Shining a Spotlight on Military Sexual Trauma

By Melissa Riddle Chalos The brave men and women who serve our country in the military experience many difficult stressors that ordinary citizens do not. Whether they’re in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard, or Coast Guard, life in the armed forces is intense, stressful and often unpredictable… Read More

Celebrating Independence and Those Who Keep Us Free

By Anna McKenzie Every year on July 4th, Independence Day, we celebrate our nation’s freedom and the people who have fought to keep us free — our military service members. But at times, it’s our present and former service members whose welfare is poorly prioritized. Because of what they experience… Read More

Sand Tray Therapy: What Is It and How Does It Work?

By Anna McKenzie Most of us haven’t played in a sandbox in years, and while we might jokingly refer to a vacation at the beach as “sand therapy,” neither of these activities are officially “therapeutic.” Sand can play a role in treatment, though, in the form of Sand Tray Therapy. Read More

Post-Traumatic Growth: Turning Pain Into Progress

By Christa Banister While Oprah Winfrey is famous for asking about people’s big “aha!” moments — those lightning sparks of insight where a life-changing truth suddenly clicks and forever changes your way of thinking — she recently admitted she’s experienced her fair share of “aha” moments about the enormity of… Read More

What Is Racialized Trauma?: Resmaa Menakem and the Work of Racial Healing

By Wesley Gallagher As a young child, Resmaa Menakem used to sit with his grandmother on the couch and rub her hands. One day as he studied them, he asked her why they were so thick and rough compared to the rest of her tiny, delicate body. What she told… Read More

Leaning into Fear

“We are very afraid of being powerless. But we have the power to look deeply at our fears, and then fear cannot control us.” -Thich Nhat Hanh These days, you don’t have to look very far to witness the powerful effects of fear. Just take a stroll (in your mind)… Read More

When Hidden Grief Gets Triggered During COVID-19 Confinement

How to Use These Days to Heal Old Wounds Rather than Reenact Them Our sense of loss during the current COVID-19 crisis can trigger hidden emotions from when we experienced a sense of loss before. Whatever early losses you have had in your life — whether they be your… Read More

Why Loving What You Have Can Feel Scary for Those Who’ve Had Adverse Childhood Experiences

To ring in the New Year, I could quote statistics of how certain feelings benefit your cholesterol levels and pump up your immune system and extend your life by 2.3 years. We could discuss that science has proven that appreciation begets happiness and happiness is healthy. But you’ve already heard… Read More

Trauma’s Rising Public Profile

By Wesley Gallagher Trauma—it’s a big word with many connotations. Terms like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have entered the American lexicon, tied to news of terrorist attacks or stories of combat soldiers. But trauma is something that is experienced in big and small ways by people in all… Read More

The Many Masks of Unresolved Grief

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding and could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy; much of your pain is self-chosen. It is the bitter potion by which… Read More