On Grieving Many Times, and Many Times Over
My beautiful, sweet mother died last week at the age of 90 years old. She passed while I was on a plane on my way
January 30, 2023
The Antidote to Shame
I was relinquished at birth, then adopted into a new family at the age of one-week old. I entered this world without the safety net
January 16, 2023
It’s All Material – Why Telling Stories Matters
I’ve had a lot of breakthroughs in my life, but it wasn’t until I started to share my story that I understood that my experiences
November 6, 2022
Did You Know There Are Two Celebrated Authors from East Troy, WI?
It’s hard to not make it sound as if it’s not my ego that needs stroking, but when I think about my work as an
September 15, 2022
Happy New Season!
For many of us the real new year starts in September. This is the time when kids and young adults go back to school, when
September 8, 2022
Grieving Loss and The Endowment of Pain
Recently, I experienced a profound personal loss. The details are not important as they are private, but this was the loss of the greatest caliber
August 10, 2022
The Butterfly Effect: Truth and Transparency in (my) Adoption
“The butterfly effect is the idea that small, seemingly trivial events may ultimately result in something with much larger consequences – in other words, they
August 5, 2022
The Harm of Positivity
Have you too been feeling this “sweet” pressure to feel good, the way I have lately? I’m talking about the pressure to triumph over negativity
June 30, 2022
A Love Hangover is Better than Any Other Hangover
“I’ve got the sweetest hangover/ I don’t wanna get over” ~ Diana Ross Recently, I was a part of a beautiful event that made
June 15, 2022
Brace Ourselves
There’s no doubt that we’re going to be here for a little longer—here meaning the unstable and unpredictable world we find ourselves in. Nothing seems
May 14, 2022
HIGH-VALUE-ADDED ADDICTION CONSULTING
Case Study: Jason
In the following series I will talk about composite case studies based on clients who came to my practice looking for help with their emotional-
April 4, 2022
HIGH-VALUE-ADDED ADDICTION CONSULTING
Case Study: Catherine
In the following series I will talk about composite case studies based on clients who came to my practice looking for help with their emotional-
March 30, 2022
Double-Whammy, Double Resilience?
One of the copouts of having gone through trauma is that you often hear that adage about what doesn’t kill you… makes you stronger. And
July 21, 2021
Adoption and Addiction Radio Broadcast – Sunday, May 23rd, 2021 – 6:30 pm EST, 3:30 pm PST
UPDATE: Listen to a replay of the broadcast here. Please join me and Pat O’Brien, Executive Director of the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of
May 21, 2021
Relationships are Hard – yet Totally Worth It!
The other day I saw a quote from Dr. Tanja Windegger about CPTSD that said “after prolonged interpersonal trauma, you are even suspicious about support
May 19, 2021
I will be presenting at the 32nd Annual New York State Foster Care and Adoption Conference
On Friday, May 21st, at 12:00 pm EST, 11:00 am CST, 9:00 am PST, I will be presenting at the 32nd Annual New York State
May 12, 2021
The Miracle Cure: The Intersection of Relinquishment and Addiction
Living the way I lived, I was bound to implode one way or another. Being in this constant conflict with myself and having a perpetual
March 30, 2021
The Shame Game: The Intersection of Relinquishment and Addiction
What is the big deal some of you might say? You were loved and cared for and your parents gave you opportunities that you wouldn’t
March 10, 2021
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