What Is Real Human Connection? In a world where conversations can easily drift toward criticism, judgment, and gossip, many people mistake these interactions for genuine connection. Shared judgment can create a quick sense of alignment and belonging. In the moment, this can feel like closeness. But this is not authentic connection. It is temporary bonding built on exclusion rather than trust. True human connection is inclusive, not divisive. However, if gossip is not true co

Choosing Dignity, Boundaries, and Truth in the Face of Quiet Cruelty There is a particular kind of pain that comes not from strangers, but from people who once sat close enough to know your vulnerabilities. It is the pain of realizing someone has taken pieces of your story, twisted them into something smaller and uglier, and handed that version of you to others. Not the full truth. Not the nuanced truth. Just enough truth wrapped in resentment to make the wound believable. Mo

Valuing Connecting Most of us think that we need to stand out to be recognized. Academia, coaches, music teachers, etc… all teach us the art of perfection. I recently read an article that was written by Google’s former in house therapist, Katherine Schafler. In this article she talks about how most people connect to your ordinary things about you. She listened to people talk about their lives and the important people that are in their lives. “Here are some t hings she NEVER

The Tool of Confusion in Abusive Dynamics Have you ever felt like someone in your life had to get their way? Like they felt entitled to control or dominate you? I recently listened to Eli Harwood, an attachment therapist, describe something deeply insightful: one of the primary tools abusive individuals and systems use is confusion . Confusion makes the truth murky. It destabilizes reality. It shifts the focus away from harmful behavior and onto something else entirely. When

There has been a growing conversation around how people learn, process information, and interact with the world around them. In my work as a clinical supervisor, I’m often asked about specific traits that are commonly associated with neurodiversity—particularly those that can impact relationships and social interactions. For clients who are seeking deeper understanding of their behaviors and experiences, I always recommend pursuing an evaluation with a psychologist who specia

Fear When we read the word fear , most of us can immediately think of a time when we felt it. Fear is an innate human response to a perceived threat. At some point in our lives, we will all experience this powerful emotion. Some of us may try to mask it, others may numb it, and some may feel completely overwhelmed by it. In this blog, we will explore the body’s response to fear and discuss ways to move through it in a healthy way. Symptoms of Fear Sweating Increased heart rat

Creating emotionally intelligent securely attached children “Mom, can I have another cookie?” This is a phrase regularly repeated in my home. Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the answer is no. When I first became a parent, I quickly realized that my natural personality was going to be stretched. I tend to be relaxed and easygoing. I assumed my children would naturally fall into consistent feeding and sleeping rhythms. I soon discovered that wasn’t the case. What I learn

Healing the Whole Person At Core Restorative, we believe in healing the whole person —not just addressing symptoms as they show up in your life today. True healing happens at a core level, and Psychodynamic Therapy is one way to explore and nurture that deeper change. Let’s take a closer look at the three key mechanisms of change in this approach. Three fundamental mechanisms that produce change 1. Insight – Understanding Your Story- Insight is all about looking closely at yo

How Psychodynamic Therapy Works and What Clients Can Expect What is Psychodynamic Therapy? Psychodynamic therapy is a form of talk therapy that explores how unconscious patterns, past relationships, and early life experiences shape the way we think, feel, and behave today. Instead of focusing only on surface-level symptoms, it looks beneath them to understand the deeper emotional roots of our struggles. At Core Restorative, we use this type of therapy in order to create heali

Why Appreciation Matters “How many of us have had things taken away in life, only to appreciate it when it was gone?” This is the opening line from Mike Robbins’ TED Talk, The Power of Appreciation . In this talk, Robbins, a former professional baseball player, shares a powerful lesson about gratitude and valuing the present. Robbins reflects on his years in baseball. He dedicated countless hours to perfecting his game, only for his career to end abruptly after a single pitch

Discover the relationship that you have with alcohol and the factors and environmental causes that that create it to be a coping skill. How Culture Shapes our Relationship with Drinking “Pour me something tall and strong. Make it a hurricane, before I go insane.It 's only half past twelve. But I don't care. It's five o'clock somewhere.” Alan Jackson’s song “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere” is a perfect reflection of how much our culture celebrates drinking. When I sit with clients

Learn practical coping strategies for anxiety including grounding, breathing techniques, and nervous system regulation. Discover tools to calm fear and restore emotional balance.

Discover the philosophy behind Core Restorative Counseling and the path to wholehearted living through attachment-based therapy, emotional healing, and meaningful relationships.