First, let’s start with a clinical definition of self-harm so we can be on the same page.
Self-harm (self-harm and self-injury are terms used interchangeably) is typically described as a way of hurting oneself on purpose in a way that is generally socially unacceptable (as opposed to tattoos or piercings) that is done to
A beautiful outcome of mindfulness meditation is the opportunity to slow down and explore our relationship with our minds. We meditate to understand the stories we tell ourselves about our lives and experiences. This is so important for trauma survivors, mainly because we oftentimes make up a story that the world around us
Sometimes, life hits us with an arrow and we feel like shit. We lose our job, a relationship ends, we get sick, someone close to us passes away, someone insults us at work.
Sooner or later, physical and emotional pain is bound to show up in life.
If you’re hurting there are a ton of
This was the week of talking to people who have just gotten out of bad relationships. It is such an excruciating process, isn’t it? Particularly if it was not a “we just grew apart” break-up but more of an, “I completely lost myself in this relationship” kind of a thing. I’ve talked a lot with
Part of the experience of a traumatic event is a disconnect between the brain and the body. This disconnect or dissociation can become established as a pattern that continues to happen occasionally in response to triggers long after that person has survived the trauma.
However, it’s really important to become connected to your body and its
Trauma is statistically underreported, not talked about enough, and, as anyone working on the addiction field will tell you, it’s everywhere.
PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We often associate the disorder with combat vets returning from deployment deeply disturbed by events that have transpired overseas. We often picture irritable old man scanning his living
Despite the fact that we’ve come a long way in our culture regarding the de-stigmatization of therapy, it still seems as if reaching out and asking for professional help is the last option for millions of people.
There’s a list of strategies that come before therapy:
It’s one of the worst feelings in the world: You hurt the feelings of someone you care about and you have no idea how to make it better. Maybe your stress level was running high and you took it out on them. Maybe you tried to make a joke, and it hit a little too
It’s good, healthy and human to want love and seek it out. We live longer, healthier lives when we feel close to someone safe. Some people feel painfully disconnected, and long to open up to others. But then they stop themselves from reaching out.
As therapists, we want to empower people to build more meaningful connections.
