The Blog

Processing Grief

August 23, 2023

For most of my upbringing, I remember being told to avoid feeling negative and “just get...

Moving Forward After a Break Up Using the 5 Stages of Grief

August 25, 2021

There’s a reason why, “I Will Always Love You,” by Whitney Houston is one of the...

[VIDEO] A Conversation on Grief with Pamela & Treshana

February 5, 2021

Pamela Larkin and Treshana Lewis are both mental health therapists at Optimum Joy.  Along with our...

Radical Acceptance and the Invitation to Mourn: Part II

October 21, 2020

“Radical acceptance rests on letting go of the illusion of control and a willingness to notice...

Radical Acceptance and the Invitation to Mourn

July 28, 2020

Growing up with a mother as a pastoral care minister who now works as a hospice...

Hope in the Midst of Grief

April 3, 2020

In recent years, weighted blankets have become a thing. I had my first encounter with one...

Strength in Loss: Embracing Grief and Lamenting Well

July 31, 2018

During my graduate training to become a therapist, my professor’s parents passed away. It may sound...

You’ve Got to Feel It to Heal It: Learning to Cope with Difficulty

July 26, 2018

It is a natural human tendency to want to avoid, minimize, or eliminate painful feelings, thoughts,...

Curiosity, A Must-Have For Growth

April 30, 2018

Penicillin, one of the most widely used drugs on the planet, is actually something incredibly gross:...

Grief: Thoughts On Walking Through Loss

April 25, 2018

Grief is a universal experience that can be experienced across the lifespan and in different circumstances....