Empowering Growth

“It is not joy that makes us grateful. It is gratitude that makes us joyful.” –David Steindl-Rast In the spirit of Thanksgiving…gratitude. I often feel gratitude for the simple things in my daily life. A cup of hot coffee in the morning, a sweet encounter with a stranger, arriving home to see Joe after a […]

Hey out there! It’s me again! I know, it’s been some time (again) right? Whenever I share on this blog my intention is to share with purpose. Not to share just because I enjoy talking (or writing) about myself. So here I am writing this out in the notes section of my phone because I

I am currently riding the rollercoaster emotions of with my youngest child going to college out of state. Can anybody relate? September is a busy month for most with the official shift from Summer to Fall. Whether it’s having a new baby, starting up the school year, changing schools, moving, or the dreaded Monday blues,

It is so easy to get caught up in everyday life and the hustle and bustle of what needs to get done.  As someone who’s personal motto is to do more, be better, try harder I often have to use mindfulness to slow down and accumulate the positives in life.    Accumulating positives sounds like

Wiping the dust off of this blog and realizing this will be the first (and likely only) post of 2018. I’m okay with it though. My motto of the year has been “DBT of South Jersey, we strive for imperfection!”-and isn’t that the truth?! It’s quite fitting since the end of the year is when

One of the core skills in DBT is Wise Mind. Getting in touch with your Wise Mind and recognizing what state of mind you’re is a foundation of skillful behavior. Being in Wise Mind feels like a sense of stability, spaciousness, and deep knowing. I’ll describe the way I like to think about Wise Mind. Wise

In case you didn’t know, I’m a psychologist who specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). My favorite part about DBT is that these skills are helpful for everyone, and I use them every day. Let’s be real, as a brand new mom I need them now more than ever! There is a lot that I

Recently I completed a course of physical therapy on my left wrist, which had developed arthritis, a cyst, and a malformed ligament.  I broke my left wrist ice skating with my boyfriend when I was 19 years old, during a cold Iowa and Minnesota winter while on a concert band tour.  I don’t even want

Often we don’t think that mindfulness is a practical skill. Many people still believe that mindfulness must look like a more formal meditation practice, but I’ve found that everyday mindfulness makes a difference in big and not-so-big ways. This past Easter, my husband David and I were traveling from Ohio back to Texas when our

As a therapist, I often aim to practice what I preach. Not only because I feel more genuine in the work I do with my clients… But because this stuff (particularly DBT of course) works! Practicing what I preach in my personal life has improved how I handle what life has thrown my way. This