Positive Regard for You

Positive Regard for You Therapist

I love my job because it feels like magic. Not because I’m the magician, but because I have a front-row seat to people f...
12/20/2025

I love my job because it feels like magic. Not because I’m the magician, but because I have a front-row seat to people finding their own way.

🕎 Unhelpful thoughts usually develop from our brain’s desire to control the environment and protect us from perceived da...
12/19/2025

🕎 Unhelpful thoughts usually develop from our brain’s desire to control the environment and protect us from perceived danger.
🌲
Your thoughts might sound like-
“That tingling feeling in my arm means I’m having a heart attack”
“If I don’t put these cans back in the closet a certain way, something bad will happen”
“If I wear this shirt, I’ll look silly and people will hate me”.
🎁
We can tell that they are unhelpful, if they are not based on much evidence, if they are triggering our fight/flight, if the thoughts are future oriented or if they are mainly based on assumptions.
❄️
Here are some things to say to yourself if you are noticing you are experiencing these unhelpful thoughts.

Winter begins this week and it is the perfect opportunity to embrace mindfulness, a key to our well-being. In these cold...
12/18/2025

Winter begins this week and it is the perfect opportunity to embrace mindfulness, a key to our well-being. In these colder months, remember, our thoughts, like the season, are ever-changing and transient. Mindfulness teaches us to observe these thoughts without judgment, fostering inner peace. This winter, let it be a time for gentle introspection, nurturing our mental health, practicing empathy and letting go of what we can’t control. These are not just seasonal lessons, but lifelong ones. So, as we move through these shorter days, let mindfulness guide us towards personal growth and a deeper sense of calm. 🌨️🌬️💭

🎁 Consider unwrapping your own gifts of self love this year. 🎁
12/16/2025

🎁 Consider unwrapping your own gifts of self love this year. 🎁

Just as a piggy bank needs to be filled with coins to build up savings, the emotional piggy bank needs to be filled with...
12/15/2025

Just as a piggy bank needs to be filled with coins to build up savings, the emotional piggy bank needs to be filled with positive emotions to counteract the negative ones often associated with depression. The more positive emotions that are deposited into the emotional piggy bank, the more resilient an individual will be when faced with difficult situations and negative emotions.

When feeling low or depressed, it can be difficult to find the motivation to engage in activities that bring pleasure. However, it’s important to remind oneself that just as it takes time and effort to fill a piggy bank with coins, it takes time and effort to fill the emotional piggy bank with positive emotions. It’s important to take small steps, and to start with activities that are easy to engage in and bring a sense of accomplishment.

It’s also important to note that it’s not always possible to fill the emotional piggy bank to the brim and it’s okay to have empty days, but the more positive emotions and experiences you accumulate, the more you’ll be able to draw from your emotional piggy bank to help you get through difficult times.

Some people don’t fix, rush, or minimize.They help your nervous system exhale.And over time, you realize your body feels...
12/14/2025

Some people don’t fix, rush, or minimize.
They help your nervous system exhale.
And over time, you realize your body feels safer just being near them 🤍

Notice who feels regulating, not just familiar.

I wanted to share an Instagram Live I’m hosting today for anyone curious about newer somatic trauma approaches.I’ll be i...
12/12/2025

I wanted to share an Instagram Live I’m hosting today for anyone curious about newer somatic trauma approaches.

I’ll be interviewing a clinician affiliated with CMI, an organization that developed Critical Memory Integration, which is a body-based trauma therapy model focused on helping people integrate painful or overwhelming experiences into their personal story in a more adaptive way.

I’ve partnered with them to be one of the first clinicians trained in CMI here in New Jersey, and I’ve been finding this approach to be surprisingly gentle. In my experience so far, it allows people to work with trauma and pain without having to emotionally relive or activate it in the way many clients fear. Instead, the work focuses on what is happening in the body in the present moment, at a pace that feels tolerable and safe.

During the live, we’ll be talking about things like:
• What Critical Memory Integration actually is, in simple terms
• How it differs from traditional talk therapy and other trauma models
• How somatic work can support integration without overwhelm
• What “integration” really looks like for clients over time
• Who this approach might be especially helpful for

This is meant to be accessible, even if you’ve never heard of CMI before. If you’re interested, you’re very welcome to join live or watch the replay. No prior knowledge needed.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to reach out if you’re curious or have questions 🤍

I’ve been thinking a lot about how many of us grow as therapists not because someone “evaluates” us, but because someone...
12/11/2025

I’ve been thinking a lot about how many of us grow as therapists not because someone “evaluates” us, but because someone actually sees us. Someone who helps us feel grounded, clearer, braver, and more ourselves in the therapy room.

So… I’m opening up mentorship for therapists and grad students. If you’re craving case clarity, a stronger clinical voice, trauma informed guidance, or just a place to process the emotional weight of this work… I’m here for that.

Sixteen years in this field, advanced trauma training, somatics, EMDR, ADHD work, CMI, and a whole lot of real life lived experience.
If you wanna grow your confidence and feel supported, you can reach out anytime.

This is mentorship, not supervision.
Just real support for the real humans doing the work.

Psychological flexibility is about being open to experiences as they are (not as what we want them to be), and committin...
12/10/2025

Psychological flexibility is about being open to experiences as they are (not as what we want them to be), and committing to action that aligns with personal values, even when it’s difficult. This flexibility enables us to adapt to changing circumstances, make healthy choices, and lead a richer, more fulfilling life. It’s a skill that can be developed and enhanced through practice and reflects a holistic approach to mental health and well-being.

🧠 There is something powerful that happens when healing includes both the mind and the body. So many of us work hard t...
12/08/2025

🧠 There is something powerful that happens when healing includes both the mind and the body. So many of us work hard to understand our stories cognitively, while the body continues to hold on to the parts that still feel unfinished.
That’s why I’ve been so drawn to Critical Memory Integration (CMI). It gives language and structure to the somatic and trauma work I already do, while honoring the body’s intelligence in making meaning out of past experiences.

I’ll be going Live again, this time with Estefana Johnson, LCSW to talk about how CMI shows up in real clinical work and what healing can look like when we follow signals, notice protective constriction, and stay connected through the moving pieces.

If you’ve been curious about pursuing CMI training, Arise Alliance has offered 150 dollars off for my audience:

🔹 Foundations of CMI
Code: ACMI150-1

🔹 Clinical Application of CMI
Code: ECMI150-2

Feel free to leave a question below for our Q and A — or send me a DM if you’re wanting to explore this in your own healing journey or clinical practice. traumatherapy

Sometimes my brain needs a little nudge this time of year. The holidays can bring up so many different feelings at once....
12/08/2025

Sometimes my brain needs a little nudge this time of year. The holidays can bring up so many different feelings at once. Stress. Old roles. Big expectations. Memories that tug at the heart a bit.

But there are also glimmers here. Little holiday twinkles that remind me of my growth and the way I show up differently now. The rituals that anchor me. The connections that feel real and warm. The moments of joy that sneak up quietly.

These five things help me pay attention to the parts of the season that actually support me. Because yes, the holidays can be triggering. And they can also be a chance to notice healing, connection, ritual, and love.

Which one speaks to you the most?

As the season unfolds with its flurry of trip planning, family events, and the buzz of gift exchanges, I find my own hea...
12/07/2025

As the season unfolds with its flurry of trip planning, family events, and the buzz of gift exchanges, I find my own head swirling 🙃with to-dos, while navigating the challenges of virus 🦠 management and chronic health issues 🤕. It’s a common theme for many of us. In these moments, affirmations are not just words; they’re a grounding force, a way to remember what’s in our control and what’s not. Letting go isn’t just a concept; it’s a practical step towards wellbeing during these crazy times. A reminder to seek balance and peace amidst the seasonal rush. 🌟

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