Can you critique a paper that attacks your beliefs? This post explores the challenge of staying neutral in academic writing, and how I use my training as a therapist to keep my emotions from hijacking my work.

Confessions of a slow reader. I don't skim, and I don't take shortcuts. This is a look at my thorough, sometimes exhausting, but highly effective writing process.

Is your anxiety a chemical imbalance, or an energetic blockage? This post dives into the mechanics of Reiki in a clinical setting, explaining how practitioners use universal energy to balance chakras and release the deep-seated blocks that talk therapy alone might miss.

Where is nature in our mental health system? This post challenges the traditional view of psychology, arguing that we need to expand our "circles of influence" to include the environment. Discover why true wellness isn't just about fixing the individual, but about reconnecting with the web of life.

Shame acts as a cover, hiding the deeper parts of who we are. This post explores the concept of "Transformance" and the power of the therapist acting as a "new mirror." Discover how targeting toxic shame directly can make space for happiness and joy.

When the body is wounded, the spirit is too. This post explores the Indigenous concept of the "soul wound," challenging the Western focus on physical healing and calling for a deeper, more spiritual approach to recovering from trauma.

Is it schizophrenia, or is it something else? This post explores the striking parallels between modern mental health diagnoses and ancient descriptions of spirit possession. I reflect on a client of mine whose symptoms defy simple explanation and ask how our cultural lens shapes the way we treat mental illness.

Does the fear of Hell keep people alive?

This post explores the intersection of Animism, Christianity, and suicide prevention. I reflect on how a worldview of "oneness" can be a source of healing, but also a potential risk factor for high-risk clients who are looking for an escape.

Healing isn't a straight line; it's a walk through a forest. This post explores the archetype of the "Wounded Healer," sharing my personal journey from the foster care system to psychotherapy. I reflect on why we can't heal alone and why our old wounds sometimes reopen to teach us something new.

Why does the DSM change over time? Why was homosexuality once a diagnosis and now it isn't? This post dives into the social construction of mental illness, arguing that viewing diagnosis as a fluid cultural product—rather than a fixed biological fact—can actually help clients heal.

As a social worker, I looked at families and communities to help clients heal. As a doctoral student, I realized I was missing the biggest system of all: nature. This post reflects on my evolution as a change-maker, from gardening with elementary students to overcoming imposter syndrome in my Ph.D. program.

Not all nightmares are the same, and treating them alike can be harmful. This post explores the critical difference between ordinary, symbolic nightmares and the literal, traumatic reruns experienced in PTSD. Learn why traditional dream analysis can be re-traumatizing and discover the specialized therapies, like Imagery Rehearsal Therapy, designed to help heal.

Did you know there are at least 9 types of extraordinary dreams? This guide explores them all, from lucid dreaming and pregnancy dreams (which science can mostly explain) to past-life and collective dreams (which challenge everything we think we know). Find out what your most powerful dreams might mean.

Ever wonder why you forget most dreams, but some stick with you forever? This post explores the psychological difference between the "ordinary" dreams our brain uses to file away daily memories and the "extraordinary" big dreams that can carry profound messages from our unconscious mind.

i'll never forget the "aha!" moment I had when I first studied Positive Psychology and realized how much of my education had focused on suffering, not flourishing. This post is a reflection on that discovery and why we desperately need to study "the other side of the coin" to truly understand human well-being.

A few months after my friend passed away, he picked me up in a golf cart... on Mars. This post explores an extraordinary visitation dream I had, analyzing its strange and beautiful details through two different psychological lenses—Jung's archetypes and Freud's symbolism—to uncover a message of hope I didn't know I needed.

With research in the field growing by over 1,000% in recent decades, ecotherapy is proving to be a powerful tool for mental wellness. This post explores the science behind nature-based healing, from how forest therapy reduces anxiety to how horticultural therapy can alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia. Discover the evidence-based case for making nature a part of our mental healthcare.

Ready to build unshakable self-worth? This post is a practical guide to the Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, a powerful framework for developing confidence. Learn actionable practices for living consciously, practicing self-acceptance, and living a purposeful life.

Go beyond talk therapy to explore the world of Psychotherapeutic Reiki, a practice that combines traditional counseling with energy healing. This post breaks down how Reiki addresses the energetic root cause of mental health issues by balancing the body's chakras. Learn how this holistic approach works to release blockages, reduce symptoms, and create long-term wellness.

How do you research your own healing? This post details a personal journey into post-traumatic growth, using transpersonal methods like life-mapping, visual imagery, and meditation to pinpoint the exact moments and interventions that led to a spiritual awakening. See how a stable home, a trusted therapist, and holistic tools like crystals created a blueprint for transformation.