The Better Living Collaborative

The Better Living Collaborative Get started with my free self-compassion guide at radicalself.ck.page

I'm committed to providing individuals and organizations accessible tools (not rules!) for ‘Radical Wellness' - the art and science of being okay, even when things around us aren't.

It’s okay to miss people who hurt you.Healing is complicated—you can hold nostalgia and boundaries at the same time.Miss...
01/13/2026

It’s okay to miss people who hurt you.
Healing is complicated—you can hold nostalgia and boundaries at the same time.
Missing someone doesn’t mean you should invite them to dinner.


Healing isn’t simple—it’s messy, intense, and sometimes downright confusing. You’ll probably ask yourself, “Why am I doi...
01/13/2026

Healing isn’t simple—it’s messy, intense, and sometimes downright confusing. You’ll probably ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” more than once. So, here’s the real secret: it’s not just about feeling better (though that’s pretty amazing when it happens!), it’s about becoming a force for good. Your healing creates a ripple effect, inspiring others to repair and grow, too. 🌱

Healing serves the world— and you can be the change that stops the cycle of damage.


There has been so much heaviness, tragedy, and trauma lately. So many of us are grieving, or feeling fearful, or angry, ...
01/12/2026

There has been so much heaviness, tragedy, and trauma lately. So many of us are grieving, or feeling fearful, or angry, or maybe even in shock. Maybe all of the above.

But, we don't always know what to do with these kinds of feelings in the midst of a trauma or in the midst of a chaotic world. So, very often, individuals - especially those with freeze and fawn trauma responses - will just keep going about their normal routines.

If this is you, please know it's absolutely normal to do this. If this is someone you know, please don't categorize this person as someone who 'doesn't care.' You see, routine is a regulator. Routine can be, in and of itself, a nervous system regulator that signals to our body things are okay (or going to be.) Why would we want this? Because in order to respond, to cope, to eventually process the weight of what is going on around us, we have to be able to function. If your nervous system has been hijacked by the traumatic experience, that can't happen. So, when you're cleaning out a closet, or planning for the work week, or going grocery shopping, you're giving your nervous system a chance to break away from the trauma response and giving your brain critical time to think clearly, organize thoughts, and make plans.

Mental wellness is about balance: especially when living through real life situations. We've seen horrifying things recently, we've experienced both real and vicarious trauma, and many of us have felt very threatened. But, we also have the pressure of living: paying bills, taking care of our families, going to school or keeping other commitments. Life won't necessarily stop and so we must permit ourselves to do both things - process and release our emotions, and find ways to cope. Routine is one way we can cope.

“Healing is creative work.”Let your imagination help you process, rebuild, and dream—yes, even with glitter involved.Mes...
01/12/2026

“Healing is creative work.”

Let your imagination help you process, rebuild, and dream—yes, even with glitter involved.
Messy art is still medicine.


The number of times I hear 'Well, but - I'm not really sure...' after inquiring about a trauma or an abusive encounter i...
01/11/2026

The number of times I hear 'Well, but - I'm not really sure...' after inquiring about a trauma or an abusive encounter is extraordinarily high.

Why? Because we still have this message that abusive behavior is only overt. That it is always loud, raging, physically aggressive behavior that leaves a mark. We believe s*xually abusive behavior is always a r*pe and always done brutally, usually by someone we don't know.

Those kinds of abuses certainly exist (sadly). And they are awful.

But so, too, does the kind of abuse that gaslights someone into submission and causes them to stop believing or trusting themselves. The kind that causes them to discount anything short of that overt abuse as 'okay.'

Physical, s*xual, and psychological abuses usually do not announce themselves as abuse - in fact, they are often followed up by a kindness of some sort: a text message, a small gift, a period of especially helpful or appreciative behavior... Or, they may be followed up by a justification - they were having such a bad day, or even more gaslighting - that you were just being so difficult, so unfair, or so resistant...

So the story becomes one of confusion, self-doubt, and self-blame. Then story becomes symptoms: insomnia, depression, hypervigilance, anxiety...

Let me assure that if it was really 'okay,' these would not be your responses. That's not what 'okay' feels like. So, if this is your experience, it's time to reach out for that support - you deserve to feel much better than 'okay' to begin with. And, you deserve a safe place to explore what's happened so that it doesn't continue to limit your experiences. We can't change what's happened but we can change how what's happened is affecting us.

Reach out. There's support available. And you are worth it!

01/09/2026

You have value always - being at 'the top' is not required.

Toxic Positivity can get under our skin - and inside our minds. But it doesn't have to be that way. You deserve to feel ...
01/08/2026

Toxic Positivity can get under our skin - and inside our minds.
But it doesn't have to be that way.

You deserve to feel how YOU feel without justification or excusing the conditions you endured.
Good things come from showing ourselves self-compassion and connecting with OUR voice, not anyone else's. Grab my free download today and get started!

# #

I've decided to expand my client base while interning - offering $30 in-person or telehealth therapy sessions in South C...
01/07/2026

I've decided to expand my client base while interning - offering $30 in-person or telehealth therapy sessions in South Carolina (no insurance.) With everything going on in the world, being able to offer something that is affordable and accessible is important to me. If I can support you, or someone you know, please reach out. I'd love to accompany you on your healing journey!

As a doctoral student in Mental Health Counseling, I know the value of therapy. As a DV survivor, I know the value of th...
01/05/2026

As a doctoral student in Mental Health Counseling, I know the value of therapy.
As a DV survivor, I know the value of therapy.
As a parent, I know the value of therapy.
As a human in a world that often seems so harsh, I know the value of therapy.

I also know the stigma of the work I do - and the treatment I use. But it doesn't need to be that way. Let's normalize therapy - with a little levity 🥸

Therapy Nerd merchandise is my personal design - a playful way to start the conversation about why we can all use a little therapy from time to time. Tee's, hoodies, bags, pillowcases, and hats in a variety of fun colors and styles - with more to come. Shop the store and become an advocate today. You never know who you might empower!

betterlivingcollab.com/store

Because therapy isn’t weird—pretending you don’t need it is!

We get caught up in the nuance of this a lot...Trauma Survivors: Healing after trauma isn’t about blaming yourself for w...
01/04/2026

We get caught up in the nuance of this a lot...

Trauma Survivors: Healing after trauma isn’t about blaming yourself for what you went through. Especially if you were young—it was NEVER your fault. Even if you felt powerless, your mind and body channeled their warrior spirit to help you survive. And you did. And you're here.

Now, YOU get to write your story. Being accountable in your now means you’re in charge of your healing, your growth, and how you react to triggers. Changing & healing doesn’t mean punishing yourself for the ways you survived—it means acknowledging your strength and refusing to let your past define you.

You can hold compassion for who you were, and still champion who you’re becoming. Both are true.

Ready to move forward? Let's do this.

Joy doesn’t need to be loud or sparkly—it can be the quiet moment when you find the only warm seat in the house or hear ...
01/03/2026

Joy doesn’t need to be loud or sparkly—it can be the quiet moment when you find the only warm seat in the house or hear a song that feels like a hug.
Tiny joys count. In fact, they often carry us farther than the big ones.


If your holiday stress is rising, grab a pen, a paintbrush, a crayon, a napkin—anything—and make something imperfect and...
01/02/2026

If your holiday stress is rising, grab a pen, a paintbrush, a crayon, a napkin—anything—and make something imperfect and honest.
Creativity isn’t about talent; it’s a pressure-release valve for the soul.


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Mount Pleasant, SC
29466

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https://www.betterlivingcollab.com/

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