Mary Elizabeth Burns, MS, NCC, LPC

01/26/2026

Compassion isn’t always soft.
Sometimes it looks like:
• Letting go of the story you’re telling about why someone is the way they are
• Pausing before self-abandonment in the name of being “understanding”
• Allowing discomfort instead of rushing to fix, explain, or perform empathy
• Recognizing when judgment is actually unprocessed pain asking for care
• Offering yourself the same patience you extend to everyone else
Real compassion begins inside the nervous system, not in the right words.
It’s less about being nice—and more about being honest, regulated, and present.
And sometimes, the most compassionate thing you can do
is stop demanding that pain make sense.

Mary Elizabeth Burns, LPC

12/15/2025

12/08/2025

Blocking beliefs are not self-sabotage — they are survival strategies that once kept you safe.

Perfectionism.
People-pleasing.
Emotional shutdown.
Over-functioning.

They aren’t personality traits. They’re nervous system responses.
Healing doesn’t begin by forcing yourself to “do better.”
It begins by understanding what part of you is still trying to survive.
If this resonates, you’re not broken. You’re adaptive.
And you can learn a different way.

maryelizabethburns.com

Expert support for narcissistic abuse recovery, disordered eating, body image issues, ADHD & trauma. Serving Sandy Springs, Buckhead & Alpharetta and all of Georgia

11/25/2025

https://maryelizabethburns.com

Expert support for narcissistic abuse recovery, disordered eating, body image issues, ADHD & trauma. Serving Sandy Springs, Buckhead & Alpharetta and all of Georgia

10/24/2025

When you feel overwhelmed, the instinct is often to tighten — to push through, to manage, to fix. Yet what your nervous system most needs in these moments is softness.
Self-compassion isn’t about dismissing your struggle; it’s about acknowledging it with honesty and care. It’s pausing long enough to say, “This is hard, and I’m still worthy of kindness.”
Try placing a hand on your chest and taking one slow, deliberate breath. Let your body feel the steadiness of that simple act. It’s a quiet reminder that you can hold yourself gently, even when the world feels heavy.
Overwhelm begins to loosen when compassion enters the conversation.

10/01/2025

Thought loops offer two paths.
One keeps you circling—the familiar rabbit hole of overthinking and unease.

The other invites something new: a trail not yet walked.

Mindfulness is that first step.

Noticing the loop without following it.
Choosing presence over repetition.
Every time you pause, observe, and return—you’re not just interrupting the cycle.

You’re creating a new pathway.



https://maryelizabethburns.com

09/30/2025

https://maryelizabethburns.com

09/16/2025

Learning to notice your thought patterns and how they correlate to your body, is a first step in breaking free from cycles of control and perfectionism.
When you recognize how self-critical thoughts tighten your chest or how anxious planning makes your breath shallow, you can begin to interrupt the loop.
Somatic therapy gives you tools to soften these patterns—so your body feels calmer, your mind clearer, and life less like something to manage and more like something to live.

✨ Link in bio to begin your process.

09/10/2025

Facing your flaws is not as hard as you think.



maryelizabethburns.com

09/09/2025

Healing from narcissistic abuse isn’t just about leaving the relationship.
It’s about noticing how even the smallest choices—what you say, what you hold back, how you move through the world—may still be shaped by old wounds.
Therapy helps you bring these invisible patterns into the light.
You begin to ask: Is this really my voice… or a ghost from the past?
Recovery is soul work. It’s remembering who you are beneath the survival strategies, reclaiming the parts of yourself you had to hide, and choosing from freedom rather than fear.
🌿 Every small decision becomes a doorway back to your true self.
👉 Read more at maryelizabethburns.com

08/27/2025

Perfectionism often keeps the body in a subtle state of tension—shallow breathing, tight muscles, constant readiness to perform. I

Integrating breathwork throughout the day interrupts this cycle.
Pause to take three intentional breaths before entering a meeting.
Exhale fully after completing a task. Slow your breath when you notice self-criticism rising. These small practices signal safety to the nervous system, creating space for clarity and presence rather than pressure.

Notice how your body feels after even a few breaths. Save this as a reminder to return to yourself throughout the day.
✨ Learn more about my work at: https://maryelizabethburns.com

08/25/2025

Perfectionism often keeps the mind racing—an endless loop of “not enough.”
Mindfulness offers a way out.
Notice the thought: “This has to be flawless.”
Notice the feeling: tension, pressure, fear.

Then pause. Breathe.

When you observe your inner critic instead of obeying it, you create distance.
You remember: a thought is not a command.
An emotion is not the whole story.
Mindfulness doesn’t erase perfectionism overnight,
but it loosens its grip—one breath, one moment at a time.


https://maryelizabethburns.com