I posted recently on true guilt and false guilt here . This article tackles what I think is an even more difficult and complex emotion: shame. In my practice and life, I notice that it is at the core of our stuckness, our wounds, and our healing. Shame lies under every struggle for emotional freedom and authenticity. Whether someone is fighting perfectionism, overachievement, self-sabotage, or withdrawal, it often comes down to how well one can tolerate the sting of shame and what they do...

In a culture that prizes independence and personal space, many Americans are starving for something our bodies cannot live without: safe, comforting touch. Drawing on the insights of somatic therapist Peter Levine, this piece explores how touch regulates the nervous system, why children thrive through comforting contact, and why adults still need it just as much. It’s a reminder that we are mammals first — wired for closeness, healed through connection, and aching to be held in a world that...

One of the most profound signs of emotional healing is the ability to hold both grief and gratitude at the same time. This is not an easy practice, especially for people who have lived through trauma. When someone’s history is marked by pain, neglect, or betrayal, gratitude can feel out of reach. It can even feel like a betrayal of the self to acknowledge anything good about what caused such hurt. Yet, the ability to see complexity, to recognize that even in the darkest story there are...