Bright Hope Counseling

03/31/2023

Here are a few of my favorite somatic tools to help repattern your nervous system and reduce anxiety in your body.

Cheers to making more space in our bodies, minds, and hearts!

Do you have a favorite embodiment practice or tool for self regulation? Let me know in the comments!

03/25/2023

Do you trust your moods?

I didn’t.

In fact, I was given the message that my moods were NOT to be trusted….that my moods were a sign of my “disorder.”

So to protect my self image, I learned how to denied my emotions; I learned how to hide my feelings from myself and others; I learned how to fight against my moods that people might categorize as “crazy.”

But here’s what I observed:

The more I fought, denied, or hid from my feelings, the bigger and louder they got. And the more “crazy” and “broken” I felt.

So I made a radical choice. I began to trust my feelings instead of fight them.

A twinge of hopelessness didn’t become a full blown depressive episode. A spark of inspiration no longer spun me into mania.

Why? Because I learned to listen and attune. I’ve never been more “stable.”

My moods are now my greatest advisors. I trust their wisdom and have learned to make decisions from this place.

How do you relate to your moods? Do you trust them?

03/18/2023

You’ve got to be honest
with yourself about your needs before you can meet them with compassion.

Get curious with your emotions. Feelings (especially the uncomfortable ones) give us amazing insight into what parts of our lives need to be refreshed, rebalanced, and restored.

Follow for more on building more self-compassion care tips!

03/10/2023

For the folks that often feel like depression just sneaks up on them out of the blue…

See you can spot some of these lesser known symptoms of depression. In my experience, these neurological changes often show of first before the endless bouts of crying, sleeping for days and still waking up tired, rageful symptoms of a major depressive episode.

Attuning to the body’s early cues and implementing strategies to care of the body at this stage of the episode can help lessen or head off a full blown major depressive episode.

Comment below if you resonate!

03/04/2023

If you’ve ever found yourself down the rabbit hole of a negative thought spiral, this post is for you!!

Scheduling specific “worry time” gives your brain and body and clear boundary and task to focus on. In addition, it allows the anxious part inside of you to feel heard and validated.

IMPORTANT: There are no “irrational fears” during your worry time. If another inner voice swoops in and tries to tell you “this is so ridiculous that I’m worried about XYZ”, gently ask that part to please find a cozy spot to sit while you are spending time with the very anxious part inside of you 💕

02/27/2023

And inner expectation of perfection is often paired with an external behavior of procrastination.

And it makes sense, doesn’t it? Why would anyone want to begin a task that has a mountain of overwhelming pressure attached to it?

So we wait. And wait. And wait. Until either the deadline passes and we resign ourselves to self-loathing or “should” all over ourselves (“I should have started earlier!” “I shouldn’t have been so lazy!”).

You familiar with the cycle? Me, too.

It’s one of the many shame cycles that keep us stuck in anxiety and can cause all sorts of distress in relationships, career, school, passion projects etc.

Here are a few of my favorite affirmations if you are working with unsticking this very sticky thought/feeling/behavior pattern inside of you.

For more tools from a therapist on how to work with this perfectionism/procrastination spiral join me and on IG Live this week where we chat about this very topic and how to work with your shame cycles to create more fluidity and freedom in all facets of your life and identity!!

11/28/2022

Hey Rebels! I have been loving the connection and community that has been building in energy and magnitude over the last few weeks. It is a gift to serve in this way.

It is just me behind the scenes running this account (in addition to being a mama, therapist, biz owner, and more!). I’ll do my best to respond to folks, but if it takes me a while, please know that is more about me than it is about you.

Grateful for you being here ✨

Let’s keep the rebellion going!!

🖤 Kristen

11/18/2022

There is not finish line to healing, where we feel whole and beautiful and confident 100% of the time. Healing is about acknowledging and accepting the hurting parts in us that are forever changed. Allowing those parts to exist without judgment and shame IS the beauty.

🦋

08/14/2022

Beach walks are my spiritual practice.

Today I was greeted by this little beach angel ☺️🕊🤍

07/01/2022

June's blog post is up, with not a moment to spare :) I've been in my feelings and my body beginning to process the deep anger and despair over the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade. While certainly not the most pleasant of emotions to feel into, I allowed them to be. Here is some of the wisdom I've learned from these emotions...thus far...

https://bright-hope.com/resources/f/on-rage-and-the-power-of-regenerative-healing

05/27/2022

May's blog post is up and dedicated with love to my maternal grandmother who is turning 90 years young this weekend! If parts of you are feeling into the traumas of the past few years, months, and this last week especially, you may find this read helpful. It was a healing birthday gift for me to write.

My maternal grandmother turns 90 years old today. As I look behind me at all the ancient mothers that stood before my grandmother, who bore my mom, who bore me, I am reminded of the sheer power inside my bones. My grand...

05/15/2022

Hey, Buttercup! Just want to say, if today has been hard and you’re having those thoughts that creep in from time to time that make you question everything, including life itself, please know you there are beautiful tomorrows awaiting you, dear.

Today, I turn 34 years old. Some of those years were hard. Days filled with shame, secrets, hurt, and insecurity. On my darker days, I met some “firefighter parts” in me that didn’t know if life was worth the pain. They wanted to put the fire out by any means necessary. I’m so grateful for the other “trusted advisors” in me who have guided me through the fog and storms to allow me to experience joy like this. Wow!!! Does it just keep getting better with age??? Because, today, I’m all in on life!

Bring on the harder days…

I am learning to ride the waves of my emotions, trust in my own resilience, and alchemize my wounds into healing balm to share out with the world.

Thank you for being here with me. I’m deeply appreciative for you 💛
#34

05/08/2022

Join me tomorrow (and every Monday for the month of May) on IG Live for a mini breathing exercise and guided meditation.

This series is created in celebration of and with the belief that when we heal ourselves, we heal the world.

The ripple effect is powerful! Reconnect with your Self (and me) tomorrow 1:11 p.m. EST for 15 minutes…. And let the healing ripples inform the rest of your week 🥰

04/23/2022

At dinner last night, we played “Rose, Bud, Thorn.” This is a game I learned as a school social worker and would use as a way to start a group counseling session.

What’s your “Rose” (your highlight from the day)?

What’s your “Bud” ( something you are looking forward to)?

What’s your “Thorn” (something that didn’t go so well or hurt you)?

After we went around, my 5 yo had the brilliant idea to add a “seed” (an idea you are planting)!

Intention is everything. Plant beautiful seeds for a beautiful harvest. Happy Earth Day to all! 🌍 ☀️ 🌱

04/18/2022

April's blog post it up! Sign up on my website to receive these monthly mental health posts in your inbox!

Ahhhh…. it’s finally Spring! The cheerful forsythia is looking brilliant against the back drop of the bright blue skies. The tulips are starting to peek their little heads up from the soil. In my personal life, I’ve expe...

03/31/2022

Transgender Day of Visibility is dedicated to the recognition and accomplishments of the transgender community.

Today I am celebrating the trans people in my life for all the beauty, contributions, successes, and resilience they bring to this world.

Today I raise awareness about the struggles and discrimination they face on a daily basis.

Today, tomorrow, and forever, I continue to advocate for more protected human rights for them, which are currently very much under legislative attack in the states of Florida, Texas and many others. The current research indicates over 100 bills attacking transgender people have been introduced in state legislation since 2020.

These laws are deadly. Please consider donating your time, treasure, and/or talent to support transgender people.

Follow .specialist and for more trans news 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈 ⚧

03/01/2022

Rabbit, Rabbit! This month's blog post is now up on my website. If you'd like to receive these monthly postings directly to your inbox, please subscribe via the link below.

This one feels more vulnerable for me and as always, I am committed to holding space for all people who also experience this kind of vulnerability.

https://bright-hope.com/resources/f/whats-the-point

https://bright-hope.com