posts

When we feel the distress of shame storms arising as we show up fully in the world, we need the compass of our values to keep us moving in our chosen direction.  Published on Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/its-not-you-its-the-world/202512/staying-on-course-through-emotional-storms

Take no one’s word for anything, including mine - but trust your experience.  ―  James Baldwin I pitched my book, It’s Not You, It’s the World, to over a hundred literary agents, persistently sending emails into the silent abyss of presumed rejection for years. When I finally celebrated my first response back—albeit still a rejection—they suggested I present myself as less of a hot mess and more of an expert. You will establish more trust with your readers this way, they sai

As all sides seem to be fighting for our “freedom” these days, we must ask ourselves:What kind of freedom are we fighting for? The freedom to harm and dominate others or the freedom from such harm? This article was published on May 15 2025 for Healthy Debate. https://healthydebate.ca/2025/05/topic/what-freedom-fighting-for-dei/

Compassion with boundaries is more effective than blame. First published Jan 26, 2024 for Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/its-not-you-its-the-world/202401/we-need-to-stop-blaming-our-parents-for-our-problems

Here’s how trauma is a social problem that requires a social cure. First Published Jan 16, 2024 for Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/its-not-you-its-the-world/202401/why-interpersonal-trauma-is-more-about-shame-than-fear

Intergenerational trauma lives on all sides of our divided world. First published on Jan 13, 2024 for Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/its-not-you-its-the-world/202401/how-historical-trauma-lives-in-us-all

How our ancestors shape our anxiety response. First Published Jan 4, 2024, for Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/its-not-you-its-the-world/202401/the-intergenerational-wisdom-of-anxiety

The power of distress in an unhealthy world. First Published on Jan 4, 2024, for Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/its-not-you-its-the-world/202401/weve-evolved-to-survive-and-to-feel-miserable

The pioneer in trauma treatment has a new book that focuses on the need for social justice First Published on July 6, 2023 for the Walrus Magazine. https://thewalrus.ca/healing-doesnt-happen-in-private-an-interview-with-judith-herman/

The upside of our shame response. First Published on Aug 8, 2023 for Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/its-not-you-its-the-world/202308/shame-its-not-you-its-them

How inequities chronically inflame everyone’s bodies, even the most privileged. First Published May 4 2023 for Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/its-not-you-its-the-world/202305/inequities-poison-us-all

Jennifer Kagan’s daughter Keira was just one victim, she says, of a system that wouldn’t protect children like her. First Published on Feb 4, 2023 in the Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/after-incidents-where-ex-partners-killed-their-children-laws-and-attitudes-within-canada-s-court/article_c11337ca-5330-5bdc-a573-90f68de2af6f.html

Being nice and pleasing others – while socially applauded and generally acknowledged as positive traits – actually can harm our health, says Gabor Maté. First Published on Jan 8 2023 in Healthy Debate. https://healthydebate.ca/2023/01/topic/smiling-to-death/

As a new study reports 37 per cent say their mental health declined during the pandemic, there are signs of political will to move toward universal care. First Published on March 22, 2022 in the Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/from-despair-to-hope-after-covid-s-toll-on-mental-health-more-canadians-may-soon/article_774a0936-0dd7-5b58-a08b-63c0a1e5ec7d.html

Psychiatrist Dr. Gaiathry Jeyarajan envisions a future where parents are comfortable having conversations with their kids early on about consent and boundaries. Avoiding these discussions only perpetuates the culture of silence that allows interpersonal trauma to thrive, says Jeyarajan. First Published on Jan 17, 2022 for The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/conversations-about-consent-need-to-start-early-and-parents-need-to-get-comfortable-with-it-174524?utm_source=

Canada’s wildfire lookouts live under constant threat that they will be replaced by technology. But they’ve never been more essential. First Published on Sept 01, 2021 in MacLean's Magazine. https://www.macleans.ca/society/environment/the-lonely-life-of-a-wildfire-lookout-in-northern-alberta/

The fast transmission of bad information is dangerous. A new approach employs “infodemiologists” to fight outbreaks. First Published June 3, 2021, for Neo.Life  Magazine. Illustration by Project Twins for original article. https://proto.life/2021/06/misinformation-is-a-public-health-crisis-so-lets-treat-it-that-way/

While there is no health without mental health , provincial governments in Canada still cover only half of treatments for mental-health conditions – paying for doctors and hospitalizations but rarely for psychotherapists and psychological services. First Published April 21, 2021 in Healthy Debate. https://healthydebate.ca/2021/04/topic/paradigm-shift/

While COVID has disrupted many of our social lives, health, and sense of sanity, hordes of people are flocking to cold-water swimming to help them cope. First Published April 5, 2021 for the National Post. https://nationalpost.com/life/cold-water-warm-community-for-some-winter-swimming-has-become-an-antidote-to-pandemic-isolation

U.S. study finds that 98 per cent of people unhappy with when conversations end. First Published on March 16, 2021 for CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/conversation-small-talk-study-1.5950125