I am a huge fan of Dr. Kristin Neff. I call her the "The Queen of Self Compassion" and bow to her work, and how she has helped so many of us around the world to become kinder to ourselves. She is an Associate Professor in the Educational Psychology Dept., University of Texas at Austin. She is also the author … [Read more...] about How to Become More Self-Compassionate
Self-compassion
How to do RAIN Meditation
What Is RAIN Meditation? I am a huge fan of Tara Brach and my favourite tool I’ve learned from her is the The RAIN mindfulness meditation practise which I use constantly with my clients with great success. In her latest book, Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of … [Read more...] about How to do RAIN Meditation
In a Foul Mood? Embrace Your Inner Crab
As I sit down to write this, I am feeling CRABBY. As you can see from the photo above of me at age three, I have never been very skilled at hiding my emotions. This was unpopular with many of the adults in my life when I was a child who kept trying to 'cheer me up' or convince me that I would rather be … [Read more...] about In a Foul Mood? Embrace Your Inner Crab
Becoming the Ocean
If you don't become the ocean, you'll be seasick every day. --Leonard Cohen In my home growing up, when I needed sage advice from an elder, a Leonard Cohen quote was offered up. My mother still refers to him as "Lenny" as if she had an intimately personal relationship with him. I can totally understand that … [Read more...] about Becoming the Ocean
How to Learn Self-Acceptance
If you're my client, you definitely know that I am a huge fan of Tara Brach and have most likely urged you to read her books, listen to her podcast and practise the life-changing RAIN meditation. In this article, I want to introduce you to a concept she calls "the Trance of Unworthiness" which I believe … [Read more...] about How to Learn Self-Acceptance
Turn WHAT IF into WHAT IS
I was recently in session with a highly anxious client who kept saying "What if..." such and such were to happen? As she came up with increasingly scary imagined scenarios, I could sense her anxiety skyrocketing. That's when I decided I had to 'peel her off the ceiling' and work with her to calm herself down. … [Read more...] about Turn WHAT IF into WHAT IS
My Greatest Enemy- Myself: How to Become Your Own Best Friend
Many moons ago, when I was doing my internship as a therapist, something a wise professor of mine said hit home. He was referring to a story about an interview with a 90+-year-old famous therapist, who when asked, “In your 50+ years of being a therapist, how would you sum up what you see as the number one … [Read more...] about My Greatest Enemy- Myself: How to Become Your Own Best Friend
One Reader’s Story: Abuse Survivor Lives Her Life with Passion and Purpose
I am a firm believer that abuse leads to a lowered immune system, and that survivors are more prone to health challenges. A study found heightened inflammation in adults who had been victims of childhood trauma, and it’s this kind of inflammation that’s the baseline for illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and … [Read more...] about One Reader’s Story: Abuse Survivor Lives Her Life with Passion and Purpose