When we experience trauma, our thoughts, emotions, and body can feel fragmented—like they’re speaking different languages. We might notice flashbacks, racing thoughts, numbness, dissociation, or a pounding heart. These reactions come from different parts of the brain: Neocortex = thoughtMammalian …
Category: Wellness
A Bottom-Up Approach to Trauma
Top-Down vs Bottom-Up Healing When it comes to trauma therapy, the order matters. A top-down approach starts with the thinking brain (neocortex). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a good example—reframing thoughts to shift behaviour. But here’s the challenge: when you’re …
When to Seek Help for Trauma
Trauma can feel like a crack in your energy system—sometimes it heals naturally, and sometimes it doesn’t. When symptoms persist or worsen after a month, it’s time to seek support. Flashbacks, numbness, anxiety, anger, and self-medicating are all signs your …
How do American Indian’s Heal Trauma?
As a psychotherapist and healer specialising in trauma, I’ve often found myself wondering—how do other cultures heal trauma? After all, trauma is not new. Throughout history, people have lived through war, illness, displacement, and abuse. So, how did our ancestors …
You Don’t Have to be “Broken” to See a Therapist.
Working with a therapist can be one of the most empowering experiences of your life.Many people have never had the chance to be truly seen, heard, and held in a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space. That in itself is healing.While …
When You Compare Yourself To Others, You Can Inadvertently
Comparing ourselves to others can be such a waste of energy! Let us first differentiate between being inspired by someone and comparing yourself to someone. When we feel inspired by someone, we feel uplifted, hopeful, as though anything is possible. …
Tools for Grounding
Having a go-to grounding list can be incredibly helpful when we’re feeling overwhelmed—especially if we have a trauma history. When we’re triggered, our sympathetic nervous system kicks in—hello, fight-or-flight. In those moments, we need simple, accessible ways to soothe ourselves …
How to Stop the Little Self-Betrayals
We’ve all had moments where we’ve let ourselves down. Times when we silenced our inner knowing, went against our values, or ignored what our body was trying to tell us. What often follows is self-judgment. But underneath that judgment is …
Research Proves Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude has roots in grace.The word comes from the Latin gratia—linked to kindness, beauty, and giving. And when I connect with gratitude, I feel that beauty on the inside. I soften. I become gentler with myself and with others. Gratitude …
The Power of Gratitude
I had an experience a month ago where I was feeling quite overwhelmed. I went for a walk in the bush and found that although I was in nature, my mind kept drifting back to the source of the anxiety. …