I’ve had the experience, time and again, a client really wants to be heard. It happens in groups and one on one. Too often, in the rush to have their story heard, striving for community and connection, a client begins to tell a painful story. It often starts with little nervous system activation, but as the client gets more into detail their nervous system goes into flight, fight or freeze and, boom, they are somewhere ….read on; illumination awaits….
Blog
Supporting Your Loved One Who Has Survived Sexual Assault
This blog is specifically for those who have someone in their life who has experienced sexual assault. Whether it be a sister, brother, lover, or friend, I will talk about some things to keep in mind that will allow you to be present for them during their pain. The key points I will be discussing are: your love for them, safety, respecting their unique healing journey, reading/workshops, it’s not their fault. The first thing I’d ….read on; illumination awaits….
Counseling Is An Art; How Therapist and Client Share the Beauty of Life
What else is life, if it isn’t a shared journey? Sometimes, I have felt that I am alone and no one knows how much pain I’m in and has never felt pain like mine. In some way that’s true, my pain is unique. My life circumstances are configured in such a way as to be only mine. In another way, this is only my ego finding separation between myself and others and creating more pain ….read on; illumination awaits….
The Body’s Role in Empowerment
What is the body’s role in empowerment? I think to answer that question, we first have to define what empowerment is. Empower is a verb and from Merriam Webster’s dictionary, the definition is “to give official authority or legal power to or to promote the self-actualization of or influence of.” Given that definition, women’s empowerment is when we give power or authority to women or to ourselves and therefore our bodies. I remember the first ….read on; illumination awaits….
The Value of Gentle Fierceness
Gentle fierceness, this is my specialty. Over the years I’ve gotten a lot of feedback about my presence in groups, individually, with clients and co-workers. All this feedback has sounded similar. Erin, you have gentle power or gentle fierceness or something to that effect. It’s my nature and for that, I’m thankful. It’s part of my personality and a piece of myself that I share with clients. This quality is an integral part of my ….read on; illumination awaits….
The Body is a Vehicle for Spirit
It is my belief that the body is the vehicle for our spirit. Some of you may think, what does that even mean? What is our spirit? Spirit can be defined as indestructible energy, awareness or life force. The body encapsulates this energy. This idea became evident to me during a time in my life that I began to uncover childhood traumas and was seeking out professionals beyond mainstream therapy and medicine. I had an ….read on; illumination awaits….