Brave Steps Integrative Wellness

Healing is hard, but suffering is as well. There is no medication that will make things go away. To take steps towards healing means loving yourself enough to commit to doing the work… and the work doesn’t have to take years. Think about how much time you are willing to waste by staying stuck versus how much time you would like to have in order to live a beautiful life?
Choose you. Above all else.

Being stuck in our past traumas can be a place we find ourselves for YEARS without really knowing. It can look like depression, chronic anxiety, horrible sleep, body aches and pains, headaches, lack of motivation, cluttered household, a million projects on the go, always running late, addictions, narcissism, people pleasing, submissiveness, introversion, extroversion, easily angered or hyper-sensitive. It’s also easy to think that these are our ‘normal’ traits, and can dismiss it as “that’s just how I am”. Remember this: any time ANY strong emotion is predominantly driving our lives, your wounded inner child is riding shotgun. We focus on the things that keep us feeling safe instead of a life of joy and gratitude. We work too much, try to control every little thing or others, and become argumentative or defensive, or perhaps flee from anything that challenges us. Including healing.

“Shouldering your loneliness
Like a gun that you will not learn to aim
You stumble into this movie house
Then you climb, you climb into the frame
Yes, and here, right here
Between the moonlight and the lane
Between the tunnel and the train
Between the victim and his stain
Once again, once again
Love calls you by your name…”

~Leonard Cohen.

A reading today for the collective on healing: lots of Wands , a focus on willpower, drive and that internal passion and inspiration. The first card we see is the reversed 5 of Wands representing the past: a pattern of avoiding conflict to try to keep peace and harmony.. potentially ignoring doing what you should be doing. The next card , reversed two of wands represents the present: things are starting to fall apart due to continued patterns of thinking small, or subsequent wishful thinking. Things aren’t going as planned or desired. Card three shows the upright Knight of Wands, representing hidden influences around you. This indicates there is action and adventure at your fingertips, it could also be a Cancer or a Leo who is attempting to make you see the need for change… there is a lot of self- assurance in this card, whether from an external person or your own inner desires that you are ignoring. The fourth card represents YOU, the 9 of Cups reversed. This indicates a pattern of looking for quick fixes, maybe feeling greedy, but through an overall strong sense of dissatisfaction. You want your cake and to eat it too, but not willing to do the work to get there.. laziness … only because your Higher self recognizes it’s not for your highest good. The 5th card is the Emperor reversed.. representing influences around you that are keeping you stuck. Perhaps a level of emotional immaturity, tyranny or rigidity… refusal to let go and trust the bigger plan.. ego at play. Not wanting to face the truth. The sixth card represents the Course of Action, and in this position we see the 7 of Wands..this is a potent card suggesting that your next step is to stand your ground in what it is that you truly want. Defend this with everything you have. Claim and maintain control over your own life. Do the work. The last card we see the outcome: the High Priestess reversed.. representing that lost inner voice, and repressed feelings. This lies naturally on the other side of putting yourself first… and ultimately the first stepping stone to your new life. Feeling off center, the time is NOW to heal that Inner child. ✨💕🙏🏻

My recent online TRE event was well received! Thank you everyone for the lovely comments and interest in this event! I will be hosting more soon!
If you are healing-curious, please be sure to check out my website, and peruse some of the blog posts that offer some insight and science behind my chosen modalities. More events like this coming soon!

The countdown begins! 90 minutes left to join the TRE spring Shakeoff. Don't miss out!

Register here:

TRE Spring Shake-Off! | Brave Steps In this online facilitated group, learn the basics of TRE (Trauma Releasing Exercises) in the comfort of your own home. Learn how to experience the embodied process of releasing tension and trauma in a gentle, natural way.

Join us at TRE Spring Shake-Off! https://wix.to/OXkbp4Y

Discover the art of releasing tension and finding peace within.

🌺✨ Join us on Saturday, May 18th to experience the benefits of T.R.E. tremoring firsthand.

Register today at https://wix.to/E268n3X and take the first step towards a lighter, more joyful you.

“Soul work is not a high road.
It’s a deep fall into an unforgiving darkness
that won’t let you go
until you find the song
that sings you home. “

-McCall Erickson-

Artist: unknown

How Positivity Bias (aka: silver linings) can interfere with your healing journey.

Check out my blog post https://wix.to/blSPFOW

The Deceptive Mirage of "Silver Linings": An Examination of Positivity Bias in Healing In our collective cultural narrative, we often gravitate towards the idea of "silver linings" – the notion that even in the bleakest of circumstances, there exists a glimmer of positivity or a valuable lesson to be gleaned. In the world of therapy, this is known as positivity bias, a psychological...

The emotion-disease connection. Find out how unresolved emotional imprints can affect your health. Check out my blog post https://wix.to/3bF6wfo

The Emotion-Disease Connection The connection between emotions and physical well-being has been a topic of increasing interest among researchers, healthcare professionals, and holistic practitioners alike. At the forefront of this exploration are leading-edge researchers whose work has contributed to our understanding of this com...

“There is no coming to consciousness without pain. People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own Soul. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”

~ Carl Jung

Art: by Jane Burson

Having compassion for your wounded aspects is a powerful way to resolve the stickiness of emotional charge to traumatic memories. Become comfortable with giving yourself some kind words: talking with yourself this way can be powerfully therapeutic.

Complex Grief: Understanding and navigating grief when it is rooted in complex experiences can be devastating for individuals and their loved ones. Learn about this human experience and how you can identify it and what you can do to help resolve it. Check out my blog post

Understanding and Navigating Complex Grief While grief is a natural response to loss, it can quickly become complex and multifaceted, impacting individuals in profound ways. Complex grief encompasses a range of emotions and symptoms that extend beyond the typical mourning process, and therefore, recognizing its signs is crucial for seeking a...

Thoughts are just choices we make. We are constantly experiencing the thoughts of our thinking. 80% of the thoughts we have are based on survival, known as the Negativity Bias. Giving ourselves compassion for feeling what we feel and thinking what we think takes a degree of mindfulness: the cornerstone of healing. Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.

Check out my latest blog post about the advantages of a bottom-up approach to trauma recovery!

Exploring the Advantages of Bottom-Up Approaches in Trauma Therapy Learn the advantages of bottom-up approaches to trauma therapy.

Read about the signs, psychology and strategies around dealing with narcissistic behaviours.
Healing begins with understanding, having compassion and an empathic approach to communication. We simply cannot be in healthy relationships until we understand some of the deeper, inner-realm reasons for all behaviors.

Understanding Narcissism: Exploring Childhood Attachment Styles and Building Empathetic Connections Within the web of human relationships, narcissism emerges as a multifaceted personality trait that occurs on a wide spectrum, often challenging to comprehend and navigate. When exploring the realms of narcissism, its roots in childhood attachment styles and through gaining insights into fostering em...

“A girl asked me, "why is it that despite how big my love is, he still left?"

I answered, "because it's not enough."

"Why?"

I couldn't look at her in the eyes so I stared at my hand instead. "Because he doesn't love you anymore."

And then she was silent for a long time. I didn't hear another word, so when I summoned the strength to finally look at her, relief washed through me when I saw that she wasn't crying. Instead she was staring at the pink sky with a blank expression, maybe thinking of a hundred things and asking the stars starting to show up a thousand questions. I did the same thing and looked above the clouds.

"Because, you know, it's not about how much we love the person." I started, remembering things. "It's not even about how happy we were or how perfect we felt when we're with them. When people fall out of love, I learned that they kind of drift away, like an island being separated to another. Something just stands between the both of you and everything just won't reach them anymore like it used to. You can shout all you want, you can tell her you love her a million times, but the gap's too much that the wind can no longer carry your voice. And while you're busy scrambling for scraps just to light a fire and send a signal, they're starting over on their own, building a new hut and planting new trees. I honestly don't know how they can do that knowing they left someone behind, but I eventually stopped wondering and just started to work on my own island. Everyday I would water my plants and decorate my home, hoping it'll be beautiful enough that when someone eventually comes around, she'll just choose to stay everyday and we can watch a million sunsets on the shore."

There was silence for a moment and then she whispered, "that sounds beautiful."

I smiled, looking at the stars. "It is."

—Jun Mark Patilan

Sometimes when people leave it is so painful, it feels like you can never love again. Sometimes you’re left with more questions than answers, and sometimes, your self esteem takes a beating in the process. Learn to love again by loving yourself first. The rest will follow.

“Let things happen as they happen - they will sort themselves out nicely in the end. You need not strain towards the future - the future will come to you on its own. For some time longer you will remain sleep-walking, as you do now, bereft of meaning and assurance; but this period will end and you will find your work both fruitful and easy. There are always moments when one feels empty and estranged. Such moments are most desirable for it means the soul had cast its moorings and is sailing for distant places. This is detachment - when the old is over and the new has not yet come. If you are afraid, the state may be distressing; but there is really nothing to be afraid of. Remember the instruction: whatever you come across - go beyond.”

― Nisargadatta Maharaj

***Such profound words that resonate deeply. Finding oneself floating in the chasm between then and now can be daunting… I love the reference to the soul casting its moorings..
we will all get there eventually. Trust the divine timing. Things always work out in the end….

✨🙏🏻✨

[ Art • “The Kingdom” by Marek Rużyk ]

Every interaction with love leaves footprints on our hearts. When people walk away, the echo of those footsteps can be heard long after. It can seem brutally unfair to be left with the shadows, the dust and the sounds of those echoes while life is supposed to just carry on. It feels unfair, it’s lonely, and it’s painful. Sometimes one desperately wants time to miraculously fast forward to avoid it all. But it doesn’t. And then it does. And the pain doesn’t stop, it just changes. And at some point you find yourself on your knees, trying to pick up the shards left from the aftermath, reclaiming the pieces of yourself, only to discover that some pieces are missing, and others don’t belong to you. It takes brave steps to journey to that forlorn place filled with memories and heartache. But the time will come when you can sit with the sorrow, sort what’s left, and box it up to be stored forever in the dark recesses of your past. And when you stand up and leave that place, you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and see someone that you no longer recognize. And you carry on. Oh, Brave soul, you carry on…

My latest blog post is out!

Understanding the Differences Between C-PTSD and PTSD: Causes, Symptoms, and Adaptation

https://www.bravesteps.ca/post/understanding-cptsd-and-ptsd

Understanding the Differences Between C-PTSD and PTSD: Causes, Symptoms, and Adaptation Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) are two distinct but related mental health conditions that can develop in response to traumatic experiences. Understanding the differences between these conditions, including their causes, risk factors, and ada...

Grief and Growth in the Loss of Relationship.. new blog post! Read it here:

The Spiritual Journey of Grieving a Relationship: Grief and Growth Grief is a profound and universal human experience that accompanies loss. One of the most challenging forms of loss is the end of a significant relationship. The spiritual journey of grieving a relationship takes us through various stages of grief and growth, each carrying its unique emotional and s...

I’ve always been the one to help others, to see people at their core and to overlook the negative of their humanness. This comes from a deep, (very deep) understanding of what makes people tick, and why they are the way they are. Add to that the innate skills, ways of knowing, and intuition, intense compassion and empathy, the makings of an empathic healer are evident.

This didn’t work well for me when my boundaries weren’t clearly defined. I opened my heart fully to them, believing that Love Heals All.

I allowed people to use me, parasitically attach to me and suck me dry of all my love, caring and nurturing, while leaving me nothing in return. Time and time again.

It has taken me the last 10 years, to let go of the need to fit in, and to fully step into who I am at my core. It has taken me 10 years to love myself enough to build stronger boundaries.

I am different.

I don’t fit in because I wasn’t meant to.

I know my purpose here and I no longer will bow my head to those who wish to see me surrender to the patriarchal stereotypes of dulling my shine to make others happy.

If this sounds like you, know that this is more common than you think. You are not alone.

Recognizing that ALL people operate from their inner child wounds creates space from feeling like a victim, and allows for the blossoming of a victor from the lessons contained within.

Lift you head.

Hold it high.

🥁March to the front of the battle fields and lead by example.

🥷A good leader is more important than a strong warrior.

🧠Know there doesn’t always have to be a war in order to win.

💪🏻Learn to strengthen those beautiful, positive aspects of yourself so you no longer view them as weaknesses.

✨Hang on to your light, and let it shine, shine, shine.

💕Love WILL heal all. The key is knowing how to use it.

📓Watch for the release of my newest eBook that will help you heal your victim wounds and emerge the victor.

💕Made with love, especially for the empath. 💕



✨ ✨✨✨🙏🏻

Reparenting the Inner Child...why this is the missing key to healing trauma. Read my latest blog post on this important technique.

Unlocking Healing: Inner Child Work for PTSD Recovery Introduction Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex and challenging condition that can leave individuals feeling trapped in a cycle of distress. Fortunately, a therapeutic approach called Inner Child work has shown great promise in aiding the recovery process for those dealing with PTSD....

Why is it so difficult to move past negative patterns that we seem to get stuck in?

Neurobiology explains the complexities of how trauma can affect the brain, and also offers the solution to rewiring those imprints. Read my latest blog post about it here:

A Neuroscientific Perspective: The Brain's Response to Trauma Introduction The human experience is a complex interplay of physical, emotional, and psychological factors. One intriguing aspect of this intricate tapestry is the concept of the human energy field, often associated with various spiritual and holistic practices. However, looking through the lens of....

Latest post on Depression. It's important to understand the signs and symptoms of this insidious experience before it leads to worrisome symptoms. Read how you can identify it, what the symptoms are, and when to seek help. We also discuss a variety of approaches to help overcome depression in a holistic way.

www.bravesteps.ca

Unresolved trauma has become the Silent Epidemic, and the fallout from this can be devastatingly detrimental to our mental, physical and emotional health.

The Silent Epidemic: Unveiling the Negative Effects of Untreated Trauma In this blog post, we will explore the negative effects of untreated trauma, and shed light on the importance of seeking healing and suppo

Things are changing!

Growth encourages clarity, which is always a good thing! As I continue to expand in my own journey, my vision for what I offer others is becoming more refined. I have decided to change the trajectory of my services slightly, and with that comes a whole new look!

At their core, my services are still the same: facilitation of deep transformation through embodied trauma healing and body-centered psychotherapy.

I have chosen to change my branding and create an image that better depicts the essence of what I offer my clients.

The healing journey is deeply personal, and with a focus on trauma-related imprints, the teal color which is associated with this area, has aptly been adopted as the primary color.

As we all step into our own healing journey, it starts with those first steps: we arrive barefoot, vulnerable and ready to embark in a rebirth. My hope is that my new logo of the heart and the barefoot prints embodies that journey.

May we all take Brave Steps into becoming.

~Namaste