When you break your arm, your bones need to be in a cast so that they can heal. It would not be healthy to stay in the cast for your whole life, but there is a needed period where the boundaries become very strict and stringent in order to set the right conditions for your … Continue reading When Your Nervous System Needs to be “in a Cast”
Before You Practice “Letting Go…”
This fall, you can probably expect a lot of posts, blogs, and articles about how fall is “a beautiful time to let go of things that no longer serve you.” Well…allow me to contribute to that pool, but with a twist 🙂 If the FB/IG robots have caught any glimpse of you being on a … Continue reading Before You Practice “Letting Go…”
What It Takes To Actually Love Yourself
Happy June and Happy Pride Month Everybody! Since it is Pride Month, I thought the theme of this newsletter would be self-love. I have been preaching this shit for 14 years of being a therapist and I tell ya- I am only now really starting to feel it IN MY BONES! So.. what does it … Continue reading What It Takes To Actually Love Yourself
Why The Men In Our Lives Aren’t Sprinting to Therapy (Guest Blog by Gwynaedd Howdyshell)
I decided to ask an open question on my Instagram story to see why the men who followed me were afraid/reluctant to seek therapy. The responses surprised me in comparison to much of the research that I’ve come across. I noticed a lot of toxic masculinity was a common theme and shame was super prevalent. … Continue reading Why The Men In Our Lives Aren’t Sprinting to Therapy (Guest Blog by Gwynaedd Howdyshell)
Pulling Back The Veil
To our beautiful AVOS community, This is the time to be unequivocal. This is the time to pull back the veil on our blind spots and sit in discomfort. We at AVOS are committed to equity, inclusion, diversity and to practicing and becoming an Anti-racist organization. We cannot claim to be a trauma-informed practice without … Continue reading Pulling Back The Veil
Hello Self-Sabotage, My Old Friend GUEST BLOG BY KRISTEN MCGEEHON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HQwoUMt_Co&authuser=0 Self-sabotage, or self defeating behaviors, is essentially any behavior or action that gets in the way of your plans, intentions, or goals - this behavior actually moves you away from your goals and into, more or less, a shame spiral. This looks different for everyone but, generally, it tends to be behaviors such as … Continue reading Hello Self-Sabotage, My Old Friend GUEST BLOG BY KRISTEN MCGEEHON
“Everything Happens for a Reason,” “This too shall pass,” “Just Let it Go” and other forms of Spiritual Bypassing that Actually do More Harm Than Good.
https://youtu.be/QwSUf8th1_c Many of us (myself included) have often said these well-meaning phrases. Things like “Let go and Let God,” “They’re (your loved ones who have died) are in a better place now,” “God doesn’t give you anymore than you can handle” are intended to “make people feel better,” but when they are in place of … Continue reading “Everything Happens for a Reason,” “This too shall pass,” “Just Let it Go” and other forms of Spiritual Bypassing that Actually do More Harm Than Good.
Hate To Tell You “Do-Gooders” But….People Pleasing is Just Another Form of Manipulation
Perhaps we have someone in our lives that we would consider a “bulldozer.” They seem to always get what they want and have a very hard time accepting “no” for an answer. They are extremely convincing or downright dishonest and/or they only call us when they want something. These are the characteristics that we generally … Continue reading Hate To Tell You “Do-Gooders” But….People Pleasing is Just Another Form of Manipulation
Why Your Relationship Might Be At The Root of You Not Ever Feeling Good Enough: Top 10 Signs of Narcissistic Abuse.
Some people may have narcissistic parents or are in romantic relationships or friendships with narcissists. If you recognize some of these signs, it is likely that this person will have very little self-awareness. Of course, I am in the business of believing that people can change, but remember- you can’t change others. They will likely … Continue reading Why Your Relationship Might Be At The Root of You Not Ever Feeling Good Enough: Top 10 Signs of Narcissistic Abuse.
When you’re running on an empty bucket
Ideally, we are supposed to grow up with loving and protective parents that are curious about who we really are, they nurture and support us, they teach us how to protect ourselves and take care of ourselves. Our caregivers’ voices become our internal voice. We internalize the way they spoke to us as a way … Continue reading When you’re running on an empty bucket
A.V.O.S. Counseling 