When I reflect on the time I spent working with inner city Allentown School District kids, I can’t help but think about the resilience they had. After school was dismissed, they came to the Salvation Army, where they were able to be kids – laugh, play and create with their friends and us, the volunteers. Everyday, the program provided dinner for them to eat, which was incredibly important to this population. However, once they went home, many of them readopted their responsibilities as the eldest child, babysitter, or caretaker for themselves. Our volunteer group came once a week and showed up ..read more

When I first began practicing psychotherapy in 2001, there was so much I didn’t know.  I was naive in believing that in order to be in a healthy relationship, we need to start by possessing a healthy center within ourselves.  Well, of course that would be helpful, but that is not how reality works.  We all have gaps in ourselves.  Needs that we are unaware of and that we desire to have met.  Neuroscience shows that after age 35, 95% of our reactions to things in our life are unconscious, especially in our intimate relationships.  So, the reality is that no matter ..read more

The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared an “Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf In his opening address of the report, Dr. Murthy urges us to understand the potential consequences of not investing in our social well-being. He explains- “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is ..read more

During my pregnancies, my husband and I chose to wait until birth to find out the sex of each baby. A midwife myself, I found these “surprise” births to feel extra-joyous for all involved. When my first baby arrived – suddenly, quickly, and a month early – my biggest surprise wasn’t learning “it’s a girl”. It was the feeling of shock and confusion, to look at this wet red baby on my chest, and realize she was a stranger. There was nothing magical about the pregnancy or birth that meant we were instantly bonded. I loved her, and felt immensely protective of her, but I didn’t know anything about ..read more

Before you become a licensed mental health therapist, there is a lot of time dedicated to self-reflection. This is meant to help you understand what you bring to the table, or to the therapy room. I was really scared of this process of being open and vulnerable, but I was determined to heal so that I could help others in this way. My relationship with my husband has helped a lot; I learned a lot about myself in our relationship and I believe it has shaped who I am today as a therapist. I believe I have a lot of insight into my early trauma, young adulthood struggles and my own stubbornness, bu ..read more

With Spring approaching, many things are on the horizon: warmer weather, National Sons day, National Women’s Month, National Disability Awareness Month, and, as explored in this blog, National Family Day. How do we define family? Well, it depends on who you ask. Some people identify their family as biological relatives and extended family. Others identify college friends, childhood friends, neighbors, community members and close coworkers as family that has been chosen rather than “assigned”. While the need for mental health counseling is still on the rise after the pandemic, more and more peo ..read more

What is trauma?  Seriously, I’m asking.  What is it for you?  It is different for everyone who answers that question.  Trauma is defined in the mind of the person who uses that word.  In all honesty, that is a hard question to answer.  So, let me approach it from a different angle.  What are your frustrations within your current relationships?  If you are currently in a romantic relationship, let’s look at that one specifically.  If you are not currently in a romantic relationship, I want you to look back on your history of romantic relationships an ..read more

“Why me?” to My Why There is a technique used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) called “reframing.” Reframing is the act of identifying automatic thoughts and replacing them with more reality based thoughts. This technique can be used to help improve mindset and expectations, and without fear of sounding a bit dramatic, reframing can change our lives. In July of 2020, in the midst of the COVID pandemic, I began working with Shady Grove Fertility, after several years of trying to conceive (TTC). As a healthy 26 year old, it was shocking to me that it was necessary for me to engage in fertil ..read more

By: Bria Turner Let today be the day you give up who you’ve been for who you can become. – Hal Elrod. New Year, New Me … a phrase that we all hear all too often between the week of Christmas and New Year’s and even after! “Oh, January is my trail run; I’ll start my new goals in February!” So how does one prioritize themselves in the New Year? Here are some wellness tips and tricks to return better than ever in the New Year!   Try to take breaks from social media/electronics for 1-2 days a week (if this is too hard, then unplug for an hour throughout the day) Stretch, Stretch, STRETCH ..read more

Lose Your Mind, Find Your Body I regularly put drums into the hands of adults that would not consider themselves to be musical. But well before I begin teaching “non-musicians” how to make improvised, cohesive group music together, I start by creating conditions of safety. This means getting people out of their heads. It may sound odd, but I get paid to help professionals at conferences and in the boardroom to start acting like kids again. So I’ll remind them before the first note of music is played to remember what it was like to be on a playground. They likely weren’t caught up in an endless ..read more