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I specialize in aiding individuals navigating life transitions and relationship challenges in the Philadelphia area.

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08/29/2025

We all either are the time-blind friend… or we have one.

08/21/2025

‘Divergent Conversations’ is a podcast hosted by Dr. Megan Anna Neff and Patrick Casale. Both hosts are AuDHD, and together they explore topics related to ADHD, autism, and AuDHD. Some episodes focus solely on ADHD, others on autism, and many highlight the unique experiences of living with both. Each conversation is grounded, thoughtful, and deeply relatable for those navigating these neurotypes.

This podcast is an excellent resource. While discussions around neurodivergence have become more common in recent years, there is still a lot of misunderstanding. ‘Divergent Conversations’ helps bridge that gap, offering insight into the many ways neurodivergence shows up in everyday life. If you’re trying to better understand your own experience, this podcast will likely make you feel seen. And if you’re hoping to learn more about a loved one, it’s a powerful tool for building empathy and learning how to best support them.

08/19/2025

Working with many single young adults, I’ve seen how painful ghosting can be. It’s something both men and women do, and it often leaves lasting hurt. If you’ve been ghosted, the quote above may bring a bit of comfort. And if you’ve ghosted someone, it could be meaningful to gently explore what might have led you there.

08/14/2025

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Leonard Sax focuses this book on the argument that there are biological differences between boys and girls that influence learning, behavior, and responses to their environment. Drawing on personal anecdotes and selected research, he presents these differences and offers a range of suggestions for parents and teachers on how to support children.

This was a tough book to rate. It’s undeniably controversial—some of the research cited has since been updated or challenged, and many experts caution against making broad generalizations from it. Sax tends to frame gender differences primarily as biological, which differs from perspectives that highlight the role of social and cultural influences. That said, I found the book engaging and thought-provoking. Reading it with a critical eye can spark meaningful reflection about how we teach, parent, and perceive gender. My recommendation is to approach it as a conversation starter rather than a definitive guide—remaining mindful of how its framing might not fully reflect current understandings of gender, including gender diversity and the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals.

08/12/2025

ACT isn’t “think positive” therapy. It’s “live well, even when it’s hard” therapy.

08/06/2025

I used to think self‑care was overhyped in grad school… now I get it. I love this work with my whole heart, but it can be heavy at times, and even the most meaningful work needs moments of rest. Taking breaks helps me show up fully and avoid burnout.

This summer I stepped back here and there with my husband, family, and friends. It was grounding and life‑giving. Now I’m back, and book reviews are coming soon!

Therapists, take your breaks too. It’s easy to feel guilty when you’re the helper, but caring for yourself helps you care for others with clarity, compassion, and longevity.

07/15/2025

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Dr. Karyl McBride offers a clear and compassionate roadmap for ending a high-conflict relationship. She focuses on individuals leaving partners with toxic or unhealthy traits, particularly those associated with narcissistic and borderline personality disorders. McBride walks readers through the decision-making process of whether to stay or leave, how to navigate the legal complexities of contentious divorces, strategies for co-parenting, and more.

This book is incredibly practical. Divorcing someone with a personality disorder—or even strong traits—can leave you feeling overwhelmed and disoriented. McBride offers a grounded, thorough path forward. She answers so many of the questions I’ve heard people ask in these situations, and she does so with deep clinical insight and empathy. Her understanding of personality disorders, what it’s like to be in a relationship with someone who has one, and how to break free is both validating and empowering. Highly recommend.

⚠️ As always, be mindful of your safety—don’t read this book in a setting where the person in question may see you’re engaging with this material.

06/25/2025

Taking a brief break from nonfiction to catch up on some fiction. I’ll be back with more reviews after the Fourth.

After countless recommendations, I’m finally reading ‘The Women’. It’s already a powerful reminder: to those who’ve served our country in any capacity—thank you. I’m sorry for what you’ve seen, and for what so many of us will never fully understand. Regardless of political views, we should never take for granted the people who’ve put their lives on the line. Losing someone to war is devastating—and so is living with the memories afterward.

06/18/2025

Weddings can bring up more than joy. For sensitive, anxious minds, they often stir grief, pressure, identity shifts, and overwhelm—right alongside love and celebration.

This post captures some of what therapy helped me prepare for in the lead-up to our wedding.

AND happy (day late) anniversary to my steady, hilarious, deeply good husband. Every year with you keeps getting better.

06/16/2025

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Peter Levine offers an insightful exploration of how trauma lives in the body. He explains how unresolved trauma can become trapped in the nervous system and emphasizes the need for somatic healing in order to fully recover. The book provides an overview of trauma, introduces tools for healing, and dives into the foundations of somatic experiencing.

While I appreciated the book’s message, I found it difficult to stay engaged. I picked it up and put it down several times before finally finishing it. Levine’s insights are valuable, but the delivery felt dry to me, and the content remained fairly surface-level. I had hoped for a deeper dive into the complexities of trauma. It’s not a problematic book by any means—it just didn’t feel informative or stimulating enough given its slower pace. That said, this critique is more about personal preference than substance. For readers who are newer to the topic of trauma, Waking the Tiger could serve as an introduction to somatic work and body-based healing.

06/05/2025

I love a short and sweet quote that has a profound message. Next time you have an anxious or intrusive thought, remember this.

06/03/2025

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‘More Than a Body’ by twins Lexie and Lindsay Kite is a research-driven exploration of how we relate to our bodies in a culture that constantly objectifies them. The authors break down the societal messages that teach us to view our bodies as objects and offer a framework for reclaiming our self-worth beyond appearance. Rather than promoting surface-level body positivity, the book focuses on helping readers move away from appearance obsession and toward a deeper connection with their bodies for what they do, not how they look.

I started reading this book after it was recommended by an eating disorder therapist, and I found it incredibly refreshing—honestly, much better than other similar books on the market. It doesn’t ask you to love every inch of yourself, but instead invites you to step outside of the appearance-based value system entirely. As someone who often sees the emotional toll of body shame show up in therapy, I appreciated the authors’ focus on self-awareness and systemic critique over self-blame. The call to view our bodies as instruments, not ornaments, is powerful—and one I’ve returned to in both personal reflection and clinical work.

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