I remember growing up and being excited for holidays. My mom was always so careful to make sure my brother and I had everything we wanted, all carefully wrapped in perfect bows under the tree. Holidays growing up were a special time where we could come together as a family and share in the love, joy, hope  and peace the season brings. I look back fondly over the childhood memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas, but recently, I’ve noticed a crack in the rose colored glasses I’ve fought hard to protect. 

Like many Evangelical teens growing up in the 90s, I was told my body was a temple and that we were all born inherently evil. I was told to cover up and dress in modest clothing to protect the minds of boys and men and that marriage was solely meant for one man and one woman. We were the gatekeepers for boys and men in the church. If they started having impure thoughts about us, it was our fault. Throughout my research, I continue to see similar stories and lived experiences to my own. I see myself in all of the stories shared by women across the US and the world who were victims of purity culture. 

Emma Cieslik describes purity culture as “...a systemic set of ideologies enforced by religious communities through educational programming and events that place the brunt of sexual responsibility on young men and women” (2022). Both men and women are taught to suppress sexual urges starting at young ages. Purity culture is not gender specific. Both lead to warped beliefs that continue to impact how both men and women view relationships, marriage and sex.

We can always tell something important has appeared when something bothers us. When something bothers us, it usually indicates that a value is being brought up, challenged, or tampered with. That is because as much as values help us find joy and meaning, values can also help us find pain and difficulty. If something weren’t a value, we wouldn’t care. So, the fact that you care is a good thing. It may not feel great now, but in one way or another, it will pay off differently.

It can be difficult to feel compassion for yourself or a loved one with a BPD diagnosis, especially if you experience its ups and downs or its social impact. However, holding compassion for the diagnosis and the person living with it can be a powerful way of reclaiming the power of one’s emotions, thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and sense of self. 

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has become a more heavily discussed mental illness diagnosis in recent years due to more exposure in the media. Its increased discussion, however, has also brought more misinformation about a complex and misunderstood diagnosis. 

Working in fields such as healthcare, social work, or emergency response often exposes professionals to the raw realities of trauma. While their focus is on providing support and care to those directly affected, the toll of bearing witness to suffering can manifest in the caregivers themselves. Here are ten practical tips for professionals navigating the complexities of secondhand trauma. 

Secondary trauma, otherwise known as vicarious trauma and second-hand PTSD, refers to a form of distress or trauma that's experienced indirectly by hearing details of or witnessing the aftermath of a traumatic experience by another person. Second hand trauma may be invisible, but its impact is real and far-reaching. 

Navigating the aftermath of sexual assault can be a daunting journey, laden with complex emotions and challenges. Yet, within the therapeutic setting, there exists a powerful toolkit designed to guide survivors toward healing and empowerment. Through a combination of compassionate support and evidence-based techniques, therapists play a pivotal role in helping survivors cope with the aftermath of trauma. 

Sexual assault is a harrowing experience that leaves deep emotional scars on its survivors. Among the myriad of emotions they grapple with, shame stands out as one of the most pervasive and debilitating. Shame, with its roots in societal perceptions and self-blame, adds layers of complexity to the already daunting process of recovery for survivors. 

In the often tumultuous aftermath of sexual assault, survivors grapple with a myriad of emotions, legal complexities, and societal stigmatization. However, amidst this turmoil, sexual assault advocates emerge as beacons of hope and support, offering guidance, empowerment, and unwavering compassion to those in need.

Marylanders woke up to the devastating news about the Key Bridge collapsing into the Patapsco River in Baltimore, MD this morning. This tragic event will have ripples of impact for some time to come.  If you live or work in the Greater Baltimore area, and you’ve been impacted directly or indirectly by today’s news, here are some strategies that you can use to cope and tend to your mental health. 

Marylanders woke up to the devastating news about the Key Bridge collapse this morning.  No doubt, this news has hit home for the people who live and work in the Greater Baltimore area.  Many are empathizing with those who have been directly impacted while also reflecting on just how many times they too have used this bridge. 

When tragedy strikes, we may find that we need supports and resources that we’ve never needed before. If that is you or someone you know, we’re including several local resources that you can use immediately for yourself or others who are grappling with the impact of this event. 

If you’re like many of the women I talk to, you believe that your body is broken because it’s doing some strange things that you just don’t understand. Perhaps the doctors don’t even understand and have told you that there’s nothing wrong with you. You, however, know your body, and you know that something isn’t right.  You may have even come to believe that YOU are broken!

Brainspotting is a form of therapy that is gaining popularity among mental health professionals. It is an innovative approach that uses eye positions to help people process and heal from emotional and psychological traumas. If you are considering this type of therapy, you may be wondering what to expect after your Brainspotting sessions. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the possible outcomes during or after Brainspotting therapy.

Brainspotting is a therapeutic approach that can help individuals process and heal from emotional and psychological traumas. Brainspotting intensives, which are extended and focused therapy sessions, offer clients a unique opportunity to delve deeper into their healing process. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the reasons why you should consider attending a Brainspotting intensive.

Nurses play a critical role in the healthcare system, providing essential care to patients and supporting doctors and other healthcare professionals. However, the job of being a nurse can be extremely demanding, both physically and mentally, which can lead to burnout, stress, and other mental health issues. In this blog, we will discuss some ways in which hospital systems can support the mental health of their nurses.

Nursing is a challenging and demanding profession that requires a high level of skill and commitment. Nurses are responsible for the care of patients, often in highly stressful and emotionally charged situations. While the focus is on the care of patients, it is important not to overlook the mental health challenges faced by nurses themselves. In this blog post, we will explore some of the mental health challenges faced by nurses and the impact they can have.

Our dedication to others makes us well-suited for positions within helping professions; whether you’re a fellow therapist, a medical provider, a first responder, a humanitarian aid worker, the ability to meet humans with unconditional positive regard and empathic understanding is key. Compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and burnout can affect the best of caregivers.

Unresolved trauma may be a reason people seek out therapy. Trauma occurs when we experience an unexpected event that is threatening to our survival. Trauma impacts our brain, our nervous system, our body and the myriad ways these parts interact in order to regulate our whole selves.

There are biophysiological reasons for why this not knowing occurs. It is okay and your body is doing what it was designed to do. I will offer a very simplified explanation below as to what happens in the brain and body.