The Challenge of Caring for Yourself in Overwhelming Times
In today’s fast-paced world, it can be incredibly hard to prioritize your own well-being. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or burnt out, struggling with chronic pain, or constantly ruminating over worries, finding the time and energy to care for yourself may feel impossible. Many of my clients come to me with heavy burdens—whether it’s managing perfectionism, […]
The Window of Tolerance: Insights for Everyday Life
The Window of Tolerance is a widely used, easily understood metaphor first created by Dr. Dan Siegal, a renowned psychiatrist. It describes the optimal functional human state—a state where we can think our thoughts, feel our feelings, and take considered actions. Within this window, we maintain a parasympathetic state, often referred to as “rest and […]
Why Therapeutic Tools and Strategies Sometimes Fail
Many clients share a common experience: they’ve been given various tools and strategies by therapists or self-help resources, but then struggled to implement them successfully. They couldn’t begin, or they couldn’t keep it up. They didn’t feel like it, or it didn’t quite feel right to them. Sometimes, these tools bring new anxieties or worries, […]
Understanding Stress: Shifting Perspectives for Better Mental Health
Don’t stop reading after my next statement—it may challenge a strongly held belief, but understanding this concept could significantly benefit your mental health: I believe that most people are misusing the term “stress.” Are you “stressed out”? Are you “stressing” over things? It’s common to use the phrase “stressed out” in everyday speech or to […]
Just Breath
Why does something as natural as breathing seem so complicated? We are bombarded with instructions… Breathe from your belly. Try diaphragmatic breathing. Keep your shoulders still! Count your breaths. Practice 4-7-8 breathing. Embrace box breathing. Inhale, hold, exhale, hold… The list of breathing ‘exercises’ feels endless. Then there’s breathing advice for yoga, for playing musical […]
