Child and Family
A blend of my personal and professional reflections as a therapist working with children and families.
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We’re All Human
What would it look like to step away from some of our social rules and give each other permission to just be human? After all, we're all trying to cope with the stress and overwhelm of life in the best way we can. What would it look like to…
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The Intergenerational Transmission of Compassion
Positive caregiving experiences, or angels, can be passed down from generation to generation, buffering the effects of hardship and relational ruptures, while promoting intergenerational transmission of compassion and resilience.
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Forgiveness and Imperfect Parenting
As parents, forgiveness sets us free from the demands of perfectionism. We don’t have to get it all right. When we mess up, we apologize, humbly ask for forgiveness, and accept the grace there for us. In fact, our imperfect parenting provides the opportunity to teach our children about…
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Parenting with Beginner’s Mind
But what happens when we let go of having to change something, letting go of our judgments about good or bad qualities? What happens when we can step back from all the thinking, planning, problem solving, and analyzing, and just be with our children? Beginner’s Mind can help with…
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6 Words of Encouragement for New Mothers
My friend and new mom, I am so excited for you. I also ache with you, and grieve the hard parts of these transitions with you. Here are some words written from my soul to yours...
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How Mindfulness Can Help Parents of Children with Autism
Mindfulness is not just a series of stress-management techniques, but a way of being with our experiences. Parents of children with autism, among us all, may benefit from mindfulness practice
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The Building Blocks of Hope
Adverse Childhood Experiences The presence of adversity, especially early on, can significantly affect the human brain and development. Since the late 1990s, we’ve learned about ACEs, or adverse childhood experiences, and the traces they leave behind. ACEs may be defined as potentially traumatic events that occur between the ages of 0-17,…
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Breaking the Chains of Generational Trauma
Generational Trauma We know now that newborns don’t enter into the world with a clean slate. Their emotional history begins even before they are conceived. For example, all the eggs a woman will carry form in her ovaries while she is a fetus in her mother’s womb. In other words, when your mother…
