In. Two letters. Such a nothing word with so much significance. I recently came across a writing prompt by author Ed Park called This Is How Memory Works. Park describes a time when he felt depleted creatively, professionally, and personally. After writing two ambitious novels that hadn't found publishers, he wondered whether he had any words left. Turns out he had one: In. He began collecting fragments of memories, observations, and everyday moments, each beginning with that word. He didn't...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Hi friends, I have a little book news to share! On Monday, November 9 at 7 PM, I'll be at Varina Area Library for a Community Authors Showcase featuring my book, Writing Through Grief and Loss: An IFS Journal for Healing. I'll be sharing a little about why I wrote the book, followed by a Q&A, book signing, and some time to mingle. Writing a book is one thing. Getting out from behind the keyboard and talking about it with actual human beings? That's another adventure entirely! I'd love to see...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Taking turns in school. Playing by the rules during a fierce neighborhood game of hide-and-seek or Mother, May I? Growing up, the message was pretty straightforward: Play by the rules and you'll be rewarded. Study hard. Keep your friends' secrets. (I really excelled at that one.) Don't date your friends' exes. Help others. Those rules seemed to work pretty well for me. But then there were the times I didn't play by the rules. And yes, people got mad. I remember trying to obtain data from...
29 days ago • 2 min read
I thought this week I had nothing to add by sending a newsletter. No problem. I’d skip it. But then I asked AI for some writing prompts, and to my surprise and delight, what started as “myth + origin story” became “mouth + origin story.” Contemplating my origin story. Or possibly just waiting for my flight. A simple misspelling took me somewhere surprisingly personal. I come from a mouth (and a history) that taught two things at once, which can happen when your history involves walking the...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
I’ve said “I’m fine” when I wasn’t. Sometimes I was trying to protect myself. Sometimes I was trying to protect the other person. I think some of that goes back to growing up female and receiving the message that I should be happy. Pleasant. Easy. (What does “be happy” even mean?!) “I’m fine” was an easy answer, though my friends and family usually knew better. These days, when I notice the part of me that wants to pull away or change the subject, I try to pause. “Am I actually fine, or am I...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
What Nine Days Without a Laptop Looked Like I spent nine days in Utah without my laptop. What did that look like? It looked like sliding down a boulder and subsequently leaving some of my skin on sandstone. It looked like almost no decision fatigue—which, if you own a business, you know is very real. It looked like being in nature and mostly thinking about the next step. Literally. As in: Where do I put my foot so I don't fall off this damn mountain? It looked like getting lost in the best...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi friend, I’m excited to be offering an in-person training this fall on Hypnotherapy for Clinical Practice. If you’ve been curious about hypnosis—or wondering how it can be integrated thoughtfully into clinical work—this workshop is designed to give you both an introduction to the approach and practical ways to begin thinking about its use with clients. Hypnotherapy for Clinical PracticeOctober 2, 2026 | 9:00 AM–1:00 PMRVA Counseling | Richmond, VA3.5 CE hours available for eligible social...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi friend, If you’re receiving this, you’ve already done something brave. You showed up, picked up the pen, and made space to listen to your own story. And I’d love to invite you back. Writing Bravely™ returns Saturday, September 19, from 12–4 PM in Richmond. We’ll spend the afternoon writing, reflecting, connecting, and following whatever wants your attention—without any pressure to share or produce the “right” thing. If you’re thinking, I could use an afternoon like that, I’d love to have...
2 months ago • 1 min read
What if you trusted yourself to handle what happens? Not predict it. Not prevent everything that could go wrong. Not create Plans B, C, D, and E for situations that haven't even happened yet. Just trust that when something happens, you'll figure out what to do next. A few days ago, I got a chance to test that theory. I was called to a workplace after an employee died unexpectedly. I was there as a crisis responder, which means I had prepared for what I was walking into—or at least I thought I...
2 months ago • 3 min read