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Chase Your Dreams, but Chase Them for the Right Reasons (A Commencement Address)
Keynote speech delivered on April 26, 2017, at the Dixon High School 65th Annual Scholastic Honors Banquet coordinated by the Kiwanis Club of Dixon… Students, twenty-two years ago this spring, I too was on the brink of graduating from Dixon High School, and I too was...
The Question to Ask When You Don’t Know What to Do
25 years ago... A 5-year-old girl with long brown hair, highlighted by the sun, and a smooth, tanned forehead, daydreams about her future. Her favorite animal is a toss-up between a pink flamingo and a unicorn (because they ARE real), but she desperately wants her...
What No One Ever Told You About How to Live a Loveable Life
Several weeks ago, at Artisan Clinical Associates, the sliding door that separates the waiting room from the therapy rooms fell apart. Literally.* By the time we gave up on fixing it, the white door was covered in black, greasy handprints, and it hung open and askew...
Feeling Your Feelings: The Bravest Choice for the Fullest Life
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a risk-taker. For that reason, people assume I’m brave. In many ways, I suppose it’s true. I’ve traveled alone to new places. I’ve parasailed, zip-lined, and rock-climbed, and for me, turbulence is what makes flying fun. I...
The One Simple (But Not Easy) Solution to 80% of Your Problems
“You’ll see, the ice cubes will still be there tonight.” The summer weather is sultry when I show my friend my new water bottle. Boasting state of the art technology, it can sit in the heat all day, while the ice cubes barely melt at all. He and I will be spending the...
The Secret to Therapy: It’s a Relationship
“Remember: It’s a relationship.” I stared gratefully at my supervisor as she spoke calm truth into my anxiety. I was about to meet with my first ever therapy client when I had come to the untimely conclusion: I knew nothing. With her words orienting me, I took a deep,...
How Therapy Helps You Find the Hero Inside of You
My kids think I’m a god. No matter what I do to correct this notion—no matter how many mistakes I make, how many times I lose my cool, how many times I have to apologize, how many times my back goes out, how many times I can’t be in two places at once or speak to more...
This is Where You Can Be Your Biggest, Most Beautiful Self
Not too long ago, I found myself interviewing for a new job (spoiler alert: I got it!). As I talked with my future coworkers on the phone, all the possibilities came to life as I imagined myself in this workplace with these people. This job was exactly what I was...
I Can’t Believe Anyone Goes to Therapy (Says the Therapist)
My clients tend to think I’ll be surprised when they cancel a session. The truth is, I’m surprised when they show up. In fact, it amazes me whenever anyone chooses to go to therapy. Think about it. When you go to therapy, you’re choosing to be vulnerable. You’re...
The One Thing That Can Actually Bring Us All Together
I’m in my therapy office, sitting on a beach ball, slowly sinking to the floor. I had arrived in a frenzy of Monday morning doing and thinking, to find the ball with a note attached, saying, “Just a visual reminder. We love your blog!” Grateful for the affirmation and...
