Penny Mahood-Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

12/22/2020

..”when we speak from our own vulnerable good heart, what comes out of our mouth is more likely to be healing than divisive. Instead of making others feel bad about themselves, our speech can help them connect to what is best within themselves. “ Pema Chodron

Peace starts with us...

11/18/2020

Children co-regulate with us....

What do you know about your child’s stress response?

08/11/2019

We all need the 5 A’s-
Affection, Acceptance, Allowing, Attention, Appreciation.

01/21/2019

Beautiful reminder...

12/24/2018

Great article on estrogen’s impact on brain function..

‘Menopause-related cognitive impairment happens to women in their 40s and 50s, women in the prime of life who suddenly have the rug pulled out from under them,’ an expert says.

12/10/2018

Complaining and whining are two of the most frustrating things parents face. They are also completely normal. In fact, the average adult complains 30 times a day, or 9 minutes total! Here are 7 effective strategies to help kids express their dissatisfaction in healthier, more positive ways.

04/06/2018

Good to remember the importance of our words...

10 positive phrases kids want to hear today:

(Image via The Hands Free Revolution)

01/05/2018

12/20/2017

Love starts with you...

12/18/2017

10/12/2017

Long, but good read.

Parents, therapists and schools are struggling to figure out whether helping anxious teenagers means protecting them or pushing them to face their fears.

09/24/2017

Can we sit with our need to fix and rather be there for another..

Crying is a healthy and necessary way for kids to express their feelings. By saying ‘stop crying’ we send the message that their feelings are not important, not valid, silly, or annoying.

Read more from Happiness is here:
http://bit.ly/2raOSlP

09/21/2017

Digging into this book on belonging I ran into this powerful quote that seems to be at the root of so many client's pain..
"..not belonging in our families is still one of the most dangerous hurts. ..it has the power to break our heart, our spirit, and our sense of self-worth."

08/16/2017

Some inspiration from a beloved teacher....

I came across this message in Debbie Ford's newsletter archive and it was such a poignant and powerful reminder of the preciousness of each day that I couldn't resist sharing it with you in these final weeks of Summer. Enjoy! Claiming the Last Days of Summer by Debbie Ford August 9, 2005

07/21/2017

So true...

Please share with your friends and loved ones.

07/17/2017

So beautiful. ..

SELF-PORTRAIT

It doesn’t interest me if there is one God
or many gods.
I want to know if you belong or feel
abandoned,
if you can know despair or see it in others.
I want to know
if you are prepared to live in the world
with its harsh need
to change you. If you can look back
with firm eyes,
saying this is where I stand. I want to know
if you know
how to melt into that fierce heat of living,
falling toward
the center of your longing. I want to know
if you are willing
to live, day by day, with the consequence of love
or the bitter
unwanted passion of your sure defeat.

I have heard, in that fierce embrace,
even the gods speak of God...

Self Portrait
From River Flow
New and Selected Poems
© David Whyte and Many Rivers Press

…

Hagia Sophia
Photo © David Whyte
Istanbul.
January 2015