Encountering You

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...

Are you having trouble feeling "the reason for the season"? In the next four weeks, Laura is going to walk you through the season of Advent and help you see why this might be the case. In today's episode, she is going to talk about hope, why it is hard for us to have hope, and walk you through a few ways to develop more hope during a hard season. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever y...

Going home for the holidays? It can be a challenging time for many people. In today's episode, Laura is going to talk about acceptance, protecting your mental wellness, what to do if you are triggered, and how to set healthy boundaries. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. See the Miracle of Christmas only on Sight and Sound TV.

Did you know that compartmentalizing isn't always unhealthy? Today Laura will discuss when it might be good to use the tool of compartmentalization, when it is not healthy, and an exercise to use when you need to save feelings for later. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. See the Miracle of Christmas only on Sight and Sound TV. RE...

Do you ever wonder if you will ever be a good enough parent? It seems like such a daunting task but when we do our own work and become healthier and more functional adults, it is possible. Today Laura will talk about 8 constructive ways to look at not feeling good enough as parents. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode. RELATED POSTS...

There can be so much mystery and confusion in those early years of parenting. What's a parent to do? Where do you look for help and guidance? Today, Laura will talk about her own journey as a new parent, what was helpful, what wasn't, and some things to focus on as you venture through those early years! You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an e...

Every child has given birthrights--even you. Many people that come into counseling don't understand what they needed because they didn't get it. Today we will talk about your 6 given birthrights and then what happens when these birthrights aren't met. You can subscribe today on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode.

Did you know that your birth story holds clues to why you do what you do today? Knowing the story of your birth can be either very life-giving or may be contributing to the things that limit your emotional growth and wellness. In today's episode, Laura will unpack why this is important, what the different themes of your birth story might mean, and how to engage with your own birth story. You can s...