Blog Articles
Additional resources written by our PCS therapists.
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Helping Our Children Grow Strong
When I had my son, my first instinct was to protect him from everything so he would never have to feel loss or pain or worry. I think a lot of us feel this way, and it is certainly our responsibility to fiercely and attentively protect very young children. But… -
The Importance of Rest
What I have found throughout my time in the mental health field is that many people in the world equate or have learned to equate their productivity to their worth. It is common that these individuals will take on many tasks and activities that fill their time and mind so… -
Holding Space
After nearly 20 years in the mental health field, I have decided that perhaps the most important concept I have learned is that of holding space. This is true no matter what role I am playing – therapist, mother, wife, daughter, sister or friend. Many years ago, very early in… -
Another New Year
I must admit there are two parts of me that show up each new year. One is excited and in anticipation of new experiences; the deepening of relationships, getting in better shape, new adventures, and putting behind the challenges of the previous year. The other part enters the new year… -
Sexual Health Update: Advances in the Prevention & Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections
The surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continues in the US with 2.5 million cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2021. Cases of syphilis in women jumped 49% compared to the prior year; congenital syphilis (when syphilis passes from mother to baby during pregnancy) was up… -
Mind Body Connection
Before we kick start learning about the mind-body connection, I want you to connect with your body right here, right now. You could be lounging by the pool, sitting at work, or juggling. Whatever it is, pause and notice your body. Scan your body from your feet, up your legs… -
Sitting With Others in Their Darkest Moments
Every year, countless individuals across the world turn to suicide, leaving friends, families, and communities in profound grief and confusion. The reasons behind these decisions are multifaceted and deeply personal. They can be rooted in mental health issues, past traumas, overwhelming stressors, or feelings of hopelessness and isolation. Suicide is… -
Self Awareness
How well do you know yourself? Who are the people you know the best? Your spouse? Your best friend? Your sister? As you think about your most intimate relationships, do you think about the relationship you have with yourself? Chances are, you don’t. The level of emotional self-awareness necessary to… -
Let’s Talk About What Change Is
Change [chāynj]: verb; to make different in some particular way, to make radically different, to give a different position, course, or direction to (Merriam-Webster, 2023) What is the purpose of making alterations in our lives? Why change what we know, what we do, or how we act when that has… -
Creating A Legacy
Last Thanksgiving, it was important for my adult children to gather with their spouses and grandchildren. It had become apparent that Thanksgiving did not hold the same value to my children as it did to me. “Legacy is not what I did for myself. I’m doing it for the next… -
What is Music Therapy?
Definition of Music Therapy: “Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Music therapy interventions can address a wide variety of healthcare and educational goals” (American Music… -
Awe Walks
It’s been a long, hot summer here in the greater Phoenix area as well as so many other places in our world. I miss my morning walks, which I needed to pause when the low temperatures rose into the upper 80’s to low 90’s. Recently, I got to travel out… -
Burnout
Burnout seems to be a hot topic in recent years, but what really is it and how can we hopefully improve our individual experiences? According to the ICD-11 burnout is defined as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” (World Health Organization,… -
What is a Sex Surrogate Partner and how is it different from a sex worker?
A sex surrogate partner is a trained and certified professional that helps a client explore and overcome physical, emotional, and/or social issues around intimacy and sex. The role of a sex surrogate is to help individuals with issues such as sexual dysfunctions, shame, negative body image, dysmorphia, anxieties about touch,… -
The Self-Attachment Model (SAM)
“Return back to yourself, you have been away far too long.” – Author Unknown Humans rely on their primary caretakers longer than any other mammal. This is due to the time it takes for the human brain to fully develop, including emotionally and socially. In those earlier years, we relied… -
The Power of Reading
Reading was instilled in me at a young age. As a child I used to think, “how cool is this, I get to travel to a faraway land” and escape into the world the author created. As I grew older my reading selections evolved into learning something new, seeing through… -
Partner Sexual Betrayal
When a partner or spouse in a relationship learns that the person whom they have trusted has been unfaithful to them, the pain of that discovery can be incredibly intense, leaving the person with an overwhelming sense of betrayal. Betrayal as an Attachment Trauma Betrayal in a committed relationship includes… -
No Bad Parts
Internal Family Systems (IFS) reflects our outer world to our inner world. Its takes our relationships in real life and mirrors them to the relationships in our head. IFS examines dynamics in the family setting and relates them to how relationships function within us. What do I mean by our… -
After
I recently purchased a vintage watercolor painting that I found attractive and repelling, simple and complex, familiar yet to be honest a little bit haunting. What more could you ask from a piece of art? It was dated 3-12-1950 and the title of it was written in a beautiful hand-penciled… -
Beginning
I hate writing blogs. Well, hate is a strong word — but still. I stare at the screen, waiting for my muse, type a word, delete a word, have a thought, role my eyes. Sigh. Then, I start typing, sometimes without direction and then it has begun. Before long…well, you…
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