Self-Directed Harm: The Internalized Echo of Abuse

Self-Directed Harm: The Internalized Echo of Abuse

This article explores self-directed harm not as pathology, but as the internalized echo of abuse. Only through listening to this echo closely can we understand why healing is not about ‘fixing’ something broken, but about learning to speak in a different tongue rather than the language of pain that has been handed over to us. 

Read More
The Cheerful Mask: Unmasking the Silent Crisis of Smiling Depression

The Cheerful Mask: Unmasking the Silent Crisis of Smiling Depression

Look closely at the next crowd you encounter. What you see isn't just a collection of strangers; it's a dense forest of individual worlds, each one hiding a lifetime's worth of battles and secrets. Though the faces may seem similar, each journey is different. Each carries the burdens of life. From professionals to caregivers, to people-pleasers,  these are the faces of Smiling Depression.

Read More
The Healing Power of Equine Therapy

The Healing Power of Equine Therapy

For Survivors of abuse, Equine-Assisted Therapy can offer deep emotional healing in a safe, unbiased, and accepting environment. Where abuse and trauma can cause a mistrust of the world around, a herd animal, like horses that are attuned to non-verbal cues and emotions, can provide calming and non-biased feedback, helping Survivors find a safe place to confide and heal. 

Read More
Defining Boundaries

Defining Boundaries

A boundary is a limit or guideline you set for yourself to define what you will and will not accept. They clearly communicate when, how, and to whom we give our time, energy, and power (Sanok, 2002). Boundaries form the foundation for self-care, mutual respect, and expectations, which are essential for building and sustaining healthy relationships with ourselves and others. 

Read More
The Consequences of Helping Others Before Helping Yourself

The Consequences of Helping Others Before Helping Yourself

Over the past decade, workplaces have undergone a rapid and significant transformation driven by factors such as technological advancements, shifting economic landscapes, global crises, and evolving employee values. However, alongside these changes, recent research has identified a troubling trend in reported Workplace Abuses and toxicity.

Read More
How to Combat the Rise in Workplace Abuse

How to Combat the Rise in Workplace Abuse

Over the past decade, workplaces have undergone a rapid and significant transformation driven by factors such as technological advancements, shifting economic landscapes, global crises, and evolving employee values. However, alongside these changes, recent research has identified a troubling trend in reported Workplace Abuses and toxicity.

Read More
From the Field to the Feed: The Impact of Cyberbullying in Sports

From the Field to the Feed: The Impact of Cyberbullying in Sports

We are spending more time than ever communicating across digital spaces. From group chats to social media to livestreams and comment threads, our social interactions are increasingly taking place online. Social media use by athletes is also on the rise. These platforms allow athletes of all ages and skill levels to connect with their fans, celebrate their achievements, communicate with coaches, or engage with teammates and training partners. Yet, alongside the rise of positive digital interactions, the number of harmful interactions has also increased. Cyberbullying has become an increasingly prevalent issue in sports, affecting athletes of all ages and levels of competition.

Read More
The Glass Child: How Family Sees Through Us

The Glass Child: How Family Sees Through Us

What We Wish They Saw - The Pain That Should be Clear as Glass
For us, it's always the loudest pain carried with the front of a silent serenity on our shoulders. However, as the glass child, we are often overlooked, yet expected to be the strong ones, the caregivers, or the glue holding everything together. However, when we let our pain show, we are often deemed to be "too much".  So, we hunch ourselves down to become too little for others to comfort.

Read More