Blog
Emotional Scar Tissue: How The Psyche Protects Us From Trauma
There is no way around it, when it comes to healing the mind and the body, the way out is through. Whether you are healing from a broken bone, or going to therapy to address trauma, in order to heal, you have to feel. An Aha Moment I’m lying on the massage table...
Being Frightened of The Unknown: A Universal Challenge
It’s back to school time, and summer is winding down. Schedules are changing, and new things are starting. As we transition into Fall (yes, I too can’t believe we are already in August), many clients in my therapy practice are expressing excitement about getting back to routine, and fear of change and new things that are coming. Its the good and bad of change all wrapped up into one big ball of emotion!
Bringing Mind, Body, and Spirit into the Therapy Room: Hypnotherapy
In 2004, I traveled to Las Vegas and trained in my first mind-body technique: hypnotherapy. It was my introduction to how amazing and dynamic the relationship between our body and our mind is. I will admit that, before becoming certified, I knew very little about...
Bringing Mind, Body, and Spirit into the Therapy Room: Safe and Sound Protocol
The human body is nothing short of miraculous. It is pure magic. There are times when I am learning about the body that I’m sure my mouth is hanging open, with a jaw-to-the-floor kind of gob-struck expression. Every cell, from our head to our toes, is intentional...
Bringing Mind, Body, and Spirit into the Therapy Room: Transformative Touch
I recently started calling the work I do “holistic” psychotherapy. Perhaps a mere matter of semantics, it feels like an important distinction as my approach to helping people heal has evolved over time. What is Holistic Psychotherapy? Holistic psychotherapy refers to...
When In Doubt, Call Upon the Crone Archetype
"[The Crone] is not bothered with the petty, the everyday nonsense that hinders our ability to make courageous decisions. She is wise, yes, but she is also tired, and she is really, really good at cutting through the BS." The moment I read the email, the right side...
Being Lost is the Way
It wasn’t the way I had imagined it. Not at all. I thought when I got to the place I was heading, I would finally feel relief and joy - the ever anticipated exhale that one gets when they finally cross that finish line and can stop running and take some deep breaths. ...
A Better Way to Speak About Your Emotions
I've done it myself. Everything I am about to write about, I have been culpable of many times. I’ve done it with clients; I’ve done it with friends; I’ve done it from podiums speaking in front of peers and colleagues; and I’ve done it to myself more times than I care...
Emotions as Energy in Motion
Kennedy was onto something when he made the famous speech, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself." I really think he was right. I believe that people are scared of their own emotions. I know I am. I have been most of my life. And I still am. I wish I could say...
Human Being 101: A Conversation with Kel Bauer
How to be human. That’s what Season Two of the Inner Alchemy Podcast is all about—embracing the ups and downs of being a human being in a Human Doing World. Now, don’t get me wrong: There’s no handbook for it. I can’t hand you a step-by-step and send you on your...
How to Choose Yourself: A Conversation with Kristin Sweeting
In this season of the Inner Alchemy Podcast, we’re focusing on the very human journey that each of our guests have navigated to come to their own beliefs, values, and methods of healing. Through their own ups, downs, and in-betweens, each of our guests continues to...
Living Life for Yourself & Following Your Fun: A Conversation with Claire Pearson
We’ve likely all heard the cliché: ‘Live life to the fullest.’ It’s one of those things that we know we should do, but often gets left on the backburner when we get bogged down by responsibilities and routine. When we choose to take that saying to heart and seek more,...
So Long to Shame: A Conversation with Mazi Robinson
Each and every one of us has likely shied away from vulnerability at one point or another. It can be scary to let people see who we really are, unfiltered and unabashed. On Season 1, Episode 9 of the Inner Alchemy Podcast, we are joined by Mazi Robinson to discover...
Giving In is Not Giving Up: The Power of Surrender
In a time of extreme uncertainty, we, as humans, are getting a crash course in surrendering. Each and every one of us have had to let go of expectations and plans in some way or other. We’ve had to loosen the reins on so much of what goes on in our everyday lives. For...
3 Ways to Reject Diet Culture
There are many messages in our culture that tell us how we should live our lives, and diet culture is no exception. We are constantly being told what the “ideal woman” looks like and the means she should (or shouldn’t) take to get there. News flash: There is no...
3 Ways to Heal the Body and Mind Through Nutrition
Did you know that a healthy perspective on nutrition feeds the mind just as much as it feeds the body? In Season 1, Episode 6 of the Inner Alchemy Podcast, we are joined by Robyn Goldberg, as we dive deeper into the healing power of nutrition, exploring how...
How to Return Home to Your Intuition
Many of us likely wish that we had the how-to on life, the step-by-step instructions that would get us exactly where we are supposed to be at exactly the right time. A little voice telling us where to turn left, when to turn around, when to try again. Well, what if I...
4 Tips for Changing Your Money Mindset
The prominence of money in our world often feels overwhelming, and our relationship with it can become detached and disconnected as a result. Healing your money mindset begins when you listen to your inner knowing and give yourself permission to access the magic...
Metaphor and Storytelling as a Gateway to Healing
Using Metaphor and Storytelling to Reclaim Balance For hundreds of years, storytelling has been part of a child’s upbringing. Whether you grew up listening to fairy tales before bedtime or sat in rapt attention at the dinner table as the adults at your parents’ dinner...
Owning Your Own Story as a Path to Healing
Owning your own story involves taking a chance by immersing yourself fully in your honesty. Each and every human has the strength and courage within to face their darkness and embrace their truth, and this is an elemental part of accessing your own healing. While this...
Your Gifts Need TLC, Not Fixing
I’m curious if any of this sounds familiar: • You have to change the T.V. channel when people are embarrassing themselves on the show you are watching. Your body literally cringes.You can’t take it. • You can feel tension (truly, palpably, feel it!) when you...
Becoming the Co-Creator of Your Own Life by Regaining Control
Sometimes simple is better. But despite that, we tend to over complicate everything we can get our hands on, don't we? The field of psychology is the worst at doing that when it comes to naming things. The worst! Psychology has this amusing way of creating fancy, and...
Reclaiming Your Personal Power
Why Personal Power is Critical What happens when the power goes out in your home? It's hard to do anything, right? Nothing that requires a charge of electricity can function. It literally has no energy. I find that the exact same thing happens when humans lose their...
Discover the Healing Power of Oracle Cards
Oracle cards often go widely misunderstood. They can be assumed a form of sacrilege because they are perceived as a means to get in touch with the spiritual realm. People tend to fear the insight and predictions that come from oracle card readings. This couldn’t...
Redefining ‘Power’: 3 Types and How to Shift Your Mindset
Is your power on or off? You might find yourself instantly checking that your lights haven't gone out and your electronic gadgets are still functioning. If you are, that makes sense, but that’s not the type of power I’m referring to. In this culture, with our...
New Year’s Intentions: Accessing the Magic Inside
Spoiler alert: You don’t have to wait until January 1 to think about new possibilities and hope for better things. If you are like me and most humans roaming the planet, you tend to be a sucker for meaningful dates and “symbols” of new beginnings. We love our...
Inner Alchemy
My favorite definition for alchemy is as follows: Alchemy /ˈalkəmē/ noun A seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination Y’all. . . This always gives me goose bumps every time I read/write/hear it. Transformation and creation are magical....
Introducing the Inner Alchemy Podcast
When I have an idea, sometimes it can take a long time to come to fruition, but when it does, there’s no better feeling in the world. That’s how I feel writing this blog post right now — pretty darn amazing. I’m excited to announce that in January 2021, I’m...
Healing is Your Responsibility
The wound is not your fault, but the healing is your responsibility. The title of this blog is a pretty bold statement. I’ve heard people say that this statement is often polarizing, triggering, and unfair. Love it or hate it, it is a concept that has impacted my own...
The Culture is the Culprit: Balance in an Unbalanced World
Do you remember learning about the Red Herring in high school English class? This term was coined to describe anything that is intended to divert attention from the real problem. It’s the smarmy butler in a classic whodunnit mystery that appears to be the villain when...
Restoring Balance of Our Yin and Yang Energies
For many, the concept of Yin and Yang evokes images of the well-known symbol of duality. For others, it sounds like an eastern philosophy they might have heard of in passing. But the truth is that the essence of these words, and the balance between them, is a critical...
Our Bodies Can Talk: Decoding Our “Body Language”
"The literal language of the body translates into the metaphorical language of life." Our Metaphorical Body Language This simple, yet somewhat strange statement encapsulates a core belief that has guided much of my career. As a therapist working with women, trauma,...
Stress Management for A Very Stressful Week
But it’s also important to remember that we must “complete the stress cycle”, in other words, completely feel and move through the feeling, so that we don’t keep the stress and tension trapped in our body.
Everyday Courage In Recovery
I want to highlight the journey of recovery as an unabashed, all out, complete and total act of courage. Big courage – I mean – Superhero type courage. I want to honor all the men and women out there taking unbelievable leaps of faith in an effort to live a life worth living and try to heal.
3 Reasons Not To Give Up On Self Love
Self love isn’t some meme on facebook. Its a journey, a process. It doesn’t stop once you get there and it isn’t something anyone else gets to define for you. But it is a goal you are worth trying to reach, and I hope you keep your mind open to the possibility of meeting yourself with love one day soon.
Thanksgiving: The Inner Critic’s Least Favorite Holiday
Thanksgiving is upon us, and this evokes images of cornucopias, pumpkin, fall colors and pie. Lots of pie. But it also has me thinking about other things not so Pinterest worthy, such as my inner-critic. The inner critic, you say? For many of you, this will need no...
Fitting In Versus Belonging
I recently attended a high school reunion.? It was both as amusing as it was reflective for me. It was fabulous to catch up with all of my old friends and see how great everyone is doing. It really made me think about (and be incredibly grateful for) where I am now as...
Eating Disorder Versus Disordered Eating
Disordered eating. This language gets used a lot in my writing and talking with clients. For some, the term easily describes what they know to be their relationship with food, but for others, it causes raised eyebrows and uncertainty. Questions get raised, and they...
How To Turn Perfectionism Inside Out
Recently my mom called me to tell me there was a major typo in one of my blog posts. (Mom, if your reading this, thanks for the help with editing!). This normally would be a nightmare for anyone who relates to the term perfectionism. And trust me, I have and at times,...
Fat – Word or Weapon?
I was talking with someone I care about recently, and the conversation took an interesting turn. "I'm so fat" he said. Immediately my heart sank; my body did a reflexive shudder. "No, you're not. Don't say that", was my immediate response. It was automatic, as though...
Make Time For Your Life
I hear people saying, ?I can?t find the time? a lot these days. Ok, I?ll be honest here.? I say it too. I try to catch it, but it slips out more than I would like.? If I can catch it, I always try to check in and see how I feel when I?m saying this.? Almost always, I...
Body Talk: How Our Inner Talk Affects Our Body Image
Sometimes I talk to my body. And by sometimes, I mean, quite a lot. And yes, I mean actual conversations, as in, “hey body, It's Becca here, I have some things I need to tell you.” I just had a very long conversation with her (since I am female, I always reference my...
Water Water Everywhere – 3 Forms of Self Care
Something I have noticed in coaching and counseling people over the past decade is that everyone has something that ?cures what ails them.?? The thing is, what works for one person, doesn?t necessarily work for the next guy. Finding our own personal ?cure,? and by...
Perfectly Imperfect Body Love
Recently, I did a talk for a group of mental health clinicians on eating disorders.? The talk went great, and I was feeling really pleased with myself for being able to help other therapists learn more about a topic that I am so passionate about. As I was packing up...
Before Body Love
It?s no secret that I am on a mission to help women learn to love their bodies, and in turn, learn to love themselves the way they deserve to be loved. It is my passion, and I can?t express the value and importance of making the effort to return to self-love. I can...
5 Way to Reclaim Your Body Image
As I was at the checkout line at the supermarket yesterday, I found myself looking at the magazine rack that is placed, innocently, no doubt, right there amidst the candy and other temptations you don?t really need but find yourself considering every time you go to...
Part 2: Tending to Your Inner Child
When I talk to my clients about their "inner child," I often get strange looks and furrowed brows. They may be aware of the idea through the media or pop culture, but not when it comes to working with their OWN inner child. This woo-woo therapy concept then goes from...
Part 1: How to Honor Your Inner Child
Have you ever noticed how babies are not yet self-conscious? They aren?t! In fact, they are present, in the moment, and honest with their emotions (as if they have a choice!) They are just themselves, and they are real. They aren?t aware of other people (this is...
Add Relaxation To Your To-Do List
Ok, it's truth- telling time. I often forget to relax. It?s true. ?I am the first person to suggest relaxation and downtime to someone if I see them going too fast or feeling uptight, but I don?t always recognize the signals as easily in myself. I am a passionate and...
The Anatomy of Boundaries
Let's talk about boundaries. What are they? Why have them? Why bother? I love an overly simplified version of boundaries, because for me, keeping things simple always makes everything a little bit easier. I believe boundaries are words, actions, beliefs, and...
On Balance: Masculine and Feminine Energy
"Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule."? - Friederich Nietzsche I was speaking with a client earlier this week about the set up our culture has imposed upon us. Together, we decided that it?s an...
On Finding Balance: Learning To Love The Seasons
Lately, a deep desire for stillness has entered my life. I don?t want to hustle. I don?t want to slay anything. I don?t want to engage in any of the culture's current messages that suggest that intensity equates to progress or value. I firmly find myself rejecting all...
Recovery and the Hero’s Journey: My London Love Story
?Without self confidence we are as babes in the cradle.? -Virginia Woolf, A Room Of One's Own Recently, I found my way back to one of my favorite cities of all time: London. In London, there is an area known as Bloomsbury, a favorite...
Being an Embodied Woman
If summarized, it is fair to say that in some way, I?ve spent my career helping people heal wounds. I have tried, if possible, to help them create an understanding of themselves that revolves around empathy, compassion and inclusivity of every aspect of who they are....
The Witch Wound
Generational wounding, or the idea that the pain of one generation gets passed down to the generation beneath them through beliefs, constructs and ideologies is a notion that I?ve worked with many times as a therapist.
The Marriage of the Soul + Self
This post could otherwise be titled "We All Need Some Couple's Counseling"... I was talking with a client this week, and I asked her, ?how would you describe your relationship with yourself?? She paused, and after some reflection, responded, ?I never really thought...
Discovering Your Inner Good Witch
My clients come to work with me for a variety of reasons. Some clients come to deal with anxiety, insecurity, or unhealthy relationships with food. The ?presenting problem is often different, but the common motivator is usually the same ? there is a part of their life...
Living as a Mermaid
I have always loved the image of the Mermaid (also called sirens). Maybe that is because I'm slightly obsessed with anything related to the ocean. Or maybe it's because her archetype reminds me of the duality of the feminine spirit - whimsical and playful while...
Tell Your Body A New Story – The Love Letter To Your Body
People often ask me, ?how can I love my body when I have been at war with her my whole life?? or “How can I love myself when I’m not pleased with it?”
Feeding Your Soul
I am writing this as I watch the sun rise over the Rocky Mountains. Needless to say, I am in awe of what I am surrounded by. I'm taking a long overdue and much needed vacation, and practicing what I preach. You know, the self love and self care stuff. Like milk, it...
Accidental Women’s Circle
There is something about the tradition that feels so vacant in our society; a depth and a level of connection that texting and facebook leave me longing for.
Understanding The Mother Archetype
I’ve been kind of obsessed with studying archetypes lately. The idea that we humans are all connected by a massive collection of primitive images that are inherited from our ancestors and represent our collective unconscious?