So many of us, myself included, thought the pandemic would be long gone by now. Unfortunately, we were wrong! How are you coping with this continued change in the way we live our lives? I have heard a lot of comments lately, by clients and by others, about the impact of Covid-19 on their lives. … Read More
It’s a brand new year! Thank goodness! Last year was a very difficult year, full of many sorrows. A lot of us struggled with sometimes overwhelming feelings of fear, frustration, anger, grief, and loss, as the pandemic spread across our world. Some of us grew sick with the virus, or our friends and family members … Read More
How are you handling the continuing pandemic? We’re all struggling with the cumulative impact of day after day feeling fear of exposure, loss of our normal routines, and loneliness. This has gone on for so long already, and we haven’t yet been able to see the end of Covid-19. Most of us have good days … Read More
It’s almost 2020! I hope that wherever you are, you’re ready for a brand new year, filled with possibilities. This was our view a few days ago, out of our youngest son’s front room window. I grew up in the Midwest, and we had snow every Christmas. Now that I’m in southern California, snow is … Read More
As a therapist, I see clearly the value of therapy, but I realize not everyone does. It’s important to know that therapy isn’t only for those with serious mental illnesses. It has so much value for anyone who isn’t happy, doesn’t have inner peace, or is unsure how to create a better tomorrow. Therapy can … Read More
One of the biggest contributors to our feeling stressed and overwhelmed is our inability to be really present for the moments of our lives. Most of us have learned to be very good at multitasking. We’re rewarded in many ways for doing more than one thing at a time, but when we do this, we’re … Read More
There’s so much beauty this time of year, but there’s also a lot of stress. Holidays have a way of bringing sadness to many people. They may be missing loved ones who have died, or who just aren’t available for one reason or another. Holidays can also bring a sense of overwhelm to quite a … Read More
How often do you play? My husband and I were out for a walk the other morning, and came upon this swing, hanging from a large tree in a field. It made me think of how often we, as adults, take life so seriously that we forget how to play. Our lives get way out … Read More
My last post was about the terrible fires we were having in our area. As the holidays rolled around, we thought that we were past the worst of it. And then came the predictions of a bad rainstorm, and the serious worry about mudslides in the burned areas. We again had mandatory and voluntary evacuations … Read More
For any of you who live anywhere near Santa Barbara, you know that this has not been a typical holiday season. Early in December, what has become known as the Thomas Fire began. It started quite a distance from here, but quickly spread. In a matter of days, people from Santa Paula, to Ojai, to … Read More
