Blog
Beyond Labels: Why Name-Calling Harms More Than It Helps
In the run-up to public demonstrations or moments of collective expression, it’s common to see leaders, politicians, and media rushing to apply labels. Before a single banner is raised, the story is already framed: one side dismissed as extremist, the other portrayed as the sole voice of reason.…
Speechless
You know that feeling when a chunk of food gets stuck in your throat or when you swallow ice? When your tea is too hot. That throat infection you got as a kid when even juice hurt. That’s how talking felt. I didn’t speak for a while when I was a child. It wasn’t that I couldn’t physically, I didn’t…
Mushrooms in the Dark
There’s an old saying: “Treat people like mushrooms – feed them BS and keep them in the dark.” Never has that felt more relevant than today. Normally, I try not to get into politics. It’s not my world, and I prefer to focus on healing, growth, and the human spirit. But right now, it’s hard not…
The Mirror of Projection: Why We See Narcissists Everywhere but Ourselves
The word narcissist has become one of the most overused labels of our time. Scroll through social media or listen to conversations and it doesn’t take long before someone is accused of being one. It’s a word often thrown like a dart—sharp, loaded, and designed to stick. But what happens when the…
The Girl in the Dirty Dress
The Girl in the Dirty Dress: Shame, Survival, and the Power of Co-Regulation When our nervous system is overwhelmed, our rational, intelligent thinking brain goes offline. In those moments, the body does what it must to survive. We freeze. We go silent. We disconnect. Years later, many of us look…
Behind The Façade
Behind the façade. The words Boarding School conjure up different meanings depending on our exposure and experience. For me it presents memories of abuse, mixed with thoughts of friends and fun. Adventures and pain, laughter and fear. From high school to boarding school, home to dorm, mum to…
When Trauma Speaks in Dreams: From Nightmares to Healing
For many years, I have experienced vivid dreams that stayed with me long after waking. You know the kind - that leave a trace of terror in your soul. At times they left me panicked, sweating, or in tears. For a long time, I wondered why my mind wouldn’t let me rest. But as I’ve learned more about…
An Uncomfortable Truth
Women are capable and active in the sexual exploitation of children and adults, online, directly and within rings of abuse and grooming. The recent coverage of Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison interview and more noticeably the responses to her words, highlights that people are often uncomfortable with…
Breaking the Self-Fulfilling Prophecies of Trauma
Complex trauma leaves invisible imprints that can quietly shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world. One of the most powerful — and painful — ways this shows up is through self-fulfilling prophecies. Rejection Take rejection, for example. A simple, everyday situation like sending a text to…
The Power of Telling the Truth About Anxiety
Last night, during our CBT group for anxiety, we watched a short video showing common situations that can trigger anxious thoughts — like public speaking. The narrator offered examples of typical worries: “I might forget my words… I might embarrass myself… people will see I’m nervous and judge……