Julie Simons, LCSW

09/02/2025

05/15/2025

I stumbled upon an interview with Kate Truitt, a professional I have great respect for and from whom I have learned so much from the past couple of years. Her depiction of trauma and its consequences, as well as different healing modalities, is definitely worth sharing and may be helpful to others.

Clinical psychologist and applied neuroscientist Dr. Kate Truitt shares the powerful science behind telling your story as a method of healing from traumatic events.   To access Dr. Truitt’s “CPR for the Amygdala” exercises, including mindful touch...

05/08/2025

Here's A Simple Technique to Find Calm Quick

Take a quick double inhale, like two sniffs through the nose one right after another followed by a long exhale through the mouth and repeat 3-5 times.

This is called The Physiological Sigh and it will regulate your heart rate in 20-30 seconds.

Lungs tend to collapse as we get stressed which increases the carbon dioxide in our blood stream resulting in decreased oxygen that amplifies feelings of agitation.

The double inhale reinflates the lung sacks and the long exhale helps to rid your body and bloodstream of carbon dioxide more effectively which results in a rapid relaxation effect.

I like practicing this breath when I'm driving, but it's especially helpful anytime your stress level spikes.

This is an example of the kind of self-regulation tools I offer clients to take control of their emotional health.

Send a message to learn more

05/04/2025

Interesting documentary reflecting how childhood has changed, especially with regard to the increasing exposure to technology. (You can also find it on Amazon Prime).

The mental health of our children is statistically at an all-time low. Kids spend more time online and less engaging in real life, free play, and autonomy. C...

05/03/2025

10/17/2024

09/29/2024

Just finished reading Marc Brackett's book Permission To Feel and was impressed with his research and presentation on the importance of emotional intelligence in relationships, work, school, parenting, leadership, etc. A good resource to pass along...

Discover 'Permission to Feel' by Marc Brackett, a groundbreaking book on emotional intelligence. Learn strategies to understand and harness emotions for success and well-being in both adults and children.

07/08/2024

Here's a new self-help app I highly recommend! Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; designed by Dr. David Burns, it utilizes the TEAM-CBT approach, which I've found effective both personally and professionally. Let me know what you think...

06/04/2024

For those looking for some extra online peer support for various issue, here is a good resource to check out.

Join others like you in our various online peer support groups. Moderated by licensed professionals, we aim to create virtual spaces where you feel safe, welcome and where you find a sense of relief in knowing that you are not alone and there are many others like you. Book your session, receive your...

05/30/2024

Suspect you are dealing with a narcissistic personality? This podcast is one of the best I've heard in a while so dropping it here.

Today, on The Dhru Purohit Show, Dr. Ramani Durvasula discusses how narcissistic relationships can impact your health and longevity.

11/05/2023

Sometimes, we learn from failing. Allowing people to use their strengths and resources to figure things out can be more helpful than doing things for them and rescuing them.

There's a time to help (not all the time), and there's a time to allow people to figure it out.

Stop getting in the way of people learning.

11/03/2023

Most of us think of trauma and what happens in the brain and body as a life sentence. Once you’ve been “traumatized” or you’ve been told you have PTSD, that's it, and you'll deal with it for the rest of your life. But the latest neuroscience and mental health research is giving us a very different lens through which we can see quite a bit of hope. In conversations with Dr. Gabor Maté MD , a leading trauma physician, and Dr. Rachel Yehuda PhD, a leading researcher on the science of trauma — we learn what trauma truly is, what it does to our bodies and minds, and how to heal from it.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-down-trauma-w-dr-gabor-mat%C3%A9-dr-rachel-yehuda/id1693658383?i=1000633190395