My lived experience navigating identity, relationships, financial struggles, and personal needs inspire me to walk alongside others with compassion and curiosity.
I believe we deserve to honor our unique ways of experiencing the world, embrace our needs, and find space to grow while remaining true to ourselves. I wasn't always intentional in relating; I was cautious to gamble the risk of being humiliated and misunderstood. Luckily, the trial was worth the effort. My current, reciprocated love and appreciation for family and friends highlight the value of connection, inclusion, belonging, and care.
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People experience me as: humorous, thoughtful, perceptive, unconventional
✩ Current album on repeat: Circles, Mac Miller and SOS Deluxe: LANA, SZA
✩ Currently watching: Survivor Season 51, Avatar: Seven Havens
✩ Current audiobook: Stoner, John Williams
When I experience distress....
My capacity is typically limited, especially as a first-time parent to a spirited kid. I'm nearing overwhelm more than I prefer to. Personally, my go-to distress tolerance skills to get through a short-term, stressful situation (without making it worse with an urge or action on an emotion) are: emotional freedom tapping and intense exercise in the form of vigorously cleaning the garage.
More often applied, self-soothing and mindful activities that I use to return to the present moment: noise cancellation headphones, a long whiff of eucalyptus scent, hearing a singular bell finish ringing its resonance out, triggering the release of a good cry using Pixar Shorts, using my non-dominant hand to brush my teeth, box breathing.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Viewing this website or contacting me through this website does not establish a therapist-client relationship.
EFT is a self-help tool, “emotional acupuncture without needles”. I learned this during my master's program to teach the class for our coping skills segment.
This technique combines modern psychology with traditional Chinese medicine’s meridian system.
Tapping on meridian points while focusing on an emotional issue is believed to send calming signals to the brain, reduce stress, and promote emotional release
I challenge myself to pay attention to the sound until it goes completely silent. A "call bell" is effective for me.
YouTube is accessable and has plenty of options for sound - the ad's are a bit jarring though.
My participation in "vigorous garage reset" is one part of the DBT skill, TIPP: temperature, intense exercise, paced breathing, paired muscle relaxation
One of the many options for controlled breathing