The term emotional regulation gets bandied about frequently, especially co-regulation which many people misunderstand to be a process exclusive to parents and children, but do we actually know what it means, why it’s so important to our wellbeing, to the success of our relationships, and what the consequences of emotional dysregulation include? How can we retain our calm when we’re naturally reactive people?

The biggest contribution to my mental and spiritual wellbeing has been my effort to live seasonally. I do this by observing the Wheel of the Year seasonal festivals. Beltane, a Celtic cross-quarter fire festival that marks the peak of spring is all about living, thriving, and rebirth. Despite what we’re taught to believe, starting all over again at any stage, regardless of our circumstances. obligations, and perceived limitations is not only possible but also our birthright!

One of the most sinister characteristics of shame is that there is shame about shame. There’s even a term for this effect: meta-shame. Meta-shame is the main reason why shame is not only taboo but also usually missed by individuals and their practitioners; it prevents us from talking about our shame, and often, from even admitting to ourselves that we experience it. It is the reason I’m on a mission to normalize shame.

What is the difference between nourishment and numbing? One of the deepest forms of self-care is making the autonomous decision about what form of nourishment we require instead of numbing ourselves to avoid uncomfortable feelings.

EFT ‘tapping’ may seem like a recent phenomenon but the technique has been used for over 30 years by individuals who prefer an alternative to traditional talk therapy. EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique due to the way in which the process works neurologically. It re-wires the brain to respond differently to stressors. No issue is too big or too small for EFT therapy.

We often use the words guilt and shame interchangeably but they’re quite different. Mislabeling shame as guilt allows shame to remain hidden out of consciousness where it can cause harm to ourselves and others. Inside, we look at examples of how long-term guilt can morph into shame (in the case of parental guilt for example); how they affect the body in different ways; and how to heal shame and guilt.

We welcome a Rebirth Cycle at the Spring Equinox (or Ostara if you prefer) and plant our seeds of intention! Observing the Spring Equinox is a wonderful way to start flowing with nature's rhythm and releasing resistance to what is.

We often hear shame referred to as the Master Emotion, but what does this mean? Dealing with shame in therapy isn’t easy; in fact, therapists often fail to notice shame when it’s present, that’s how wily and difficult it can be recognize. It’s also why raising shame awareness is so important and why Shamework is the most important work we’ll ever do.

Healing and recovery can feel like a roller coaster, especially for trauma survivors. It’s a myth that after enough time we should be ‘back to normal.’ The healing process is simply not that linear. And that’s okay. Not every season of life is one for progression or activity; we spend considerable time in liminal states - in the void - where we integrate and grow like seeds. As we heal, we progress. Then we encounter a reminder that exposes a yet-unhealed facet, and we process that, followed by an integration period. Inevitably, we will encounter another reminder, and so the cycle goes.

For those of us who have spent years in survival mode, feeling unsafe or living with chronic stress, it can be extremely difficult to switch into states of calm and rest when things seem to be going better. Our nervous systems can become hypervigilant without allowing ourselves to transition slowly with profound self-compassion. EFT therapy is one of the most effective ways to gradually shift our nervous systems from a survival state to feeling comfortable and safe in life’s calmer, lighter moments.