Hello, and welcome to my therapy practice website

The Importance of Connection

Here I will be writing about mental health topics that are near and dear to my heart, as well as topics that arise from my practice. Hopefully, we will learn a few things together and find support and validation to remind us that we are not alone. A huge contributor to good mental health is feeling socially connected to others and remembering that whatever we are experiencing is not being experienced alone in a vacuum. There are 7.8 billion people in the world! I’m not saying that each of us isn’t special, but I do find it comforting to know that I am not alone in my struggles. Don’t you? At any given moment, there are other people around the world worrying about what you and I are worrying about. When we struggle, we tend to think we are the only ones struggling. This is misguided and super depressing and anxiety-provoking. Let’s try to remember this concept of “common humanity” the next time we feel alone in our problems. Professor, writer, and researcher, Kristen Neff includes common humanity as an essential component of self-compassion, a proven practice for protecting against depression and anxiety. Remembering common humanity goes a long way in reducing feelings of isolation and, in turn, helps us exit off of the hamster wheel trap and re-enter the game of life.

About Me

In this first published post, I will share a little about me and the beliefs that underpin my work as a mental health therapist. I’m a southern girl that planted roots in Arizona and discovered that blooming and thriving in the desert is possible. I was not so sure of this belief when I first moved to a community outside of Phoenix in 2016. Initially, I did not see life or beauty in the desert. As I looked around, all I could see for miles was brown, brown, light brown, dark brown, and more brown. I’m from North Carolina, so this was an adjustment; and it was summertime. Thankfully, about a year in, I developed a completely different perspective. Now, when I look around, the colors, vibrancy, and vitality of the desert astound me! The desert reminds me that life finds a way through and forward even in the harshest of habitats. I find that pretty awe-inspiring. The desert for me has become a metaphor for navigating through and beyond harsh circumstances and experiences we encounter in life. Like the desert, which has many inhospitable plants and cacti, rattlesnakes, scorpions, droughts, and scorching temperatures, life can also feel inhospitably prickly, treacherous, piercing, depleting, and nearing a boiling point. I believe our bodies are always trying to steer us in the direction of healing and adapting. This is happening even in the midst of what feels like debilitating stress and trauma. In my practice, my clients constantly remind me that the human spirit is an indomitable force. It is stronger and more powerful than anything harsh or traumatic we have been through. Given a different perspective, some light and warmth to clear out the shame, meaningful connection to eliminate isolation, and a will to learn and grow, evolving and thriving are possible…just like life in the desert.