Caitlin M. Peterson, LCSW

07/02/2025

06/21/2025

Yesterday on the way to the last day of school, we pulled up to a red light at a chaotic, construction packed intersection, and there, in the crosswalk, was a turtle. Just… strolling across like he was following the pedestrian signal.

We looked at each other like, Is this real life?!

He was headed away from the park and pond, clearly lost in the wrong direction. So I scooped him up, tucked him gently into the frunk, and brought him back to his home at the local pond down the hill.

We named him Troy.
Godspeed, Troy. We’ll come visit.

Turtles are ancient symbols of resilience, moving slowly but surely, carrying the weight of life with grace, never hardening their hearts. May we all walk with such quiet strength.

02/22/2025

You don’t need to hold on to anger to uphold a boundary. That’s liberation.

There’s a softness in knowing how strong you are.

When we first learn to set boundaries, it often comes with fire. Anger fuels us—after being conditioned to swallow our discomfort, after being dismissed, after convincing ourselves that peace meant silence. The anger feels necessary. And at first, maybe it is.

But real strength isn’t in the fight. It’s in the knowing.

Anger, when held too long, becomes another form of suffering. It convinces us we have to prove, defend, or force our boundaries into existence. But when you’re truly grounded in your own worth, you don’t need to grip so tightly. You don’t need to battle to be understood. You simply uphold the boundary and let it stand.

Because a liberated heart is unbreakable. Not because it doesn’t feel, but because it doesn’t cling. Emotions come and go—fear of loss, of change, of the unknown. But when we move past the ego’s need for control, we find that real peace is in trust.

Trusting that you don’t have to justify your needs.
Trusting that you don’t have to match someone’s energy to be heard.
Trusting that you can hold firm without holding anger.

Liberation isn’t passive. It’s powerful. And it’s yours. Hugs, Caitlin💓

02/20/2025

Back in 2017, I hosted my very first couples meditation circle. I was nervous to lead this… will they be convinced? What if they hate it! I dropped into my heart, broken itself at the time, and got a soft message, “Be tender and speak from here. The knowledge will follow, but move through this from the heart. Don’t use the script you wrote.” I put my notes away and let my heart guide the evening. Some pairs showed up hand-in-hand, both eager to explore. Others had one partner who only came along out of obligation or love for the other. As a therapist and meditation facilitator, I could spot the difference right away there’s a distinct look when someone is thinking, “Why am I here?”

But something magical happened by the end of our practice. Through back-to-back breathing, gentle eye-gazing, and a self-compassion guided meditation, the “reluctant” partners softened. One man even admitted he was there just to make his partner happy but was shocked at how relaxed he felt. He left feeling grateful he came.

It reminded me how sometimes we resist experiences because we’re worried they’ll expose our “flaws” or force us to “improve.” We might think our partner isn’t satisfied with who we are. But when we drop the fear and simply open ourselves to connection, both with ourselves and each other, something beautiful can happen. It’s not about fixing or changing. It’s about showing up for each other, sharing a moment of peace, and realizing how a little bit of vulnerability can lead to a deeper bond.

01/31/2025

I feel deeply protective of my clients who have been led to believe that they are being tested… that their struggles, setbacks, and even their pain are punishments for not getting life “right.” Just like when our body is in pain, it’s not punishing us… it’s communicating… it’s asking for something. Attention. Care. A shift. A release.

So much of the work I do is about unlearning the fear-based belief that every hardship is some kind of cosmic test. The universe isn’t keeping score… it’s providing experiences, patterns, and opportunities for awareness. You are not being tested. Our bodies, our emotions, our struggles… they’re not proof of failure. They’re invitations to listen, to tend to ourselves with more compassion, and to move toward healing.

Our souls beat to their own tempo, patiently waiting for the conditioned ego to recognize the safety of its eternal rhythm. Growth isn’t a test. It’s a process of awareness, choice, and integration and synchronization.

01/23/2025

Back in 2023, I had the privilege of attending Postpartum Support International’s Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care program. That experience was a profound milestone in my journey as both a mother and a social worker, deepening my understanding of how to support women and their families through the transformative, and often challenging, experiences of fertility, family planning, and postpartum.

Since then, I have continued to participate in ongoing trainings and workshops to expand the knowledge honed in that initial training. From exploring the nuances of prescription medications and hypnobirthing practices to understanding how partners can better care for each other during the postpartum period, I am constantly striving to bring a well-rounded, compassionate approach to my work.

Perinatal mental health is often underestimated, and many families begin their journey without the tools or knowledge to navigate its complexities. I believe a better world begins with proper support and mental health care for mothers, who form the foundation of thriving families and communities. It is my greatest honor to walk alongside these families, offering guidance, resources, and a safe space to grow through this season of life.

To my fellow professionals and advocates, let’s continue to invest in the mental and emotional well-being of mothers and families. It’s work that changes lives and, ultimately, the world.

01/21/2025

LINK IN BIO!!! 💞🥰🙌 In my latest blog column, I dive into what it means to navigate life’s big shake-ups, from breakups (job or relationship) to breakthroughs. As a therapist who works with leaders—and yes, that means you, because whether or not you identify as one, we’re all leaders in our own lives, I’m here to help you reclaim your power.

When we don’t step into that leadership role, our subconscious beliefs end up running the show, often steering us toward fear, doubt, or stagnation. My goal is to help you flip the script, find growth in the chaos, and cultivate faith from within. So, whether you’re dealing with a layoff, a breakup, or just a tough season, let’s explore how these challenges can spark your next chapter of transformation.

12/18/2024

In the U.S., a woman’s risk of being killed rises by 20% during pregnancy and postpartum. For women under 25, that risk doubles. The majority of these deaths are not random—they come at the hands of intimate partners.

Motherhood changes everything. It “should” be a time of transformation and connection. Instead, it too often becomes a tipping point. When a woman’s focus shifts to her child and her identity evolves, it exposes power dynamics in her relationship. For partners whose worth depends on control or being needed, this shift can trigger insecurities, unprocessed wounds, and, in the most tragic cases, violence.

This is not just a crisis for women—it’s a crisis for men, too.
• Without teaching emotional regulation and self awareness, Men are taught to suppress emotions, equating vulnerability with weakness.
• Fear of loss or inferiority becomes masked as anger, control, or isolation.
• Unhealed wounds from the past can lead to desperate, destructive behavior.

I’ve seen it personally and in my practice: women caught in these dynamics, trapped by fear of leaving and the very real danger of retaliation. Years of survival mode strip away their self-trust and sense of identity. Even those who escape carry the damage long after.

We must ask:
• Why do some men feel they lose their worth when they lose control?
• How do we support all men in processing emotions and healing before pain turns into violence?
• How do we create systems where women can choose safety without fear of consequence? (Parenting boys differently from past generations/healing men by holding them accountable for their actions and personal responsibilities of mental and physical care.)

Women deserve freedom and safety. Men deserve tools to heal. We all deserve relationships where love, not control, sits at the center.

We can’t heal what we refuse to name. It’s time to stop ignoring the disconnection that turns fear into violence.

Let’s talk about this. Let’s do better.

NYT Article: https://lnkd.in/eXwynqjd