Seeds of Love Counseling

07/05/2023

One thing I love about summer is having time to read some of the books that accumulate on my bookshelf. "Essential Labor: Mothering as Social
Change," by Angela Garbes is an exquisite commentary on motherhood, culture, and American society at large. Many meaningful things to consider from this piece.

06/19/2023

Really enjoying this month's article series from Childmind about ways to support LGBTQ kids.

When an LGBTQ child comes out to their parents, how can parents best support their child’s mental health and well-being? What do they need to hear?

06/12/2023

Had the best time and learned so much at the Play Therapy Summer 2023 Conference. Thank you George Fox University for continuing to host such meaningful trainings!

06/02/2023

Happy !

For the latest APA resources on sexual orientation and gender diversity, visit https://on.apa.org/3IS3sJr

06/02/2023

New blog post all about connecting with your teen!

Being a teen can be hard. And being the parent of a teen can be even harder. Numerous changes occurring in the adolescent brain and body can leave many parents feeling as if they are learning how to parent all over again. And recent statistics published by the Center for Disease Control describing n

05/18/2023

Lunch time walk. I love exploring outdoor spaces near my office. Bonus: being out in nature is one of the best ways to regulate our nervous systems and reduce stress 🙂

04/29/2022

Really enjoying the series from childmind.org this week about parenting with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health challenges. Love this systemic perspective for supporting the whole family.

Depression can make parenting feel overwhelming. But if you’re a parent dealing with depression, you’re not alone, and treatment can help.

11/19/2021

Check out my latest article in Tualatin Life for tips to help prepare you and your family for Thanksgiving next week!

Setting: It’s Tuesday night. It’s been a busy day. You’ve been juggling responsibilities at home and at work; making sure lunches are packed, emails are read, and zoom links are sent. You sit down to dinner with your family. Parent: “How was school?”Child: “Fine”Parent: “What did you...

10/26/2021

"Between March and October 2020, the percentage of emergency department visits for children with mental health emergencies rose by 24% among children aged 5 to 11 and by 31% among children aged 12 to 17, the groups said in a statement. And there were 50% more suspected suicide attempt-related emergency room visits among girls aged 12 to 17 in early 2021 than in early 2019."

Youngsters already faced significant mental health challenges, and the pandemic has made them worse, leading child health care groups say.

10/25/2021

Be mindful of the narrative you tell yourself around being single and what that relationship status means. How you make sense of this space can greatly influence how you engage and whether this is a time of growth or stagnation/despair.

09/21/2021

New pics of the office! I love the challenge of making my space accessible and therapeutic for all ages.

08/10/2021

"As adults, we want (and often demand) that kids “use their words” to tell us what they are upset about. Having an understanding of the limbic system’s dominance over a young person’s brain activity during a stressful situation helps us understand why, in the heat of the moment, kids lack the ability—not the will—to put words to how they are feeling."

Difficulty putting feelings into words is one of the many reasons play therapy can be such a powerful and effective experience for children experiencing big emotions. Working with a play therapist can give children and their parents the tools they need to thrive.

Learn why young people struggle to use their words during stressful situations.