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 »
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 »
Have you ever heard of a “Judgement House” or a “Hell House”? These are a way that many evangelical churches in the Southern US have chosen to deal with Halloween. They were especially popular in the 90s and early 2000s, but I still see marketing for them at area churches today. In fact, I just
The Impact of Judgement Houses Read More »
I injured my shoulder back in 2017. I know exactly the moment it happened, and I’ve had pretty consistent pain in that shoulder ever since. I’ve recently found some relief from the pain through working with a new-to-me medical professional, and I found myself thinking about how we humans often stay in pain when a
Why Do We Stay In Pain? Read More »
It can be difficult to manage emotions, make decisions, and take care of daily tasks when things feel chaotic. Chaos may come from inside yourself, such as racing thoughts or chronic illness Or it may come from outside yourself, such as in your interactions with others or news of global happenings. Regardless of the source,
Regulating Your Emotions Amidst Chaos Read More »
Information is everywhere! From TV to social media to headlines delivered directly to our phones to conversations overheard, we are inundated with information. Our brains were not created with the capacity to handle the amount of information available to us in modern times. I also find myself seeing/hearing lots of commentary on who those who
What Does Silence Mean? Read More »
The demands of daily life can make it difficult to take care of yourself. We often see ads or social media posts alluding to self-care as spa days and long baths. While those things can be an important part of taking care of yourself, they are not the only ways to practice self-care. Dialectical Behavior
PLEASE Take Care of Yourself Read More »
We have been living with the reality of Covid-19 here in the US for just over 2 years. There are many memories that don’t have an exact date, they are simply referred to as “before the pandemic” or as occurring after March 2020. Mask mandates have been dropped in many locations, including public schools. There
What’s Your New Normal? Read More »
A short clip of a popular pastor in conservative, evangelical Christian circles recently made the internet rounds. In this clip, he states “deconstruction… and leaving the faith has become some sort of sexy thing to do.” I am someone who has firsthand experience of spiritual abuse and the deconstruction and healing work entailed in rebuilding
Deconstruction is Sexy? Read More »
Spirituality is an area of deep intimacy and vulnerability for many folks. This can take a variety of forms, from structured religious gatherings to solo treks in nature. Many folks whose spiritual journey has included more structured settings have received messages of being “too much.” These messages may have come from a variety of sources,
Message from Religion of Being “Too Much” Read More »
