Lori M. Downing, LMFT Psychotherapy and Counseling Services

04/14/2026

Self-Compassion is the Antidote to the Inner Critic. It is the gift you give yourself.

04/14/2026

Self-compassion is the antidote to the inner critic. It replaces harsh self-judgment with kindness and the recognition of our shared experience of being human.

04/14/2026

Healing…

We may not be able to forget or undo the past, but we can reclaim our AGENCY in the present. Think of it this way….

If you have a physical star: the mark is still there as part of your story, a reminder, but it is no longer an open wound that controls your life. You aren’t “fixed” because you weren’t broken; you are integrated.

With emotional healing you are connecting to who you are, you are integrating all the parts of yourself and becoming one unified whole. Similar to putting all the pieces of a puzzle together to create a complete picture, that is cohesive and whole.

04/13/2026

That is a powerful shift in perspective.

Moving from shame to resilience transforms a painful past into a source of personal strength.

04/13/2026

We you let go of control, you allow God to step—-let him do the restoring. Work on yourself.

As parents of adult children, it’s easy to feel discouraged when things aren’t going the way we hoped.

We see their choices.
We feel the distance.
We carry the weight of wanting things to be different.

But we are not without hope.

We don’t parent alone.
We parent with a God who sees our children,
who loves them deeply,
and who is fully capable of doing the work we cannot.

Sometimes the hardest part is this—
stepping out of the way.

Letting go of our need to fix.
Letting go of our need to control.
Letting go of the outcome.

And trusting that God is working in ways we cannot see.

What might it look like for you to step back and trust God more fully with your adult child in this season?

“The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand.”
— Psalm 121:5

If you’d like encouragement and practical tools for navigating your relationship with your adult children, you can explore my courses and membership at kathycunningham.org.

04/13/2026

Stop chasing…shift from fixing to growing.

04/12/2026

What avoiding your feelings looks like vs consciously acknowledging and accepting your feelings.

Escape, avoidance, and minimization seem to be simple and straightforward strategies to handle pain, so many people choose them. Yet, they make things worse in every way.

04/12/2026

Gentle Reminder:

He is listening…give it to God and let it go! Seek refuge in Him!

04/10/2026

I choose to walk in peace. How about you?

04/10/2026

Change….

04/09/2026

Living in the Now!

04/09/2026

What does it mean to stay in your own lane?

It involves consciously choosing to prioritize your own growth, values, and responsibilities rather than becoming entangled in the affairs or comparisons of others. In this way you can:

* Protect Your Peace & Guard Your Energy
* Focus on Personal Growth and Purpose
* Maintains Boundaries & Respect Others' Autonomy

All while protecting your own mental and emotional health.