Let it be.
Sometimes we don't have control over situations in our lives. Ok, maybe more than sometimes---more like all of the time. (This has been a lifelong struggle for me. I'm human. ) We can think through decisions, put in our best efforts, consider consequences of our...
What to Expect in Therapy
It’s normal to be nervous or even overwhelmed while you make the decision to call a counselor and take the first step to getting help. Your willingness to explore this option and take the first step shows how brave you can be and how much you care about improving your...
5 Reasons You’ll Love Premarital Counseling
Are you curious about premarital counseling? Cool! I was curious, too, back when I was engaged and before I was a counselor. My now-husband and I thought it was something we might want to do, but we had the HARDEST time finding any real information on what to...
How to Choose a Therapist – 7 Steps
I'm often contacted by awesome people looking for help who feel totally overwhelmed with the process of choosing a counselor. And for good reason! It's hard enough sometimes to get to the place of wanting to reach out for help--and then you go online and Google...
Living Bravely in 2016
I'm so excited to start 2016 off by participating in Brene Brown's e-course Living Bravely! No resolutions for me this year, just continuing to imperfectly practice authenticity, courage, compassion and grace. What intentions are you setting this year?
My Hopes for You in 2016
My 3 hopes for you in 2016: If there is something in your past causing you pain and distress, I hope this year brings you healing. If you are having problems with someone you love, I hope this year brings you reconnection. If you are feeling disconnected from yourself...
What To Expect: Couples Counseling
It’s normal to be nervous or even overwhelmed while you make the decision to call a counselor and take the first step to getting help. Your willingness to explore this option and take the first step shows how brave you can be and how much you care about improving your...
Closing Out 2015
Spending time reflecting on the year and setting intentions for the next is an important tradition for me. I like to journal about my highs, lows, lessons learned, and intentions for future. Then on New Year's Eve, my spouse and I share this with each other. (He...
What to Expect in EMDR Therapy
It’s normal to be nervous or even overwhelmed while you make the decision to call a counselor and take the first step to getting help. Your willingness to explore this option and take the first step shows how brave you can be and how much you care about improving your...
When Your Partner Doesn’t Want to Attend Couples Counseling
~.~ Have you been wanting to start couples therapy, but your partner says 'no way!'? There are many reasons someone might be nervous about starting couples counseling, so it's possible your partner is having some of these concerns. Here are my tips when you think...
Nervous about Couples Counseling?
If you haven't been in counseling before--or if you have and you had a less than stellar experience--you may feel nervous or have questions about what couples therapy will be like. Committed relationships hold our most private moments, and asking for help from a...
Giving Thanks
I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving this week! This year, I have so much gratitude for the abundance of love in my life. In addition to my family and friends, I have the joy of helping my clients create meaningful loving moments and relationships. Make room for...
When Over-Achieving Means No Time for Fun
I hear it so often. With my couples in for couples counseling, "We used to be so spontaneous, but now..." With my individual therapy clients, "It's just been so busy..." With my friends and colleagues, "Maybe in a couple weeks, but now I have [work project] and...
You’re Imperfect. And That’s Okay.
When I was in sixth grade, my class was preparing for an art project. We were instructed to work in pairs and I remember quickly combing through my list of friends in my head wondering "Who is least likely to mess this up?" My close friend of a couple years with...
When You Meet Two of Your Couples Therapy Heroes
Wow! What a weekend! I just returned after spending two exciting days learning directly from couples therapy experts, Drs. John and Julie Gottman. I first started following their research over 10 years ago while studying relationships at my university. Over the...
Improve your relationship, Strengthen your family
Are you and your partner expecting a child? Already have one, two, or more? According to research, the most drastic dip in relationship satisfaction most often happens when couples have children. Your attention is taken away from nurturing your relationship with...
Support System
Partner, parent, sibling, or friend, our relationships are important. The people close to us are our support system. They celebrate us in the good times and support us in the bad. If we aren't nurturing our close relationships, we risk feeling alone in our times of...
“A relaxed mind is a creative mind”
I have noticed that in times of stress, I'm less in touch with my creative self. I would venture to say that we are all creative--even those of us who don't identify with the word--we just express our creativity in different ways. We call upon our creative mind...
Happy October!
Spending this morning with the current issue of Psychology Today and stumbled upon a great article on Dr. John Gottman, leading couples researcher and author. I've loved his work and used his methods for years--and this month I get to train with the master himself!...
There’s something special about rainy days.
I'm loving the weather in Sacramento today. The rain is bringing up favorite memories of running through the neighborhood getting clothes and hair sopping wet with friends in childhood, forgetting an umbrella when walking in Paris the day before my husband proposed,...
Feeling inspired.
Today I attended a webinar hosted by an esteemed psychologist about the rewards of freeing ourselves from defenses and letting ourselves love. This is a vulnerable risk for many of us and speaks to me personally and professionally. Show up, be there, love. Then we are...
