Written by Jo Natividad, LCMHC When the Holidays Don’t Feel Merry Christmas is supposed to be a time of wonder and joy, but for many of us it dredges up pain from a lifetime of struggle, or a single memory that still feels like a deep wound. Sometimes the trees, the bells, and the rituals […]

The Parenting Trap Parenting adolescents who have experienced trauma sits at the intersection of tenderness and steel. In general, teens today carry layered stressors: personal history, family disruption, chronic news of violence, and a social world that never powers down. When trauma is present—domestic abuse, loss, coercive control, spiritual harm—the heat rises fast. Parents often […]

by Gwen Soat, LCMHCA Spiritual Grooming Faith holds immense power in someone’s life. It is often the most intimate and soul-binding experience. The church is meant to be a place of safety, trust, and meaning. When predators use this soul-focused trust to control and harm, a person’s relationship with themselves, with others, and with God […]