Content Warning: This blog contains discussions of self-harm, mental illness, abuse, and other difficult mental health issues. If you find these topics uncomfortable or distressing, take the time to decide whether this content is right for you. If you need to talk to someone, you can reach out to me at any time. I talk […]

December is Seasonal Depression Awareness Month, and it couldn’t be more timely. Between the shortened daylight and the holidays, this time of year can trigger increased depression. So let’s talk about it. This season is especially tough for so many of us. Even if we love the celebrations, the holidays are still stressful. We’re dealing […]

When someone enters a medical setting, they’re usually in an emotionally vulnerable place. After all, no one is seeing a doctor purely for the fun of it. So why is it that most medical practices seem to ignore the emotional and mental state of their patients? Is this really the best that we can do?  […]

We’re closing out Mental Health Awareness Month, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop focusing on your mental health. You can continue to create a lifestyle that prioritizes emotional health and wellness.    For many people, the summer months include changes to daily  schedules and routines.  A lot of people take the summer off […]

So many of my clients are going through similar things. At the same time. But they don’t know it because most suffer silently. Feeling alone. We allow the noise in this world to confuse us. To tell us things like boys don’t cry and girls can’t play football. Pardon my language, but it’s bullshit!! Major bullshit. And it […]

My Thoughts About The Chaos in This World. Life was hard enough growing up 40+ years ago without technology and social media and today’s problems. I’ve lived with anxiety my entire life – even when I didn’t know that’s what it was! And that was without the issues we see today. Todays kids amaze me. […]

WHAT A WEEK!!  What a football week. One of the things Jim and I instantly connected over was our mutual loveof sports. Especially our mutual love of football. Our wedding tables were named in honor of our hometown teams…. Jim wasn’t allowing a Cowboys anything at our wedding 😂  So football without Jim was difficult… for a long […]

Today is FIVE years… FIVE years. It doesn’t seem possible. It still feels like I lost you just yesterday – but a lifetime has happened in these five years. It’s longer than our time time together after reuniting…. To be clear: This is not the anniversary I want to be celebrating.  2022 has been an extremely difficult time […]

iT’S mENTAL illness aWARENESS wEEK My car gives me notifications to schedule tune ups and maintenance just like my doctor sends me reminders about physicals and check ups. Mental health needs to be on that list, too! It’s not only Mental Illness Awareness Week. It’s also National Depression Screening Day. Does anyone even know that […]

What’s wrong with me? It’s summer and everyone is happy but I’m stressed, depressed and overwhelmed.  Sound like anyone you know? Maybe you’ve been there yourself. And it’s Okay!  We live in a world that avoids uncomfortable conversations. And that makes everything worse. So let’s have the conversations.  Life is full of ups and downs […]

“There are 700,000 new widows a year In America – and that’s a pre pandemic number!” The W Word. The club we never ever asked to join. The loss of the future we planned. Starting over. Finding our new (widowed) self. Being a widow is absolutely devastating. That doesn’t even begin to describe it, though. […]

As a psychologist, grief expert and widow, I get a lot of questions about grief and depression – both from individuals dealing with loss, as well as friends and family members with loved ones dealing with a loss. Common questions include: “Is this more of a reaction to grief, or is this crossing over into […]