When people begin therapy, there can often be a surge of energy and excitement. Week after week, it feels as though there is never quite enough time in the 50 minute session to cover the seemingly endless topics and thoughts that arise.

But sooner or later, there comes a point in therapy when you may show up to session with nothing in particular that you care to talk about. While you may be tempted to cancel the session or fear that it will be a waste of time, I have found that some of the most meaningful sessions can actually arise when clients come in unsure of what to talk about in therapy.

For those that have experienced trauma, romantic relationships can be challenging.

Trauma can impact one’s self-esteem, ability to regulate emotions, and can cause difficulties trusting others. It is perhaps no surprise that this leads to some unique obstacles when developing romantic connections with others.

My intention is to create a series about trauma and neurodivergence to help shed some light on what it looks like to have this combination and how to best support yourself so that you feel empowered in your therapy journey. To start, I want to focus on some definitions to get us all on the same page.

We all know values are important, yet they can be surprisingly difficult to pin down. We inherit values from our families, friends, and communities, but as we grow and experience new things, we may start to question ourselves. This can lead to big questions, such as “who am I?” and “how do I want to live my life?”. While these questions follow us throughout life, they can become all consuming during early adulthood.

Dreams can be absolutely fascinating. Having captured the imagination of humans throughout history, they can be a source of mystery, fear, excitement, and intrigue. Some dreams in particular have the power to stick with us for years. When you wake up from a particularly impactful dream, it can leave you feeling curious about what it could mean and how to think about the dream. Whether you are someone that believes that dreams are completely meaningless or you are someone that believes that dreams are full of important symbolism, working with your dreams can lead to greater depth and reflection in your waking life.

As a therapist and avid reader, I strongly believe in the power of books to transform our thinking, open our minds to new possibilities, and provide solace when experiencing pain. In my practice, I have seen firsthand how the right book at the right time can lead to pivotal breakthroughs both in therapy and beyond. While I always encourage my clients to seek out books that specifically resonate with them, I have included here a collection of some of my favorite books to support therapy.