Encountering You

Did you know there is a difference between being a good person and being a safe person? In today's episode, Laura is going to unpack the difference between acting like a good person and truly being a safe person. She will discuss why being safe is so important, what are the key traits of a person who is safe, and most importantly, how to be a safe person yourself. You can subscribe on AccessMore o...

Are you stuck in the comparison trap? Feeling like you can never measure up? Or sometimes feeling like I have to be better than someone else to be good enough? In today's episode, Laura is going to talk about how prevalent this is, why we do it, and how to grow through it. You can subscribe on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode.

Did you know that loneliness is one of the primary things that people present with in counseling? Many people come into therapy feeling like they are the only one that struggles. You are not alone. In today's episode, Laura is going to talk about her own story and how your journey in counseling can help you connect to yourself, to your story, to others and primarily, to God. You can subscribe toda...

Do feel exhausted, irritable, anxious, or just want a break? You may be at risk for burnout. Burnout sneaks up on all of us and it is important to recognize the signs. In today's episode, Laura is going to talk about how to identify when you are getting close to needing to slow down, even if you feel like you can't. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you ne...

Did you know that you can impact someone else in your life with your own nervous system? Whether it is the cashier at the grocery store or your closest relationship, your nervous system is impacted by and will impact other people. In today's episode, Laura will talk about several different examples of where this will show up from casual acquaintances and workplace relationships to your best friend...

By now you have likely heard about the passing of my dear friend and Out of the Dark co-host, Mandisa. In light of this, we are going to pause for a bit to honor her and take the time to grieve her loss. We'll be back in May, but if you would like more resources on how to navigate grief, below you'll find links to previous episodes to help you walk through this journey. I look forward to being bac...

Do you consider the stress of parenting to be overwhelming or sometimes too much? It's possible that you are having reactions to your children that are more about trauma than parenting. In today's episode, Laura will talk about how stress in parenting can easily trigger parts of your story and create unnecessary activation in your nervous system and then give you resources on how to cope. You can...

Do you often feel overwhelmed and wonder if this feeling will ever go away? Today, Laura is going to talk about traumatic stress and how it can actually show up in your day to day life. She is going to discuss how to identify traumatic stress and give you tools to help heal it when you are experiencing it. You can subscribe today on Access More or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss...

We all talk about stress but do you really know what stress is and how to manage it? Today starts a month long series about stress. April is stress awareness month so what better time than that to really unpack it. Laura is going to talk about what the risks of stress are, the window of tolerance and how to manage it, and ways to cope with stress. Most of all, she is going to help you understand t...

As we draw near to the celebration of Easter, we are going to examine the lens with which you look at life. Much like glasses, the lenses can either make things clearer or cloudier. Today, Laura is going to talk about the importance of the lens we look at life through, how to keep it clear, and how living "in light" of the cross is so different than living in the "possibility" of the cross. You ca...

Did you know that you can experience a form of trauma just from watching the news? Vicarious or secondhand trauma happens when we overidentify with someone else's trauma. Many people mistake it for empathy when it is not. In today's episode, Laura will talk about why this happens and give you resources to help yourself create peace in a seemingly chaotic world. You can subscribe today on AccessMor...

Anger and rage are two things that most people deal with but not all people acknowledge. During the season of Lent, Laura is going to focus on the things in life that can be maddening sometimes, all through the lens of the hope that the Resurrection of Jesus brings us on a daily basis. In today's episode, she is going to discuss anger and rage, how it looks different for men and women, different w...

Did you know that despair is an emotion that most everyone feels at some point in their life? Laura is going to use the season of Lent to talk about the things in life that create a feeling of chaos and confusion in the light of the truth and hope that the Resurrection of Jesus brings us. In today's episode, Laura is going to discuss the idea of despair, what it is, the role of hope, and how to re...

Do you feel selfish when you prioritize yourself in your relationship? In today's episode, Laura is going to talk about how to love yourself well in the context of a relationship. She is going to talk about self-care, boundaries, and towing the line between being selfish and prioritizing self. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode.

Did you know that trauma shows up in our relationships? There are 3 different ways this can happen...trauma from our family of origin, trauma from previous relationships, and trauma from the relationship we are currently in. In today's episode, Laura is going to talk about each one of these and give you tools to navigate how trauma is entering into your relationships. You can subscribe today on Ac...

What is unconditional love really? Today, Laura is going to talk about what unconditional love is and what it is not. You are going to learn ways to identify unhealthy behaviors in your relationships and ways to grow your ability to have unconditional positive regard with the people closest to you. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episod...

What does it really take to maintain healthy relationships? In today's episode, Laura is going to discuss 6 practices that you can start today in order to grow a healthy relationship. From healthy communication to having fun, these practices can help you in whatever relationships you find yourself in. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an epi...

In today's episode, Laura is going to talk about the idea of spiritual bypassing. Many of us don't realize that when parents over-spiritualize things or offer bible verses for solutions, this is actually a form of spiritual abuse. If you grew up in a Christian family, you don't want to miss this episode. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an...

In today's episode, Laura is going to revisit the idea of regulation. Most people think they are regulated when they are actually not! Listen today to find out how you can tell whether you are or you aren't, and what to do about it! You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode.

Why is it so hard to keep a New Year's resolution? Today, Laura will talk about difficulties with creating change and forming habits, ways to combat that, and encouragement to help you keep making your way through 2024! You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode.

Do you ever wonder why your New Year's Resolution doesn't stick? Maybe it's because you are not actually making the one that you need. In today's episode, Laura will discuss the origin of the New Year's Resolution, why it doesn't work, and help you learn how to make the resolution that will actually help you! You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never mis...

Hey there! I am taking the week off to be with my family in my hometown in Florida. I hope that you all have had a wonderful Christmas and I can't wait to be with you in the New Year!

Are you having trouble feeling "the reason for the season"? Today is the last in a series of episodes on the season of Advent, and why it might be difficult to find hope, peace, joy, and love in this season. Laura is going to talk about the different types of love and why it is important to discern these in a way to develop more love for God, others, and self not just in this season, but always. Y...

Are you having trouble feeling "the reason for the season"? In this season of Advent, Laura is going to take you through some ways to develop more hope, peace, joy, and love during the holidays. In today's episode, she is going to talk about joy, what it actually is, why you might not have it, and ways to help you develop a sense of joy, not just for this season, but always. You can subscribe on A...

Are you having trouble feeling "the reason for the season"? In this season of Advent, Laura is going to walk you through some ways to find more hope, peace, joy, and love. In today's episode, she is going to talk about peace and how you can develop it amidst chaos. She will also discuss why you might have trouble with it. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so...