On my very first fishing trip, I expected to catch something small, maybe a flounder. Instead, I reeled in a baby shark. 🦈
Tradition says you kiss the shark before tossing it back—kind of a sailor’s blessing. So I kissed it hard, partly for luck and partly to make sure it wouldn’t come back to nip me while I was in the water. A wild little rite of passage—sealed with salt, laughter, and a kiss. 🌊✨
Since then, I’ve been going down the wormhole of sustainable fishing practices—from which hooks cause the least harm to how to properly “kiss and release” a baby shark. Another reminder that letting go isn’t always just about release—it’s also about learning and doing better next time.
Much like therapy, fishing is unpredictable. Sometimes we skim the ocean floor and bring up nothing. Other times, what we reel in surprises us—a memory, a hidden belief, a new layer of truth. Whether it feels small or overwhelming, each “catch” gives us something to work with. Therapy, like fishing, teaches us to pause, look closely, bless what arises, and then decide what to keep or release.
Someone asked me yesterday, “What delights you in what you do?”
My honest answer: too many things to count. 🙂 But if I had to choose, it’s the ah-ha moments. Even after 20 years, I still find joy in hearing a client say:
"I’ve never experienced this before. I didn’t know this—going into the depths of our subconscious—was possible."
That will always feel good. It will always matter. There’s something deeply moving about watching someone slowly open a door inside themselves, letting out the parts they once hid away when the world felt too frightening to hold them. 🌱
This season invites the same. September is a time of letting go and letting in—releasing what no longer serves you, and opening to new possibilities.
See below for this month's writing prompt.
Featured Articles
Comfort Isn’t Care: Why We’re Praying to Chatbots (and What to Do Instead)
TL;DR: We’re turning to AI when we want comfort, containment, or company. That is not the same thing as care. A bot can act as a mirror or a journal, but it cannot be a therapist or a clergy. Use it to help structure reflection. Do not use it as a replacement for a relationship. I’ll show you a 10-minute Tech-Tiny-Desk Ritual, a Self-led protocol for safe journaling, and Internal Family Systems (IFS)-style prompts, by an IFS certified therapist in Richmond, VA, you can try today!
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Think of it as a guided journey into your inner world. KAP allows you to safely process difficult emotions and memories that may be contributing to your mental health challenges. With Dr. Silvestri’s expert support, you can gain valuable insights from these experiences, understand their impact on your life, and develop strategies for lasting change.
Writing Bravely: Autumn Unfolding - September 17 at 6:30pm
Join us for Writing Bravely: Autumn Unfolding, a cozy 90-minute pop-up workshop blending expressive writing, gentle somatic practices, and Internal Family Systems (IFS)-inspired prompts. Whether you're processing something tender or simply craving creative connection, this space is for you.We’ll gather in community with warm fall treats, refreshing mocktails, grounding practices, and guided writing prompts to support reflection, release, and reconnection. No writing experience needed—just bring a journal and your brave, curious self.Spots are limited—reserve yours today!
I can’t wait to guide you through an IFS-Focused Hypnotherapy journey supported by live sound healing. This is a space to meet your inner parts with curiosity, release stuck protective energy, and rest deeply into sound.
Come join us if you feel ready for emotional healing, deep rest, and reconnection.
November 1 - Retreat
Save the date: November 1st We’ll be hosting a special day retreat by the water on swift creek reservoir ✨ weaving together hypnosis, sound bath journeying, creative writing, and IFS prompts (and more). Sign up on the waitlist to get the first details!
What are you ready to release back into the tide this September? And what do you hope will rise in its place?
Write it in your journal.
Share it with a trusted friend.
Or, if you’re ready, bring it into the world.
Hit reply and tell me what came up for you. I’d love to hear your truth—big or small.
With courage & ink, Adina
P.S. I wanted to share the baby shark picture here, but friends advised me it was strictly “mature audiences only.” 🙂 Rest assured, dear readers—I did release it back to the sea! 🌊🦈
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