Imagine a society where everyone understood and knew how to appropriately respond to wounded behaviors, symptoms of stress, mental illness, grief, fear, pain. Instead of attempting to get revenge, enable, shame, punish or publicly humiliate each other for our faults, we’d surround each other with compassion, encourage the building of strengths, promote social learning, practice…Read more Imagine
Shrink Rap
“Anybody who can move, can dance.” -Norma Canner
“It’s the mind that makes the body.”-Sojourner Truth
What If
“There is freedom waiting for you On the breezes of the sky And you ask ‘What if I fall?’ Oh but my darling, What if you fly?” -Erin Hanso Surrendering to change in the midst of this global eclipse. Aligning with my intention for this year, Ease; the hardest lesson we’ll ever learn is giving…Read more What If
Divisible
The first dream Where I saw you approach Love silently smothered In the yellow booster Seated at the wrong side of An unfinished Turn table Leveled by legless arms Hoisting a sword It's over my head If only I were paralyzed Could you see The slicing nightmare Piercing guiltless bread Forever divided Between all your…Read more Divisible
Vessels of Light
Many moons ago I had an art show in an actual gallery. Truth be told, one of my very dear professors from college opened their own gallery. Me? But I'm not...The opportunity felt like a gracious, encouraging favor. This professor also helped me realize my career and gave me hypnotherapy to overcome my fear of…Read more Vessels of Light
Book Review: Angels and Assassins
Admittedly, I'm cheating a little in the alphabetizing of this series but, I finished this book yesterday and it's all too relevant. Angels and assassins are not mental health conditions; they're metaphors explaining a hopeful neurobiological discovery in the most recent book by scientific journalist, Donna Jackson Nakazawa. I'm a huge fan. What do all…Read more Book Review: Angels and Assassins
Arms Length
When the apples Leaves And branches Have been insatiably devoured And there's nothing left to take You lean Frozen against the rigid stumps Who give pants, whimpers, howls From what remains? Blown out veins and petrified trust Hungry doormats Objectified Devoting at your feet Praying for the vacant pat Of hollow Apologetics "now, let us…Read more Arms Length
A is for…
Let's jump right in, shall we? Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACE's is the largest public health study to inextricably link early life traumas to adult health outcomes. It was conducted in the late 90's by two, white, male doctors at Kaiser Permanente; a fancy healthcare corporation, not a german King. It's important to note that…Read more A is for…
Leaving the Palace
When young Buddha snuck out of the palace to see what life was like for us mere mortals, he freaked out. He saw all the awful parts of life he’d been sheltered from his entire, young, privileged life. Kind of like what’s happening now for privileged people who’ve never had limitations forced on them by…Read more Leaving the Palace
Mental Health A-Z
Lofty goals for a new year! In this non-comprehensive series I'll be taking us through decolonizing perspectives on both traditional mental 'disorder' diagnosis, as well as symptoms associated with mental illness and well-being. I'll also address the dangers of pop psychology. Together we'll question: How do we define mental illness vs mental health? What is…Read more Mental Health A-Z
e’s
Last year I decided to choose a single word intention instead of a resolution; Elevate. In spite of 2020 being kind of a nightmare, I found ways to raise my previously very low bar, set and achieve realistic goals and take the high road whenever possible. For the most part, it worked! The only minor…Read more e’s
