Grief is an inevitable part of the human experience, but it's often misunderstood and surrounded by myths that can hinder the healing process. It’s natural to crave a concrete guide to navigate the tremendous impact of loss, but this is where the perpetuation of myth often begins. While understanding “stages and strategies” can be helpful, I invite you to consider that hidden in the pain of grief, inside your own body and knowing, is a beautifully unique pathway to healing and personal growth.

Self-compassion helps us to move toward self-regulation and healing. Self-compassion has been documented in hundreds of studies as a practice that can build resilience and combat depression, anxiety, stress, and shame. Self-compassion differentiates from self-esteem in that it is not a type of self-judgment, as in, “I just got a promotion at work–I am so amazing!” It is a way of treating ourselves with loving kindness and acceptance in light of the organic ups and downs of everyday life. Whereas self-esteem is dependent on how we perform in the world and whether or not we judge that performance to be acceptable,  self-compassion enhances our ability to fully accept ourselves and treat ourselves with kindness and respect in all types of weather. 

Depression is complex, and for some it is an ongoing mental health condition that affects individuals regardless of gender. However, it is increasingly recognized that depression can manifest differently in men compared to other genders. Let’s explore the ways in which depression shows up in men and the challenges associated with identifying and addressing it. 

Climate anxiety can be overwhelming, but learning to calm your body, compassionately accept your emotions, and find productive ways to channel your energy can all help to bring you peace and hope.

Rhythmic movement has helped us to calm down and regulate our emotions since we were in utero and since our parents rocked us to sleep. It still works today! Learn how rhythm and movement can help you self-regulate.

Improving vagus nerve health can improve your physical and mental health by equipping your body to calm down and moderate your stress response. Learn simple practices to improve your vagal tone.

The confusing experience of being loved and feeling invisible at the same time has a long-term impact on a person’s fundamental belief about themselves in the world. This might look like low self-esteem, struggles with self-worth, or a sense of incompleteness. We all need to be deeply known. Attunement goes beyond empathy, creating a reciprocal, unbroken, resonant connectedness. Attunement is the act of listening, deeper than a simple dialectic or exchange of words or ideas. Just like listening to music, it is deep hearing, holding, and feeling into another’s experience with our entire being.

Understanding how your attachment style affects your intimate relationships can help you understand your own behavior, how you react and respond to intimacy, as well as your partner’s attachment style. Let’s explore anxious attachment: how it is formed, how it shows up in your life, and how to heal.

Sociey pressures us to always work harder toward the elusive goal of “success.” Are you burned out and exhausted from the never-ending pursuit? Rest, ease, and free time are crucial for maintaining balanced mental health. This blog post provides lots of resources and a guided reflection for you to evaluate your true hopes and desires.

Though blaming others is easy, blaming your parents will not help you heal in any way whatsoever. They did the best they could and are imperfect people too. But understanding what does not belong to you in your relationship with them will allow you to heal.

Small, positive actions every day can add up to large changes over time and help you connect to yourself and your vitality. Let’s look at your morning routine and explore ways to weave in small mindful practices.

The issue with “should” statements comes in two parts: 1) They are value-focused and therefore gnaw at the core of who you are or believe yourself to be, and 2) They are unreasonable but treated as fact. Learning to reframe your thoughts through the language of acceptance can help to free you from unrealistic pressures and guilt.

Because emotions are stored in the body, to fully receive and integrate these signals, we need to feel them. When you make connections and listen to your emotions you can use their messages to better understand yourself, your experience, and your truth. Evolve in Nature therapists in Boulder, CO can help!

Having our needs met, practicing self-care, and setting boundaries does not mean we are narcissistic or toxic. Taking care of yourself does not need to come at the expense of others. Instead, when we are filled, when our needs are met, we can more fully be present with ourselves and others. It is from this space that we can create authentic agreements and be in our integrity.

A Sit Spot is a place in nature that you visit regularly. A Sit Spot can allow you to deepen your understanding of yourself and the natural world. By choosing a sacred place in the natural world that you can visit again and again, you can strengthen the most ancient parts of your human awareness and tune deeply into the rhythms natural world.

Understanding how your attachment style affects your intimate relationships can help you understand your own behavior, how you react and respond to intimacy, as well as your partner’s attachment style. Let’s explore avoidant attachment: how it is formed, how it shows up in your life, and how to heal.

Although dissociation has been studied and categorized into clinical disorders in the DSM (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), it is important to understand that dissociation is not pathological, rather it is a safety mechanism that is in place to keep ourselves safe from stressful or traumatic events and situations.

For many people, love feels good, but it can also feel scary! For some, commitment is terrifying - primarily relational commitment. For others, the thought of losing the one they love can leave them feeling panicked. Attachment theory is a helpful lens for understanding our feelings about relationships and commitment.

Spring Equinox, March 20th 2022, marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere. It is a time where we celebrate coming out: coming out of the darkness, out of scarcity, out the harsh cold stillness of winter. It also marks a time of coming into: coming into the light, into dreams of summer growth and fall abundance, into possibilities. It is a time where we wake from the deep sleep of winter, crawl out of our dens, and stretch into the sunlight that falls upon our faces - waking us to the possibilities that may come.

There is a ton of great research that supports the many benefits of walking for physical health as well as emerging research to support the mental health benefits of walking. Like many during the early days of the pandemic, I found myself taking more walks as a way to break up my day and get out of the house, but it soon turned into an essential part of my routine and well-being. Walking is a simple but powerful practice that can yield benefits in many areas of life.