Maureen Kelleher, ATR, LPC

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month. We are thrilled to support FETCH a Cure and their mission to spread hope, healing, and to help save a best friend's life. In memory and honor of D'Arcy, Chaucer, Ana, and Archer 🐾✨

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We’re big fans of the Barbie movie over here at Passionately Living. Naturally, with such themes as girlhood, inner child healing, parts of self, existential anxiety - the list goes on and on! I’ve personally really enjoyed discussing the film in sessions with some of my clients, it has opened the door for such amazing dialogue and connection. What is one thing you took from Barbie that you are trying to integrate into your own healing journey? - Katie

We have an exciting announcement! The PL team is expanding!

We are excited to announce Megan McCormack, LPC as the newest member of the passionately living clinical team!

She will be offering individual counseling beginning September 1st! You can book a session with Megan virtually or in office at our new red mill/pungo location (details on that coming soon 🥳). Like the rest of our team, Megan will receive additional training in EMDR and EFT over the next year. Preparing her to be a rockstar relational trauma therapist.

There are many more exciting details to share about Megan and our new location so be on the lookout this month as we continue to post!!✨

A year ago, cancer took Ana and, unexpectedly, Archer followed close on her heels. We are passionate about supporting companion animals and their humans in realizing increasingly positive outcomes - through the outreach, education, treatment funding, and rescue work of FETCH a Cure

Maureen Kelleher, Joe Gregory, and the crew at Back Bay Brewing are hosting a fundraiser for FETCH to raise money and collect supplies for the Pixie's Pen Pals program. The event is in memory of Joe and Maureen’s beloved rescue dogs, Ana and Archer, who lost their battles to cancer too soon.

The event will feature a 50/50 raffle to win a gift package from The Norfolk Tides & Hilton Main Hotel. A portion of beer proceeds from the evening will be donated back to FETCH. See you there!

Negative cycle ftw

A big shout out to the PL clinical team for always seeking opportunities for professional growth in order to provide the best care to all clients.

We pushed through a long weekend work meeting with positive attitudes and are feeling extra grateful for experiences that strengthen our skills.

Extra bonus points go to whoever can guess what EFT graphic I am pretending to teach in this picture… 😂

What do you usually say?

March is Women’s History Month and celebrates women in American history. Today we recognize art therapy pioneer Judy Rubin, ATR-BC, HLM.
Dr. Rubin started as an art teacher and was on “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood” as the Art Lady. She is the author of six books including “Child art therapy: Understanding and helping children grow through art (1978), “Approaches to Art Therapy: Theory and Technique (1987)”, and “Introduction to Art Therapy (1999)”.

You can read more about Dr. Rubin and her publications at https://www.expressivemedia.org/about/

EVMS ATC students’ curriculum includes Introduction to the History & Theory of Art Therapy and they complete a poster of a pioneer in art therapy. This poster is from a student in the Class of 2023.

What's "normal" in grief? Because we don't usually talk about the realities of grief, most people aren't aware of the many forms grief takes. Normal grief covers a lot of territory. If it's in the body or the mind - grief affects it.

This list covers some of the most common expressions of grief, but it's definitely not everything. While your "symptoms" might feel weird to you, whatever you're experiencing, chances are someone else has felt it too.

Even if you've lived through grief at other times in your life, you've never had to live this particular story before. Your grief might show up in interesting or confusing ways. For more on what's normal inside grief, check out our ongoing series.

What do you want to hear? Share below and maybe some people will find peace hearing it from you or they’ll learn what they can say.

yoga, dogs, and doughnuts 😄

When Maureen is not busy with clients you will find her either working out, hangout out with animals, or on a plane heading somewhere exciting 🤩🤩🤩

Maureen has a few walk and talk sessions left. If you are interested give us a call!

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How long does "grief brain" last? - Refuge In Grief Memory loss after the death of a loved one (or other life-altering event) is normal in grief & usually temporary, but it lasts much longer than you'd think.

We are excited to share more with you all in the coming weeks about Maureen! Here is some information on Maureen’s clinical background and education! Her schedule is filling up quickly. Feel free to email or call her to learn more about her services!

How many times have you been, ahem, encouraged to "move on" from your loss? Countless times, if you're like most people. I *hate* that phrase. It is such utter garbage.⁣
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As though life can "move on." As though you'd want it to. Moving on into a future without the one you love is not something many of us are interested in.⁣
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Years ago, back when I packed up the last of Matt's and my belongings and moved out west, I heard my share of "I'm so happy you're moving on." How much I hated that phrase, then and now. ⁣
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Now that I've been here for years, this place is home. I came out here for community, and I've found it. I'm happy here, in my no-longer-new city. Life feels full of goodness and promise. ⁣
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That happiness is often disconcerting. Does this mean I'm "over" Matt's death? Have I moved on, in spite of myself?⁣
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Those are not helpful questions.⁣
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The truth is, all of us, each one of us, has to find a way to live here. As long as we are alive, we have needs - for community, for home, for some semblance of peace and order. Even if all of that runs alongside a heart broken in ways that can't be fixed. Even if I will never "move on" from my love for Matt, or ever be finished missing him.⁣
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Wherever you are in your grief, please know that no matter what ANYONE else says, you do not have to "move on." It's an inane concept. You will continue to live, because you continue to live. Your grief, and the love that fuels it, will shift and change of its own will. You will change and grow and experience - even when you don't want to. But that love remains. You no more need to move on from it than it needs to move on from you. Love is.⁣
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I know my love for Matt will move right along with me, into the life I've built and continue to grow, into the next stages of the Grief Revolution, into all the days of my life, whatever is to come.⁣
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Love is. It doesn't "move on." It won't leave you behind.⁣
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What about you? How does all this "moving on" stuff find you?⁣

I am so excited to announce I’ll be joining the Passionately Living team 💗

WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS YA’LL.

We have added a new member to our amazing team! Maureen, is a registered art therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor. She will be working with clients virtually & offering outdoor sessions on the stunning Chesapeake Bay!

Maureen is an animal & nature lover (a low key must when you join our team)! She has a horse of her own and two amazing pups.

I am honored that Maureen chose us to be the next step in her professional journey. She is truly one of the best.

Her schedule will fill up quickly so if you or a loved one may be interested in working with Maureen please feel free to call or email her this week to reserve a spot!

Phone: 757-304-0238

Email: [email protected]

“What this is is a broken heart inside a deeply changed human, still alive in a world that doesn’t make any sense.”

Dear Life: How Do I Feel Alive Again After Losing Someone I Love? Welcome to Dear Life: An Unconventional Advice Column. Your questions get sent to various authors from around the world to…

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Mindful Moments Wellness stress reduction through mindful yoga, meditation, and therapeutic massage 💜