Mindful Connections Therapy

01/19/2026

You are THE Alchemist in your life. Learning to transform pain into awareness, void into aliveness. Understanding the masks we wear so that we can shed them is profound to the process of awakening. When the mask comes off, hidden patterns are revealed and insights emerge. A deep, self-compassionate awakening awaits. A truer you!

To get closer to the aspects of ourselves we can't see and thus can't accept is the crux of doing alchemical shadow work. Revealing? Yes. Rewarding? Yes. Evocative? Yes. Challenging? Yes.

A lot of energy goes into masking the shadow parts of one’s self- though deeply unconscious, it takes up a lot of internal space to repress our authenticity. AND we don’t even know what the shadow consists of….until we do the work.

Shadow parts are made up of difficult aspects of the self, such as, rage, greed, selfishness, and envy. While we might not *want* to examine these difficult patterns, doing so frees us. On the lighter side, shadow parts also hold disowned aspects, such as, our hidden strengths and gifts.

Revealing the whole of one’s self through doing shadow work exploration leads to reduction in inner tension and conflict, less self-sabotaging and improved relationships (less projection and irritability with others). More of YOU shows up in the world with awareness, inner harmony and your authentic gifts.

Are you ready for the alchemy to begin?

12/31/2025

As we close the year, ceremony and reflection may be in your heart. You may feel called to invite the cosmic energies to help you release a burden, belief or fear that has impinged you in 2025. There is solid power in creating ceremony. Perhaps you seek energetic balance, nervous system nourishment, or healing grief and loss. Ceremony makes a bold statement that says “I honor this”. How will you create ceremony in the new year? Drumming, singing, chanting, lighting a candle, dissolving and releasing with water or fire? The support is here for you now. Evoke it. Feel it. Enliven it. Call it.

12/24/2025

A little holiday humor to spark a bit of aliveness.

The Self can feel elusive, far away and dream-like at times. Are you in a stage of life change, such as a divorce, new partnership, career, move, becoming an empty nester, retirement, peri/menopause? Then, I place a bet that you are also facing some existential questions about yourself in this time of life.

Right now, as you put one hand on the heart and the other on the belly, you can soften into these feelings and simply notice the contact that is right here, right now. This is a time of great change and uncertainty, even if it is welcome change. Simply make contact with all of you, in this moment. Arriving. Here. With a tender greeting.

12/22/2025

Caught up in a frenzy, are you? The illusion of urgency surrounds us all. You may be swept away in holiday shopping and the buzz in the air. The sweets, the treats, the indulgences. Oh my! Perhaps, grief and loss is settling in or anticipated to land any minute now. Memories of holidays past reside in your body...so go easy on yourself.

There may be emotional pain or unresolved trauma that is activated now. Perhaps you feel excessively guilty about not getting everything done. Might you be anxious about spending time with family you have strained relationships with?

When you feel the whirl and the swirl come on.....practice the THYMUS HEART RUB. Place your hand flatly over the upper chest. Begin to rub gently and soothingly in a circle, starting at your heart and beginning the circling motion in the direction of your left arm.

11/26/2025

Let’s be real- the holidays come with a lot of baggage for many of us. History, memories, pressure, expectations, and hopes and longings that are unfulfilled. During these more challenging times the good stuff of life slips through our hands and heart. It misses the landing strip and moves through us, as stress consumes occupancy inside.

As we begin our descent of the year, the invitation is to *look for* the lighter, more pleasant moments of life. Let the LIGHT in. Let the positive moments sink into your autonomic nervous system. While the hard stuff is there….might you make some space for the laughter, the joy, the lightness- even if it is temporary (because it is) Grab those moments with tenacity. Breathe them into your body, give them life and the aliveness they deserve.

🌟Examples to grab a hold of in the moment🌟👀

Music- let your body move and groove like it wants to
The sounds of birds chirping (ahhhhh)
Laughter- however it comes
A tender feeling watching your child or grandchild play
The aromas bursting in the kitchen. Stop, savor, and be with them

10/30/2025

Healing with ourselves is one of the paths towards wholeness. Relational healing is another. The transformation of traumatic pain that stems from mistreatment from others (relational trauma) involves healing on a relational level. You may find yourself being more compassionate with others and less judgmental as you are learning to do with yourself. You are communicating with more *precision* and skillfulness. Look at you!
Likely you are becoming intentional with who you spend your time with and how. You are practicing embodiment of love, care, & support that is available to you now. This is a somatic practice- to take in, bit by bit, the ways others show up for you. Let your nervous system sink into the delight of being cared about, remembering you are on the path NOW!

10/15/2025

*Signs you are healing*

✔ You feel more comfortable asserting your boundaries- because you are clear about what they are.

✔ You recognize your emotional and relational needs and do not diminish them

✔ You are less likely to default to self judgment when life events happen

✔ You share your feelings with more ease with others you trust

✔ You know wholeheartedly that your value is NOT tied to what you do for others, nor is it dependent upon the opinion of others

✔ You are grounded at your core- mind, body, spirit. You walk in the world feeling more rooted even when life is a bit shaky.

10/13/2025

It's important to bring in laughter to our healing.

09/25/2025

The fall equinox reminds us to turn inward this season and honor the cycles of life. It is a time of harvest and balance. Use this energy to examine where in your life balance is being asked for. It is a time for introspection and connecting with nature to hear what needs to be heard and to feel what needs to be felt. The trees are shedding and perhaps there is a shedding within you that is also necessary. This moment, day, week, season is a NEW one. Choose to come back to YOU- even if it feels shaky and unfamiliar. Begin again.

07/23/2025

We, humans are complex and have a rich inner world with parts of the psyche. Our parts- think the inner critic, rationalizer and perfectionist- are common ones. But they are not YOU. They interfere and take over from time to time which clouds the real YOU. With deep curiosity YOU can begin to build a trusting relationship with these parts who live in you. They are not going anywhere- so why not have a *new* relationship with them. You might begin with an inquiry asking an identified part what their positive intention is for you. This simple inquiry communicated with compassion and curiosity is a *big* step towards greater understanding.

07/09/2025

Does guilt interfere with your ability to experience the FULLNESS of joy, fun, pleasure? DO you have an inner critic part that says you are irresponsible, selfish or wasting time if you do? Healing from trauma not only involves resolving core emotional/physical/spiritual wounds- it also involves reclaiming one’s relationship with positive emotions.

As a child you may have been punished or shames for having too much fun, laughing too loudly or expressing your enthusiasm. If so, this impulse to express joy could have been thwarted. Is it time to reclaim all of you- the pleasurable emotions, laughter, play, joy, feelings of awe and wonder. No need to stay stuck in your head any longer. A somatic therapy approach can be one way to help you return back to your body, feel more ease with these emotions and impulses and expand upon them!

06/20/2025

How can therapy at midlife help you?

Are you in the middle stage of life, aka “midlife”? How ya doing? If you are like many men and women at this stage of life, you may be facing a range of emotions, questions, and thoughts- such as “Is this what I’m suppose to be doing with my life? “Do I really know myself, […]