The stories we tell matter.
One of the struggles of being a creative arts therapist is helping others understand what that means. I created this Venn diagram to help. I want to show how multiple fields and approaches have developed in an attempt to understand… Read moreWhat is the scope of practice of creative arts therapies?
Remember that we’re nine months into a global pandemic. We are experiencing a form of collective trauma. Not to mention political and racial unrest, a series of natural disasters, and a high rate of unemployment. The days are getting shorter…. Read moreBurnout and Trauma Exposure: You Know When Something Isn’t Right
As a Performance Studies scholar, nothing gets under my skin faster than people talking about “performative activism” on social media. Take for example, this article from the satirical feminist website, Reductress. In this context, individuals use the term “performative” to… Read moreWhat does it really mean to talk about “performative” activism?
I go for a walk in a neighborhood near mine Better than pacing the parking lot of my apartment complex I turn left where it says “No Outlet” Before finishing the last leg to get back to my car. From… Read moreCatch and Release
We are currently experiencing a collective trauma. The autonomic nervous system in our bodies has evolved and adapted over time to assess for threats and to respond in a way that will help to keep us safe. Most people are… Read moreCoping with Traumatic Stress: Introduction to Your Nervous System Response
My sewing machine whirs away, making a happy buzzing sound. I don’t think it’s seen this much action…ever. I’m reminded of my costuming days, surrounded by piles of fabric, and learning through trial and error. At least this is nowhere… Read moreDress Rehearsal for the Pandemic
We are currently experiencing a global pandemic, which is a form of collective trauma. Most people are used to associating the word trauma with things like the horrors of war combat, or possibly sexual assault or domestic violence. There are… Read moreIntroduction to the Nervous System: Fight/Flight/Freeze
I can only ever speak from my experience. If it has not been clear until now, the thoughts and opinions you find here are my own, and not meant to define anyone else’s experience, or to be seen as universal…. Read moreWhat to expect from this site
It’s hard to believe that 2018 is over. A lot has happened. I haven’t been writing here as much as I try to navigate the shifting identities of writer, performer, advocate, therapist. Each hat influences the other, and I am… Read more2019
cw: sexual abuse, emotional abuse I have this growing realization of this thing that I have to deal with at some point. It’s something I’ve been putting off dealing with for a long time. But you can’t contain trauma; it… Read moreTrauma and the Erotic