There is a constant see-saw going on with our Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems, working hard to provide us with what we need in any given moment.  Amping us up when we need it and slowing us down to recover […]

We are often asked whether we are introvert or extravert. Yet many of us may be (like myself) “ambivert”. It means that a person needs and thrives on social interaction as well as enjoy and recharge during the solitary or […]

As you have probably figured out by now, there are many different kinds of practice that we can do when we “practice” mindfulness and meditation. Some require that we set aside a set amount of time on a very regular […]

For seasoned meditators and for those new to meditation, it’s important to remember this:  Meditation is simple…but it’s not easy.  The simple part is in the instructions. We find a comfortable position. We give the mind something to focus on […]

In my career in law enforcement, I never met an officer who wanted to talk about emotions.  Ever.  And that included me.  That’s certainly not to say there aren’t officers who will talk about their emotions; but in my experience […]

Adapted from Michael’s presentation at the DCMC Evening Communal Meditation – 8/21/25 Whether in casual conversations with acquaintances or in talks with patients I see in my work as a psychotherapist, I have frequently heard the statement – “I’m not […]

The longer days of summer can often mean fuller, longer, schedules. It’s easy to get swept into the heat and momentum of summer without a grounding moment. Morning is one of the few times in the day that truly belongs […]

As early humans, it was very important to know whether that tan thing behind that bush was a rock or a lion.  Neuropsychologist and mindfulness teacher Rick Hanson writes in his book “Resilient”, that “the brain is like Velcro for negative […]

As a registered dietitian and mindfulness meditation teacher trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), I’ve spent over two decades helping people build intentional, compassionate relationships with food and helped countless of them find freedom from rigid diet rules, reconnect with […]

Grounding Psychotherapy in Self-Compassion is the title of a book just published by Guilford Press in March of 2025. It is an edited work with chapters on key aspects of how compassion can facilitate the practice of psychotherapy and increase […]