man resting in a hammock with a dog beside him

The Case for Rest

To Rest or Not to Rest? You’re struggling to complete a paper for school or project for work. You notice you’re judging yourself for needing a break, thinking you’re “lazy” or lack drive. And because of this, you have difficulty listening to your body, even when it’s signaling for a break.  Of course, our cultureContinue reading The Case for Rest

drop of water balancing on the branch of a plant

Window of Tolerance

What Is the Window of Tolerance? The window of tolerance is a psychological concept introduced by renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Dan Siegel. When in our window of tolerance, we can think and act clearly, responding to stressors and life’s demands with balance and control. Here, we feel present and engaged and can function mindfully and effectively.Continue reading Window of Tolerance

person leaning against a wall appearing to be in distress

Childhood Trauma and the Body: Pain, Autoimmune Functioning, and More

Have you ever wondered why people who were exposed to extreme stress early in life tend to suffer from physical ailments more than the general population? The ACEs study, a large-scale research endeavor, showed that those who were subjected to childhood trauma were, as expected, significantly more likely to develop mental health symptoms, such asContinue reading Childhood Trauma and the Body: Pain, Autoimmune Functioning, and More

woman with her hands placed on top of her heart

Cultivating Self-Compassion

One of the things that comes up consistently in therapy, regardless of demographics or diagnoses, is difficulties with self-compassion. Let’s take a look at this concept here, as well as how folks can cultivate this important way of being in their lives. The word “compassion” is derived from the Latin com (with) passion (suffering). Self-compassionContinue reading Cultivating Self-Compassion

two people sitting at a table drinking coffee

Non-Violent Communication

Many of the ways in which humans communicate can cause harm. We can be critical, judgmental, defensive, blaming, and attacking. And while this might not be our intention, we tend to be overly focused on our desires at the expense of others’ wants and needs. The good news is, we’re able to shift this focus,Continue reading Non-Violent Communication

hand skimming the surface of a body of water

Polyvagal Theory

Polyvagal theory is an approach to understanding the mind and body that highlights the autonomic nervous system. As background, our autonomic nervous systems are composed of two parts, the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for our fight-or-flight response) and the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for calming us/slowing us down, or in life-threatening situations, the freeze response).Continue reading Polyvagal Theory