After my first book, Bars, Dumps, and Other Childhood Hangouts was published a friend asked me this question, “How can you trust anyone...

When I was getting my counseling degree, the major topic I focused on was trauma. I wanted to help others who, like me, had experienced...

Moving from a home you’ve lived in for 22 years causes distress, both physically and emotionally. This happened to me recently - we moved...

Getting together with trusted friends is a healing and resilience-building activity. Many times, after lunch or coffee with a friend or...

Years ago, I lived in St. Louis, Missouri. One day as I was walking down the street, someone passed me and they had an angry look on...

What’s your story? Everyone has a story. Many things mold and shape our story. One of these is what I call the “original story” - this is...

Things change. This is a fact of life. We are about to experience a change in the seasons - spring is coming and with that brings new...

In Brene Brown’s book I Thought it Was Just Me (But it’s Not), she says that what is needed for shame to thrive is secrecy, silence and...

Shame is a universal emotion. One reason it is so devastating is that it creates a fear of disconnection. This is how shame keeps us...

“ Guilt and shame are both emotions of self-evaluation; however, that is where the similarities end. The majority of shame researchers...

The benefits of exercise are enormous. It’s good for our body and mind. Walking outdoors can help with blood pressure, diabetes and heart...

Knowing what we enjoy and what we need to do to care for ourselves is important. However, we won’t be able to do these things if we don’t...

One of the best books I’ve picked up in the last few years is Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop. This book gives many great techniques...

As discussed in the last blog, self-care is about doing what you enjoy, but it is also about doing what is good for you. The meaning of...

Marie Kondo is a guru on decluttering and organizing tips. One of the greatest pieces of advice she gives is to hold an item or a piece...

A good friend of mine was having a busy and stressful week. Her son was getting married so there was a lot to do. To encourage her I...

“Acceptance does not mean that you have to like everything or that you have to take a passive attitude toward everything and abandon your...

Wayne Dyer said, “Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at will change.” This quote can be especially helpful when...

By Kathy Wiens "What do I need right now?" This question is all about loving, valuing, and caring for ourselves. But how often do we ask...

Self-care is often a buzz word. It’s talked about a lot, but there isn’t always a consistent meaning that people land on. Self-care means...