And just like that, Spring is upon us.  There’s something comforting about a predictable change like Spring.  It feels familiar to put away scarves and wool socks, while anticipating the sweetness of warmer and longer days.  Alongside the reliable change of seasons, many of us are experiencing transformation that is wildly outside of our norm and control.  

During this month of celebrating love, I and Thou by Martin Buber might offer a reminder of both the micro and macro effects of objectifying, or truly relating, to those who are near and far. 

Happy New Year, everyone! We made it to 2025. As any therapist would, I can’t help but start by asking, how do you feel? Grateful, motivated, tired, hopeful, overwhelmed, stressed?  Me too.  2024 was a lot, and I anticipate 2025 bringing a new deck of challenges.  With the pace of modern life, it’s easy to feel like life is happening to us and that we are simply participants along for the ride. So how is it that we become the drivers, directors and goal accomplishers for the year ahead?

Despite the diverse ways people are celebrating the holidays this year, the core rituals of gathering over good food with family and loved ones remains. Whether our family is a place of comfort or pain, visiting family can bring up old roles and dynamics that either remind us of how much we’ve grown, or how persistent our younger parts seem to be.  When we notice these younger parts taking over, it may feel alarming or frustrating to say the least.

This month’s theme of belonging is a challenging one for me to write.  No amount of baking, snacking, doing laundry, snacking again, seems to make it any easier.  I can’t help but wonder what belonging will look like after the elections, and how this will color any Thanksgiving meal across the country in the coming weeks.  How do we experience belonging when differences in values, lifestyles, choices, seem so vast? 

Happy October everyone! In honor of the spooky themes of this month, I thought we could explore a little bit of what lurks in our shadows. It’s an uncomfortable topic, and not for the faint of heart. But if you’re feeling brave, take a moment to see if there’s something dark within that’s ready to face your light.

For many, September is a time of transition when we reluctantly give up our leisurely summer days for new routines or school schedules. Others may also be dealing with personal transitions in relationships, work or health that, whether good or bad, leave a sense of vulnerability around the uncertainty and unknown.