Authentically Rooted Counseling

08/23/2025

12/20/2023

In graduate school, watching Virginia through film brought tears to my eyes.

I was moved by how effortlessly, effectively, and efficiently she brought about change within a person and a family.

I still think about one session she did where she asked a step dad to tell his step son exactly how he felt about him.

"Well I love him" made all the difference in the world to that teenager, yet those words had never been spoken directly to him before.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to write and update the chapter on the Satir Model so the richness of her model can continue to be shared.

I am also so very grateful for all the help I received from others along the way. Jean McLendon, Linda Lucas, John Banmen, Cristina Lima, Maggie Duncan, and Madeleine DeLittle, Thank you.

And a special thank you to Linda Metcalf for the opportunity.

10/18/2023

"'Are we compatible?' is a common question I hear when couples start counseling.

The unspoken alternative is, Or should we call it quits?

I find this question of compatibility interesting. Compatible based on what?

Your birth signs? Personality inventories? My opinion?

None of these options are reliably backed by research."

Read on to see my response:

https://www.authenticallyrootedcounseling.com/blog/arewecompatible

10/14/2023

It's hard being in a relationship with someone suffering from Relationship OCD. It's hard being the sufferer from Relationship OCD.

Learn how to reconnect as a couple and team up towards OCD rather than let OCD wreck your relationship.

www.AuthenticallyRootedCounseling.com

10/14/2023

Another theme of OCD is Relationship OCD. It's unique in its presentation as there are people who have it.

10/12/2023

During an already stressful time of adding a new baby to the family, Perinatal OCD adds another complicating layer of stress.

Suffers can have bouts of anger when partners or others don't comply with compulsions or understand the fear behind their compulsive standard's.


For example, a mother may fly off the handle at her husband who stopping her from checking their symptom-free-daughter's temperature for the 16th time in an afternoon.

Perinatal OCD doesn't have to take over your life, relationship, or your perinatal experience.

Working on your relationship is one piece of the puzzle in your recovery.

Learn how to reconnect and stay connected with your partner as you raise children and recover from OCD.

www.authenticallyrootedcounseling.com

10/11/2023

OCD is not a glamourous disease.

No one is "lucky" to have it because at least their house is clean.

It's a crippling cycle of mind loops that often leaves the suffer paralyzed, isolated, and terrified.

Add a baby to the mix and there is a layer of shame of not being a "good enough mom" because you are "going crazy".

You are not going crazy. You have OCD. There is help.

10/10/2023

Its important to remember these are INTRUSIVE thoughts. As in, they are intruding on the mother's mind out of the blue.

They are NOT entering her mind out of anger or frustration at the child.

She is not experiencing Psychosis.

She is not a Podophile.

She is not a bad mom.

She has OCD.

10/10/2023

OCD symptoms can manifest during pregnancy or postpartum due to hormonal shifts and increased caregiving duties.

2 out of 100 women will suffer from this disease during or after pregnancy (IOCDF).

50% of them will have intrusive thoughts of intentionally harming their child...and the crippling shame that goes with that (IOCDF).

It's important to note these are INTRUSIVE thoughts. They come into the mind unexpectantly and shock the mother. They are NOT entering the mind out of anger or frustration with the child.

Often parenting partners/spouses don't understand what is happening and this can place a strain on the romantic relationship too.

10/09/2023

At it's core, OCD is uncertainty intolerance.

Obsessions, which are not just about germs, create a sense of uncertainty for a person.

For example, did you know one type of OCD is constantly obsessing about whether you've harmed another person?

This intrusive thought about potential past harm leads to uncertainty. Such as "Did I just run someone over?" when feeling a bump in the road. Or, "oh gosh, I hurt her feelings!" when someone has a slight facial expression change during a conversation. Did I? Or didn't I? I don't know!??

Then hours can be lost compulsively retracing steps, reviewing conversations, ruminating on events trying to demine the "truth".

Often compulsive reassurance is sought by asking the person if they were harmed or driving back to the bump in the road to check the area.

Superficial certainty is gained & anxiety is swept under the rug...that is until the next time it happens and you need to engage in compulsions again.

Until eventually obsessions and compulsions eat up your entire day.

There is hope! You can take you life back. Check out the IOCDF website for the plethora of trained counselors, if you are worried you or someone you love have OCD.