This post is the second in a 2-part series – read part 1 here. Trauma occurs when something happens too fast, too soon, or is too much for an individual’s nervous system, and the person is unable to return to a sense of safety and support following the experience. Religious trauma is trauma that has […]
Hurricane Helene & Religious Trauma Read More »
Western North Carolina experienced flooding of unimaginable proportions from Hurricane Helene at the end of September 2024. This is an area of the state that was never supposed to deal with hurricane-related natural disasters. Yet, many folks are still without power and water 3 weeks out from the disaster. Some have been told they may
Natural Disasters, Mental Health, & Religious Trauma Read More »
I was recently invited to be a guest on the You Need a Counselor Podcast. This podcast is the work of Heart and Solutions, located in Iowa, and is designed for folks who are curious about counseling but may have barriers that prevent them from experiencing the benefits of working with a counselor. In my
FEATURED: You Need a Counselor Podcast Read More »
Grief is the response you have to the loss of something or someone important to you. Grief may include intense emotional pain, a sense of anguish, questioning, rage, and any variety of other responses too numerous to list. Sometimes grief is expected – perhaps at the death of an elderly family member. Sometimes grief comes
The Complexity of Grief Read More »
Periods. Aunt Flo. Riding the crimson tide. On the rag. Time of the month. No matter what you call it, menstruation affects us all. Menstrual cycles directly impact approximately half the population for a significant portion of their lifetime. The biology of menstruation allows people to be born, which was a significant event for anyone
Taking the Mystery Out of Menstruation Read More »
Mental health is something we all have. Yet, far too often, mental health is only thought about when someone is struggling. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. If you’re thinking, “wow, there is a month for everything!” I agree. I’m also glad that these types of emphases exist in order to bring more attention to
Mental Health Resources Read More »
April is Autism Awareness Month, or Autism Acceptance Month. Maybe a bit of both? Both mental health professionals and society as a whole are becoming more aware of autism. More aware of the many ways that autistic folks may show up in the world. More aware of what autism is like for the person experiencing
Autism Awareness Month Read More »
Is proclaiming the title “queen” in relation to your work with folks healing from religious trauma a reenactment of the same toxic power dynamics that lead to harm in high-control religion? I was scrolling through Instagram a few days ago, as one does, and came across a story that had been shared by some podcast
The “Queen” of Healing from High-Control Religion? Read More »
Religious spaces, such as churches and parachurch organizations, have differing views on the topic of mental health. I originally posted on this topic in April of 2023 – you can read that post here – and believe it continues to be important in 2024. In some religious or faith-based spaces, mental health is a taboo
Religious Leaders and Mental Health Read More »
Have you ever felt a sense of guilt after participating in an action? You may have questioned how you even ended up in the situation that led to you acting in a certain way. Or you may experience anger related to the action(s) you took, and being asked/expected to take those actions at all. This
What is Moral Injury? Read More »
