About

I am a newly-arrived middle-aged practicing clinical psychologist, wife, step-mother, and step-grandmother.  Why newly arrived? Yes, it seems I woke up one morning recently and was 50 years old. I was completely shocked by the passage of time.

I’ve been writing and keeping journals of thoughts, ideas, and stories my whole life. I’ve been through a lot and I’ve learned a thing or two that may be of interest to people out there. And then as 50 started to creep up, my writing wound down to a trickle. Now why would that be, when this is the time for me to make use of these thoughts? Part of it is a certain comfort with where things are in my life and so I can give in to a willingness to coast.  But what’s the real reason?  FEAR! My usual excuse is that I didn’t get the guidance I would have liked when I was in training to write and publish or I’m not directly involved in any research and I’m limited on what I can say about my work, and so on. But the truth is I’m introverted, nervous about putting myself out there and unsure whether anything I have to say could be of value to anyone else.

While it’s still scary to put my views out there, blogs have made it too easy. And so it’s time for me to swallow my fear, keep writing, and share what I think with the hope that I can be helpful, useful or maybe at least entertaining to someone who visits here.

What I tend to write from my own experiences and observations. I work every day with people who suffer some of the most debilitating mental and emotional problems. I’m familiar with most major psychiatric diagnoses and the struggle it is for people who live with them. I also know something (or at least have an opinion) about healing and mental health care, psychotherapy, parenting, trauma, stigma and self-care.  I have a huge interest in life’s phases or the life cycle and the role that religion, mythology, spirituality, and culture play in people’s lives.  And at some point I’m sure my perfectly behaved yet completely un-trainable dog, and the many things I learn from her, will show up, too.

I hope you enjoy what you find here.