When you find yourself stuck, unmotivated, overwhelmed, or shutting down, it’s not because you're lazy, uncommitted, or broken. It's often your nervous system responding the way it was wired to — from past experiences, trauma, chronic stress,or emotional neglect.

Healing happens when we feel safety, trust, and connection. Being in a safe relationship with your therapist can offer a corrective emotional experience and set up a blueprint for future attachments/relationships. Empathy from another person activates the change and motivation centers in the person’s brain who is receiving the empathy.

Try one or all of these resources out when you’re feeling stuck. Approach these practices with a curious eye and try not to be too hard on yourself when they don’t magically make everything feel better right away. These are practices that, when engaged in consistently, will begin to rewire your brain so the feeling of “stuckness” or “freeze” doesn’t feel as debilitating as it once did. Being stuck isn’t bad—we simply want to find safe ways for you to find movement again.

There are many ways depression shows up in the mind an body—many ways depression shows up interpersonally and behaviorally. I talk about a few of the physiological ways depression shows up and how we might process about them while exploring different related themes.

There are many ways you can stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system—the part of your nervous system that alllows you to calm down, feel relaxed, present, engaged, flexible, and alert. Things like yawning and walking can activate the parasympathetic system. While yawming and walking alone won’t heal ongoing traumas, they are powerful resources in enagagin your body and brain in regulated somatic practices that signal safety and peace to one and other.

Think of your emotions and nervous system like a window. When you're inside that window, you feel okay – maybe not perfect, but you're able to think clearly, make decisions, and handle stress. You’re in your 'zone' – calm enough but still alert. But when stress gets too high, you can get pushed outside that window. Some people go up – they might feel anxious, panicky, angry, or out of control. That’s called being in 'hyperarousal.' Others go down – they might feel numb, shut down, disconnected, or frozen. That’s called 'hypoarousal. Some go up and down – between hyper-arousal and hypo-arousal, experiencing both kinds of symptoms.

Here is a look at some of the main differences between Somatic and Talk Psycotherapy. I love integrating somatic and talk therapy into session for more holistic and sustaible care and healing.

Somatic psychotherapy is a type of therapy that helps you work through emotional or mental struggles by also paying attention to what's happening in your body.

There are many ways to emotionally regulate. One of the most effective forms of emotional regulation is through nervous system regulation. Your brain and body are deeply connected—especially when it comes to emotions.

If you have space in your day, take a moment outside and see what color catches your eye—there you are, actually practicing mindfulness in an accessible and easy way. Don’t underestimate the regulating nature of simply noticing colors

Where do you feel neutral in your body? 

For many people, parts of the ear can be neutral…elbows, fingernails, soles of feet, nose, etc.. For others, some of those body parts might be activating. 

Neutrality in the body most definitely looks different for each person based on their lived experiences. There is no right or wrong when it comes to identifying sensations in your body. 

A Lovingkindness practice to increase access to empathy, love, and compassion.

Sometimes I try and pause to really pay attention to my thoughts vs my feelings—both equally important parts of a person’s internal system. At times I mistake them for each other. The more I differentiate between my thoughts and feelings, the more I have access to myself and my needs.