Following Death by Suicide
Losing a loved one to suicide is almost always shocking. It provokes many strong emotions in the griever and their support system. There are often more questions than answers. And, yet, the silence can be deafening. Suicide is often experienced as a traumatic loss. A death is considered traumatic if it occurs without warning. The…
The Importance of Collaborative Meaning Making with Suicidal Intensity
September in National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to talking about a topic and crisis that many shy away from, even clinicians. Much more work is needed to break the stigma surrounding suicide. Encouraging open conversations is paramount. The Statistics are Sobering According the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the…
Walking the Lonely Road of Guilt in Grief
After someone we love dies we often experience guilt. Learning to move through the guilt and find release is crucial to healing. But it can be tricky to know how to get unstuck. It is helpful to put words to the feelings and articulate our own unique experience with loss. Grief is universal and understanding…
Unlearning Anxiety: When Uncomfortable Isn’t Unsafe
Your heart starts to pound. Your palms become sweaty. Your vision begins to blur. You have trouble forming a logical cohesive thought. Sound familiar? When you’re anxious, your body and mind are often working against you. They are both primed to detect threat and be protective. Being uncomfortable does not equate with danger. However, anxiety…
How to Cope with Your Narcissistic Parent
Having a narcissistic parent is difficult to say the least. You may feel like you have tried everything to get them to actually see you while maintaining a relationship. Adult children of narcissistic parents are often exasperated, exhausted, and ashamed of the continual dance within themselves and with their parents. So what are the options?…
Recovering from a Narcissistic Parent
Do you struggle with self-doubt? Are you great at reading other people’s emotions? Are you plagued with shame and guilt for not meeting others’ needs? Do you have a harsh inner critic? Do you struggle to recognize your own needs? If you can identify with any of the above statements, you may have grown up…
Navigating the Role Shift as a Parent of a Teen
Remember when your child used to adore you and try to emulate you? There may have been constant hugs and unprompted, “I love yous.” You may remember those times fondly if you’re a parent of a teen. It may seem like a monumental task to even make eye contact with your teen these days. If…
6 Ways to Lessen the Mental Load
The Mental Load moms carry is often invisible. The planning, organizing, and execution of the many tasks mothers are asked to do in our society can be overwhelming and exhausting. What’s a mom to do? You can’t get rid of your kids. If you work, quitting your job to attend to family life is often…