Journaling is not a practice that came naturally to me. In fact, for the first three decades of my life, I did not engage in writing–in any form–voluntarily. I’ve learned that I share this experience with many reluctant writers who have suffered from the traumatic experience of writing in school: assigned topics for which I
We just returned from a trip to Phoenix where we experienced the joy of meeting our first granddaughter when she was just hours old. We fell in love with her immediately and celebrated with a cadre of relatives who surrounded this loved baby girl. I am humbled by the responsibility. Over the years, I have
A client shared the following story during session last week and I want to share it with you. It’s about a friend of hers–let’s name him George. George was recently divorced, living alone in an apartment in downtown Indianapolis. He awakened on Christmas morning feeling unloved and lonely. True to tradition, however, he spent Christmas
When was the last time you gave yourself permission to play? It’s spring. Let’s go out and play! Often, I ask my clients to recall an activity from childhood where they lost track of time and the world around them. Play provides a mental, emotional retreat from stress or indecisiveness, an opportunity to connect with
Often I am asked the question, “How do you listen to the painful stories of so many people and not feel overwhelmed and sad, bringing their sadness home with you?” There are many days when I do return home physically, mentally, spiritually exhausted. Truly, I empathize with the grief and challenges of every client I