Paso A Paso Counseling, LLC

05/02/2026

Another amazing Derby Day turnout and wonderful groups with Arize Together. This year we explored the theme of our relationship with power. Such great insight and processes unfolded. Always thankful for my herd who shows up willingly. Until next time!

04/18/2026

I was about to prune it, completely convinced it was dead. After the hard freezes this winter, I had already lost several plants, and this one seemed like just another casualty. I had watched it sit there lifeless for months. Today was the day. I was ready to cut it back, pull the root ball, and repurpose the pot.

But just as I leaned in to start, I noticed it. A small speck of green at the base.

Alive.

All that dry mass covering the surface, all the brittle, lifeless branches, had hidden what was quietly happening underneath. It was not dead. It was preparing, gathering, waiting for the right moment to begin again.

Plants have a way of teaching resilience without saying a word. Nature does this over and over, cycling through loss, dormancy, and renewal. No matter how harsh the season, life finds a way to return.

There is something deeply instructive in that. I garden for my own wellness and for the lessons nature teaches me.

Seeds hold entire futures in the smallest forms. Roots endure unseen. Growth often begins long before it is visible. Even after what looks like complete destruction, there can still be life waiting for the right conditions to emerge.

Humans are not so different.

We face seasons that feel final, harsh, traumatic, overwhelming. But like that plant, there is often more happening beneath the surface than we realize. Healing, rebuilding, conserving strength.

Resilience is not always loud. Sometimes it looks like stillness. Sometimes it looks like survival.

And sometimes it looks like a small, quiet speck of green, proving that hope is still there, ready to grow again, a reminder of our God Given potential to heal.

03/12/2026

Co-regulation: Self-Sufficiency's Greatest Achievement | Psychology Today Canada

Co-regulation, or seeking the support of our significant others, may surpass the benefits of self-sufficiency.

01/06/2026

Take note!

Friendships should be a source of stability, comfort, and support. When they're not, they can drain our energy and mood. Watch for these signs of a connection that's doing more harm than good.

01/02/2026

As this new year begins, I’ve been reflecting on what I want to be more intentional about:

• Choosing not to engage in conversations that drain rather than nourish
• Cultivating my faith
• Stepping away from unnecesary conflict and responding with greater calm
• Caring for my body through more consistent and challenging physical training
• Keeping a book close at all times and my mind engaged
• Being more mindful of how I use my time and energy

These aren’t about doing more or being perfect; they’re about creating space for what truly matters. Gentle consistency, self-respect, and alignment go a long way.
If you’re setting intentions of your own, I’d love to hear what you’re leaning into this season.

11/29/2025

Imagine your body as the most advanced, high-performance system you’ll ever own. Every part of you—your brain, liver, heart, DNA—is designed to help you think clearly, feel good, and build the life you want.

Now imagine pouring something into that system that quietly corrodes the wiring, scratches the hard drive, and slows the processor every single time you use it.

Alcohol is the only socially-celebrated drug that creates a toxin proven to damage your DNA, weaken your brain, and raise your cancer risk.

There’s no “safe” level because all alcohol contains ethanol. When your body metabolizes ethanol, it creates a toxic substance called acetaldehyde, which damages DNA and can lead to cancer.

Even “light” drinking causes harm. Your mind, your health, and your future are too powerful to hand over to ethanol. Choose clarity. Choose longevity. Choose you.

11/25/2025

We're all made for connection.
On the power of connection through live events and mental well-being:

10/30/2025

Sweet, poignant and powerful all at once:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLwqbg0ud5u/?igsh=MWtyemlka28zeXJycQ==

10/21/2025

A testament to animal memory and interspecies friendship. Beautiful 😍

Darrick returns to Elephant Nature Park after 14 months working on a conservation project in Cambodia.As he calls out to the elephant herd he once cared for,...

10/16/2025

The more we know...evidence keeps mounting....Cannabis is far from the "natural product" users proclaim it to be:

Large Genetic Study Links Cannabis Use to Psychiatric, Cognitive and Physical Health

New research has found genetic associations between cannabis use and psychiatric, cognitive, and physical health. The findings could inform prevention and treatment strategies for cannabis use disorders.

10/10/2025

*The Pain of Not Being Celebrated*

As a therapist, I often sit with clients who have achieved so much...they are capable, nurturing, and resilient. Yet beneath their accomplishments lies a quiet grief: the pain of never being celebrated.

For those raised by narcissistic or emotionally unavailable parents, recognition often came only when it reflected well on the parent; not when it honored the child’s authentic self. As adults, these individuals may continue striving for validation that never arrives, especially from a parent who remains unable to see beyond their own needs.

Even in moments of success, like raising their own children with care, building a stable life, and healing from trauma, a conversation with that parent can reopen old wounds. The hurt isn’t about the present interaction as much as it is about the lifelong absence of being genuinely seen and delighted in.

Healing begins when we allow ourselves to grieve what was missing without self-blame.

To name that longing :
“I wanted to be celebrated”
is not weakness; it’s truth.

And with time, the work becomes learning to hold that space for ourselves: to affirm, to honor, and to celebrate the person we’ve become, even if our parents never could.

You are worthy of celebration, not for what you do, but for who you are.

09/25/2025

**Sweet today, sour tomorrow**:

🥤➡️🧠 Sugary sodas may fuel depression, especially in women.
New research shows a strong link between soft drink consumption, gut bacteria changes, and higher risk of major depression.

Your gut and brain are talking. What you drink matters.

👉 https://neurosciencenews.com/depression-microbiome-soda-29736/

A new study shows that sugary drinks don’t just affect physical health—they may also raise the risk of depression in women by disrupting the gut microbiome.