TAR Tale: How Molly Challenged Parental Alienation
What Is TAR? Toxic Abusive Relationship (TAR) is one that makes you feel unsupported, misunderstood, demeaned, belittled, and makes you lose your own sense of identity. On a basic level, any relationship that makes you feel worse rather than better can become toxic....A Recipe For Realignment
My Friend Steve: I met my friend Steve in a park on the west side of Chicago in a rougher neighborhood at a homeless feeding. I was on the street at the time and passing through the city riding freight trains to the west coast of the United States. Steve was 17 and...How to Cultivate A Better Holiday
I watched as the old mule made one last pass across the field below my Grandmother’s house. Damp earth turned beneath the plow and I knew buried treasure would soon be exposed. My brother and I looked at one another in anticipation. It was the second half of...
The Difference Between PTSD and C-PTSD (and Why It Matters)
This article was originally published on The Mighty. I was sitting on the couch of the therapist I saw over 10 years ago. She had her Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) in her lap, and with my input, she was going over the symptoms of post-traumatic stress...Fresh Year, Fresh Starts?
This blog originally appeared: at https://powerfullypowerless.wordpress.com/2019/04/23/fresh-year-fresh-starts/ This is a concept on everyone’s mind at certain times of the year. During the holiday season especially it can be a concept that creates a battle of wills...Did Therapy Make Things Worse? And Other Questions People Ask About Mental Health
Since beginning intensive treatment for trauma, lots of questions have popped up. A natural curiosity emerges when someone suddenly changes course. So, while I explore the 4 W’s — who, what, when, where- people want to know WHY, especially: Why NOW? It’s a great...
A Survival Against All Odds
My name is Elizabeth and I am a survivor of sexual childhood abuse and unspeakable trauma. Before I tell you my story, I want you to know that no matter how bad your life is, there is always hope. I lived in the darkness for a long time during my most vulnerable...Coping with Emotional Overwhelm During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is a stressful time of year. People rush about trying to make the perfect Christmas for themselves and their loved ones when there is no such thing. The result is that folks get overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle, leading to increased substance...