Curiosity is often where understanding begins.
I believe learning about our bodies, nervous systems, emotions and experiences can help us become more curious about ourselves — and more connected to the ways we move through the world.
This growing collection brings together practical, evidence-informed education from my work in massage therapy, veterinary medicine, body awareness and ongoing study in counselling psychology.
From My Library
Much of the education I create is informed by the books, researchers, clinicians, teachers and mentors whose work has shaped my own thinking. These are some of the ideas I return to, explore and connect with my own clinical experience.
BODY, STRESS & NERVOUS SYSTEM
The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk
Charge and the Energy Body — Anodea Judith
Consciousness Medicine — Francoise Bourzat
EMOTIONS & SELF-AWARENESS
The Language of Emotions — Karla McLaren
The Myth of Normal — Gabor Maté
When the Body Says No — Gabor Maté
Scattered Minds — Gabor Maté
AUTHENTICITY, RELATIONSHIPS & PERSONAL GROWTH
Ayena Academy — Paula Hamilton
The Flight from Intimacy — Barry K & Janae B Weinhold
No Bad Parts — Richard Schwartz
On Becoming a Person — Carl Rogers
How to Be an Adult in Relationships — David Richo
The Highly Sensitive Person in Love — Elaine Aron
Mother Hunger — Kelly McDaniel
REFLECTIVE PRACTICE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Reflective Practitioner — Donald Schon
Explore the Ideas
Pain, movement, nervous-system regulation, body awareness and the ways stress can show up physically.
Understanding emotions, interoception, curiosity, self-awareness and developing a more compassionate relationship with ourselves.
Attachment, connection, boundaries, authenticity, identity and the process of becoming more fully ourselves.
Curiosity, reflection, professional identity, burnout and the experiences that shape us through our work.
Active Release Techniques® (ART®): A Targeted Approach to Pain and Movement
Learn how Active Release Techniques® (ART®) combines targeted soft-tissue treatment and movement to address muscular discomfort and mobility restrictions.
The Practice of Staying: How to Make Space for What You Feel
Knowing that emotions need space is one thing; learning how to make that space is another. Discover gentle ways to notice what you feel, become curious about your experience, and find a balance between allowing emotions and taking action.
The Value of the In-Between: Why We Don't Always Need to Fix What We Feel
When something difficult happens, we often move straight into problem-solving. But what might we miss when we don't give ourselves time to acknowledge what we feel? Explore the value of slowing down, making space for emotions, and understanding our experiences before deciding what comes next.
Coming Back to Yourself
When life is full of roles, responsibilities and expectations, it can be easy to lose touch with yourself. Explore body awareness, interoception, curiosity and simple ways to reconnect with your own experience.
The Paradox of Resilience
Resilience is often associated with the ability to keep going. But what happens when the ability to push through becomes so automatic that we stop recognizing the signals that tell us when to slow down? This article explores the paradox of resilience, body awareness, recovery, and developing a more responsive relationship with the body.
Why Do I Feel So Tight?
You stretch, exercise and get massage, but somehow you still feel tight. Explore why muscle tension isn't always as simple as a "short" muscle—and how pain, stress, movement and your nervous system can influence how your body feels.
The People Who Approach Suffering
What happens when the person who has spent their life approaching suffering suddenly has to approach their own? Drawing from my experience as a veterinarian, Registered Massage Therapist, and counselling psychology student, I explore the relationship between responsibility and control, occupational identity, trauma, and the challenges of rebuilding a sense of self when illness, injury, disability, or career transition changes the role we once knew ourselves through.
When Competence Becomes Camouflage
Sometimes the people who appear to be coping the best are carrying the most. Explore the relationship between competence, chronic stress, the body and what happens when we become so good at functioning that we stop noticing how much we're carrying.
When Your Work Becomes Part of Who You Are: Understanding Professional Identity
What happens when the role you've built your life around no longer fits quite the way it used to? Exploring professional identity, career transitions, competence, belonging, and the process of becoming who we are next.
Healthy Together: Winter Adventures, Paws, Noses & Staying Active
Winter doesn't have to mean putting our pets' health and activity on hold. Learn how snow, ice, salt, cold temperatures and winter conditions can affect paws, noses and mobility—and how to keep your pets comfortable and active through the season.
Healthy Together: Fall Adventures, Hidden Ticks, and Staying Safe Outdoors
Fall is a wonderful time to explore with our pets, but changing temperatures, ticks, wildlife, seasonal plants and outdoor activities can bring new considerations. A few simple precautions can help keep autumn adventures healthy, active and enjoyable.
Does Massage Have to Hurt to Work?
Does effective massage need to hurt? Explore the difference between therapeutic pressure, discomfort and pain—and why more intensity doesn't necessarily mean better results.