The Great Dark settled onto the Pacific Northwest in mid-November, permitting the reprieve of sunlight for what seems like only a few hours each day. I'm being dramatic, but having spent so many years in the southwest it's a bit unnerving to step outside my office at 5pm and remember that I missed the day's allowance of sun. The bright streetlights illuminating the cars only accentuate the darkness beyond their reach. On these evenings, I drive home and strap on an LED lighte

Warning: This article contains details about sexual trauma that may not be appropriate for some readers. Caution recommended. Shelia's* Story “Trauma? Like PTSD? But I haven’t been to war. I haven’t even seen someone die. How can I have PTSD?” Shelia sat on my couch, hands clenched on her thighs. Her right foot tapped her left foot in unrhythmic jolts.  “Yes, your symptoms are trauma symptoms.” “Like what?” “All of the things you just mentioned. You experienced a sexual assau

I need your help! I'm looking for quotes for the book launch of Jesus for the Anxious . Please consider leaving a comment that answers...

Last month, I discussed how childhood experiences impact adult lives. During those early years, the brain’s rapid development greatly...

Everyone experiences life differently. Two people can walk into the same event and away with completely different interpretations. These...

While some people have difficulties managing their own anger, some struggle to navigate the emotions of others. Many of these people...

“I don’t need help! How dare you!” She stomped away. I stood frozen, my mind racing. What had I done? What had I said? All I did was...

Analise* told me she didn’t need anyone in her life. She had isolated herself at home, only leaving when absolutely necessary. When I...

If you haven’t had the chance to read about The Emotion Bucket, you can learn about this in these   three   posts . To summarize, the...

We all have past hurts, whether big or small. Ignored, they stay in our bucket, filling the bucket before the day begins. Those who...

Last month, I introduced the emotion bucket.  This bucket collects our daily life stress and, if it overflows, leads to negative emotions...

Emotions mount like drips of water  in a bucket. When they are not dealt with appropriately, they continue to fill the bucket until it...