Buffalo seasons Awareness in life
The Self That Holds Us: On Identity, Ego, and Becoming.
We spend so much of our lives trying to figure out who this “I” is—this constellation of stories, habits, wounds, longings, and flashes of wisdom that moves through the world in our name. Some days the “I” feels solid, knowable. Other days it dissolves, slipping through our fingers like water. And perhaps this is the point: the self is not a possession we hold, but a living process we learn to relate to with increasing honesty, courage, and grace. Carl Jung wrote that becoming ourselves is both the simplest and the most difficult task of a lifetime. Individuation, he said, is the work of gathering up the scattered pieces of who we are—the conscious stories, the shadowed memories, the unlived potentials—and integrating them into a coherent enough center from which we can move through the world. “Coming to selfhood,” he called it (CW 7, para. 266).
The Wisdom That Finds Us: On the Importance of Intuition.
We live in a culture that celebrates effort, reason, and productivity. Knowledge is assumed to be the result of calculation, research, or logic. And yet, the most important turns in our lives—the decision to change careers, the recognition of a partner’s truth, the sudden creative breakthrough—often arrive as hunches. Intuition is not the fruit of conscious labor but of unconscious ripening. Something within us, out of sight, gathers the fragments of experience, dream, and feeling, and suddenly pushes forth an insight like a flower breaking through the soil.
Jung reminds us that the work of intuition lies not in producing it but in catching it. The psyche offers; the ego must be attentive enough to receive.
From Prognosis to Possibility: Rewriting the Story of Lung Cancer Survivorship.
For decades, a lung cancer diagnosis often carried a single story — one of finality. The prognosis was grim, the path forward narrow. Today, that story is changing. Advances in targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and early detection have opened new chapters in what it means to live with lung cancer.
But as treatment evolves, so too must the way we understand survivorship. Beyond medical progress lies an equally vital conversation: how we make meaning, find connection, and reclaim identity after diagnosis. This is the heart of the new narrative — the shift from prognosis to possibility.
Embracing the Presence of the Other
Thich Nhat Hanh once taught that the most magical words we can ever offer another are also the simplest: “Dear one, I am really here for you.” I return to these words again and again in my own life and in my work with couples. They are both balm and mirror—balm because they soothe the ache of longing to be seen, mirror because they reflect back how often we live side-by-side yet fail to arrive in each other’s presence.
On the Threshold of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Equine assisted psychotherapy has shown profound benefit for those navigating trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, attachment wounds, and life transitions. For many, especially those who feel “stuck” in traditional therapy, the barn becomes a threshold. The horse, with its attunement and honesty, calls forth trust, boundary-setting, communication, and self-regulation in ways that words alone cannot.
Civilized Savagery: Jung on Fear, Projection, & the Collective Shadow.
Jung’s words remain a call to responsibility. They remind us that civilization without consciousness is savagery dressed in fine clothes. To confront the collective shadow is no small task—but it begins with the individual willingness to notice our fear, to own our projections, and to resist the seduction of blaming the neighbor for the demons we refuse to face.
Amor Fati: Nietzsche’s Call to Love Our Lives Entirely.
One of my favorite German philosophers is Friedrich Nietzsche—a man whose psychological and physical ailments often served as co-authors to his illuminating, existential writings. His work is not only intellectually rigorous but also deeply personal, a philosophical excavation of what it means to be human. In this post, I invite you to walk with me—barefoot and blistered if need be—into the burning heart of amor fati, Nietzsche’s wild summons to love what is, as if we ourselves had chosen every twist and tremble of it.
No Mud, No Lotus: The Transformational Power of Dis-Ease
At its heart, Buddhism does not deny the presence of dis-ease—it teaches us how to be in relationship with it. Rather than turning away, it invites us to lean in with curiosity and compassion. Dukkha is not seen as a flaw in the system, but as a gateway to understanding. Through mindfulness and presence, we learn that pain and joy are not opposites—they are intertwined. The lotus, after all, blooms not in spite of the mud, but because of it. In this way, Buddhism offers a deeply hopeful path, one rooted not in avoidance, but in transformation.
The Inner Map: Gray Whales, Coyotes, and the Solstice of the Self
As the longest day of the year stretches across our skies, the summer solstice invites us to pause—not just to mark the season, but to orient ourselves anew.
What if, like the gray whale, we possessed a hidden map within us?
A deep, fluid geography not etched in ink but felt in bone and breath—drawn by light, pulled by inner knowing. In this moment of maximum solar radiance, we’re reminded that we, too, are creatures of migration and memory, guided not only by visible landmarks but by the invisible tides of the psyche.
Being in Alignment with Oneself: An Existential Task
In existential depth psychology, the concept of being in alignment with oneself is a central tenet that speaks to the essence of human authenticity. This idea suggests that individuals often live—often unconsciously—in ways that contradict their true nature, acting out of alignment due to external influences and learned belief systems. The structures and values imposed upon us by society, culture, family, and education frequently take precedence over our innate feelings and desires. Consequently, we become estranged from our authentic selves, leading to internal dissonance and confusion about our emotions. This essay explores the process of misalignment, its consequences, and the path toward self-reconciliation through existential awareness and authenticity.
Navigating Grief: A Journey of Healing and Growth
Grief is a deeply personal and transformative process. It asks us to confront painful realities, face the emotional turmoil of loss, and redefine our sense of self. When a loved one passes, particularly under traumatic circumstances such as suicide or an unanticipated and sudden death, the path to healing can feel overwhelmingly challenging. For many, the journey through grief follows a complex, nonlinear path where emotions ebb and flow, and the heart often revisits painful memories at unexpected times.
Becoming Your Own Myth: Rewriting Womanhood in the Second Half of Life.
There comes a moment in many women’s lives—quiet or cataclysmic—when the stories we’ve told or been told no longer fit. Roles we played with devotion begin to fray. The pace we’ve kept becomes unsustainable. And the questions we once ignored now rise with urgency: Who am I, really, when I am no longer who I’ve been?
This is not a breakdown. It is the beginning of myth-making.
Holding the Whole Person: Depth Therapy for Trauma, Grief, & Meaning-Making
As a psychotherapist with training in depth psychology, existential philosophy, narrative theory, and Buddhist practice, I have found that integrating these perspectives provides a flexible and deeply humane foundation for clinical work. Clients often arrive in therapy not only seeking relief from symptoms, but longing to understand themselves, repair internal fractures, and live with a sense of purpose and authenticity. These traditions, when held together in dialogue, support that process by inviting the individual to meet their suffering with awareness, responsibility, and symbolic depth.
Into the Depths: Healing the Silenced Child Within.
When we think about childhood wounds, we often picture raised voices, harsh discipline, or neglect. But some of the most enduring wounds are inflicted not through what is said or done—but through silence. When a parent freezes a child out emotionally or silences their voice, the damage can echo for decades, shaping how that child sees themselves, others, and the world.
These wounds don't simply vanish with age—they resurface in adulthood, often in our struggles with intimacy, trust, creativity, or self-worth. Working with a depth psychotherapist can be a powerful way to explore these inner child wounds.
Understanding Persephone’s Journey.
As spring nears, one of the most profound myths of transformation might come to mind: Persephone’s descent into the Underworld and her return to the living world. Through a Jungian, feminist lens, this myth is not merely a tale of abduction but a rite of passage—a journey into the unconscious, a confrontation with the Shadow, and a rebirth into sovereignty.
Grief’s Five: The Essential Pillars of Healing.
Grief is a deeply personal and often overwhelming journey. It can consume your energy, alter your perception of the world, and make even the most basic self-care practices feel like monumental tasks. While there is no roadmap to healing, there are five foundational elements—what I call Grief’s Five—that can help support you during this difficult time: sleep, nutrition, hydration, exercise, and socialization. These pillars serve as gentle guides to sustaining your well-being while navigating loss.
Communication, Curiosity, and the Power of "Yes, And"
Communication is more than an exchange of words—it is a way of relating, understanding, and co-creating meaning with others. The way we respond in conversation can either open new possibilities or shut them down. A subtle but powerful shift in language, from saying “yes, but” to “yes, and could you tell me more?”, fosters curiosity, reduces defensiveness, and enhances meaningful dialogue. Both Jungian psychology and Dialogue Therapy, developed by Polly Young-Eisendrath, PhD and Ed Epstein, PhD support an approach to communication that prioritizes openness, relational attunement, and the integration of multiple perspectives.
How Narrative Therapy Can Reduce Perseverating Thoughts.
Perseverating thoughts are the persistent, repetitive thoughts that can dominate our mental landscape—perhaps feeling like a broken record, running on an endless loop, often leaving us feeling stuck and overwhelmed. These thoughts may revolve around a particular worry, fear, regret, or trauma, and their constant presence can interfere with daily functioning and well-being. Narrative Therapy can help you get unstuck.
Understanding the Therapeutic Alliance: Transference & Countertransference
Transference and countertransference offer unique opportunities to understand the unconscious mind at work. They illuminate relational patterns, unmet needs, and unresolved wounds that often drive present-day behavior. When handled skillfully, these phenomena deepen the therapeutic process, offering a gateway to profound healing and transformation for both the client and the therapist.
Understanding the Mother Archetype in Menopause
One of the most profound shifts in a woman’s life occurs during (peri)menopause(post)—a transitional period that signals the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another. The Mother archetype, traditionally associated with fertility, nurturing, and generativity, undergoes a profound transformation during this phase. To understand this shift from a Jungian perspective, it’s essential to explore how the Mother archetype manifests, both in its light and shadow, during (peri)menopause(post).