The Joy of Giving

The Joy of Giving

What would you do if you knew it would make someone’s day? We all get caught up thinking what we do has to be perfect or if we just had a little more time we would get around to allowing ourselves to be creative and actually do something that inspires us and possibly others too!  There never seems to be enough TIME to do the things we want to do. I read a quote the other day that said, “Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.” WOW!! I think everyone should have this taped to their bathroom mirror; we NEED to create time to be creative!! If we keep our eyes and our hearts open, inspiration shows up in many unlikely places! Many of my clients, friends and family know I LOVE to collect heart rocks that I

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Daring Greatly at CBRE Women’s Network Regional Conference

Daring Greatly at CBRE Women’s Network Regional Conference

Hello Everyone!! The leaves are so beautiful right now and there is an autumn chill in the air; change is always happening! For many of us; change is difficult we like things to be predictable; yet the things that bring us joy usually come from something that happens spontaneously!  I have learned that you don’t have to be saddled for life with the mental attitudes you adopted from childhood. All of us are free to change our minds, and when we do this…. our experiences change too! I had a life changing experience recently by having the privilege to speak to the CBRE Women’s Network Regional Conference last week about Brené Brown’s book; “Daring Greatly”.  Throughout the day I had the opportunity to engage with a wonderful group of people who openly discussed how they felt about their lives, their careers and how they

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A New Workshop Coming Soon! “Braving the Wilderness”

A New Workshop Coming Soon! “Braving the Wilderness”

Dr. Brené Brown’s new book is called “Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone” We are in a culture of perfectionism and pleasing, and while our ability to respect differences is eroding, it is easy to stay quiet, or try to fit in rather than show up and be our true selves.  If we want to attempt to brave the wilderness we will come across uncertainty and criticism; now that is a guarantee!  Brené Brown discusses the daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity, a personal commitment to ourselves that we carry in our heart. Remember those times when you tried to fit in and then later on feel like you just sold a piece of yourself, but it was only AFTER you gave it away you realize how precious and valuable it really was?  We need

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3 Tips to Help Parents as They Send Their Children Back to School

3 Tips to Help Parents as They Send Their Children Back to School

I’ll be on Good Day Columbus, Monday morning (August 21) giving parenting tips to help families as they return to school. Below are 3 “simple” tips that will make a BIG impact. I’ll be discussing them in more detail on the show. 1. Responsibility Can Only Be Learned by Practice All parents want to raise competent, responsible independent children, but if they try to ENSURE their children’s success, often they raise unsuccessful kids. WHY?  Responsibility can’t be taught… it must be caught!  We have to fight against seeing their failures as our failures…. Hard to witness mistakes and their struggles, but natural consequences are significant learning opportunities… “I am sure you will remember on your own but if you don’t, you will learn from the experience. Let them make choices, respect their struggle, don’t ask too many questions, don’t answer too quickly, use

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4 Tips for Teens and the Effects of Alcohol

4 Tips for Teens and the Effects of Alcohol

Although summer is winding down and school will begin this month, many teenagers have had exposure to alcohol.  Over fifty percent of 12th graders report drinking in the past month. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, which can lead to risky behaviors, including practicing unprotected sex. This can lead to acquiring HIV/AIDS as well as other sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancy.  Alcohol also hinders coordination, slows reaction time, dulls senses and blocks memory functions. The relationship between alcohol and motor vehicle crashes is widely acknowledged. In many cases it is difficult to discuss this issue with your teenagers, but it could save their life or someone else’s if you share these quick facts: Know the law. Alcohol is not legal until the age of 21 and there are harsh penalties for underage drinking. Get the facts right. One 12 -ounce beer has

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OH MY GOSH!!!  WE BLEW IT!

OH MY GOSH!!!  WE BLEW IT!

This month has been off the chart!!  Summer is such a busy time for everyone but I had one priority before it was over and that was getting together with the women who have attended several of my workshops to show my gratitude for their insight and support!  I wanted  to do something unique and create an experience that we would all be doing for the first time, believe me it wasn’t going to be skydiving or rock climbing but an activity that would have a memory for all of us.  During my workshops these women share their stories and trust in each other; we have all laughed, cried and empathized but more importantly have grown closer together knowing that there are people in their lives that see, hear and UNDERSTAND who we truly are!  These women are talented, creative, and up for

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Book Review: SAYING YES to CHANGE

Book Review: SAYING YES to CHANGE

Change is an unavoidable fact of life and most of us have a difficult time with it, right?  I bought the book “Saying Yes to Change” at the trauma conference I attended in Washington DC in March.  Dr. Joan Borksenko was a guest speaker who has her doctorate in medical sciences from Harvard; she is also a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Claritas Institute for Interspiritual Inquiry with her husband that is based on her lifelong interest in mindfulness, integrative medicine and mind/body connection.    As I listened to her during the luncheon I was very inspired by her story and the wonderful talents she brings to the world of psychology so I wanted to share part of her book with you! Joan’s purpose when she wrote about change was not to incorporate someone else’s wisdom but about finding our OWN.  CHANGE

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Book Review: Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft

Book Review: Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft

The book, “Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men” by Lundy Bancroft is so informative and eye-opening I couldn’t stop reading it.  I wanted to know “Why do so many men abuse women and what can be done about it?”  Bancroft has worked with abusive men for over twenty years and informs us that EACH year two to four million women are assaulted by a man at some point in their life.  Bancroft’s valuable insight covers: early warning signs ten abusive personality types the abusive mentality problems with the legal system the long difficult process of change If you feel you are trapped in an unhealthy relationship and are trying to make sense out of what is happening… this is the book for you!  For example; one of the most distinct features when you are with an angry or controlling partner

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The Four Agreements Book Review

The Four Agreements Book Review

I will be writing two book reviews for the month of May. I first want to feature one of my favorite books by Don Miguel Ruiz,  “The Four Agreements”.  One of my clients gave me a copy of a book she is reading and I found it so fascinating and informative I decided when I finish it I will be posting it in the next few weeks, so stay tuned!!  The book is “Why Does He DO That?  Inside the minds of Angry and Controlling Men”,  by Lundy Bancroft. The Four Agreements The reason why I find “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz such a great book is that it’s a very practical guide to personal freedom because it is based on the agreements we have made with ourselves, other people, with society, with God.    The most important agreement I believe is the one

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The Courage to Connect and March Book Review

The Courage to Connect and March Book Review

I am pleased to announce I will be in Washington D.C. at the 40th Anniversary Psychotherapy Network Symposium called “The Courage to Connect: Shaping Our Future in an Age of Uncertainty”.  The keynote speaker for this event is Dr. Brené Brown. She will be discussing vulnerability and courage in psychotherapy.  I am very excited to see her again at this conference since I am a certified facilitator through her Daring Way Program. The main reason I want to attend the symposium is because the focus is on trauma treatment and the effective healing interventions for the mind and body from some of the field’s leading experts including Daniel Siegel, Dr.Bessel van der Kolk, and Peter Levine, Ph.D., just to name a few. I will be learning how traumatic imprints can be addressed using techniques that go beyond talk therapy and will also be provided insight on

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