One of the most common struggles I see is this feeling of being stuck between two questions: Do I need to accept this… or try to change it? Am I giving up if I accept things as they are? Or am I fighting something I can’t control? It’s confusing, because both acceptance and change are important. And sometimes it’s hard to know which one is actually helpful in the moment. The truth is, acceptance and change aren’t opposites. They often work together. But knowing when to lean i

Self-compassion is often misunderstood. For some, it sounds like letting yourself off the hook. Lowering standards. Being too soft. Even selfish. But in practice, most people struggle with the opposite problem. They are far harder on themselves than they would ever be with someone else. They push through exhaustion.They replay mistakes.They hold themselves to impossible standards.They minimize their own needs while showing up fully for everyone else. And then, when the idea o

We all have an inner voice. Sometimes it’s supportive and encouraging. Other times, it’s harsh, critical, and relentless. Negative self-talk can quietly shape how we see ourselves, how we approach challenges, and even how we treat others. The tricky part? Many of us don’t even realize it’s happening. The good news is that negative self-talk is a habit—and like any habit, it can be changed. Breaking the cycle doesn’t require perfection. It simply requires awareness, patience,

It’s easy to admire productive people They get things done. They follow through. They carry responsibility well. They show up. Productivity feels strong. Capable. Impressive. But here’s something worth noticing: many people quietly tie their self-worth to how much they accomplish — and they don’t even realize they’re doing it. On the surface, it sounds healthy. Work hard. Contribute. Be useful. Underneath, though, there’s often a subtle belief: If I’m not producing, I’m not v

Gratitude is often talked about as a simple way to improve mood and feel better. And sometimes, it really does help. But there are also times when gratitude feels out of reach. When you’re overwhelmed, anxious, grieving, exhausted, or dealing with chronic stress or illness, being told to “just be grateful” can feel frustrating — or even invalidating. Instead of helping, it can leave you feeling guilty for not being positive enough. If gratitude feels impossible right now, the

Have you ever felt… Stuck in life, even though on the outside it “looks fine”? Frustrated with yourself for not being where you thought you’d be? Tired of always putting everyone else first, carrying everyone else’s emotional load? You’re not broken. You’ve just been surviving in a world that taught you to put yourself last. The truth is: it’s never too late to reclaim your voice, set healthy boundaries, and finally put yourself on the list. I help women who struggle with peo

Many people don’t realize they’re people-pleasers because, on the surface, it looks like kindness. You’re the one who helps out, says yes, keeps the peace, and makes sure everyone else is okay. But underneath, people-pleasing often comes from fear — fear of disappointing others, being judged, or causing conflict. And over time, constantly putting others first can take a real toll on your emotional well-being. What People-Pleasing Often Looks Like People-pleasing doesn’t alway

Have you ever left a conversation feeling fine, only to replay it later and wonder: Why did I say that?Did they think I was awkward?Should I have explained myself better? Many people do this, especially if they struggle with anxiety or self-doubt. We replay conversations because we want to feel accepted and avoid mistakes in the future. Our brain is trying to protect us socially — but instead of helping, it often leaves us feeling stressed and self-critical. The truth is, mos

One of the things I often see with clients is how much they struggle with boundaries. Honestly, it makes sense. Boundaries can feel intimidating, selfish, or even unnecessary—until you realize what happens when you don’t have them. When we live without boundaries, we usually don’t even notice at first. We’re saying yes to invitations, helping out coworkers, lending money, listening to everyone else’s problems, and trying to keep everyone happy. It feels good for a little whil

Asthma, Diabetes, Arthritis…these are chronic illnesses with which we’re all familiar. We probably know someone living with one of these and may have even talked with friends or loved ones about how their illness affects them. Another chronic illness is Inflammatory Bowel Disease, also known as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. What makes this illness different from others, though, is that it can feel embarrassing to discuss since it affects a part of our body we don’t o

Do any of these statements sound like you? You replay conversations over and over and chastise yourself for things you’ve said to people. Your brain always jumps to “worst case scenarios.” You second-guess your decisions all throughout the day. You are too stuck in your own head during social interactions to enjoy the conversations. You stay home and miss out on fun events because it’s easier than facing all the possible triggers. If you do motivate to go out and be social, y

I don’t know about you, but for me and many others I’ve spoken with, having a chronic illness evokes a lot of feelings. You worry that the plans you had for your life aren’t realistic anymore. You miss the life you had before your diagnosis, when you felt healthy and whole. Now you just feel tired, frustrated, angry, and worried. Over the years, some of the things I've heard from people are: “People don’t understand what I’m going through because I often look healthy on the o

Have you ever wondered why everyone else seems to have it all together, when every step you take feels like a struggle? Have you ever worried that you weren’t performing well enough at work? Have you ever been afraid to apply for a better job because you couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to hire you? Have you ever avoided going on any dates because you were certain no one would find you attractive or interesting? Have you ever spent lots of time on social media, despite feeling

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was 28 years old. It took about 2 years to get into remission but once I did, I was fairly...

I have a 3-year-old Border Collie/Lab mix named Meechie. She’s smart, stubborn, high energy and sadly under the impression that she is...