True Self Journey Blog

Some Thoughts on Experience, Strength and Hope

  If you’re in any kind of 12-step recovery, you’ve likely heard the phrase experience, strength, and hope (ESH). I believe ESH is an important part of our journey of...
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Some Thoughts on the Therapy Process

This is a post from a few years ago that I'm sharing again. Some good reminders for those on a healing journey - including me! One of the steps I...
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6 Ideas for Navigating the Holiday Season

It’s almost December. Some of you reading this feel dread in your body as the month approaches. In our culture, December (regardless of faith tradition) tends to bring the pressure...
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Navigating Relationships with Parents During Recovery

You’re in therapy, and you’re starting to get into reality about your caregivers and your home environment. With the help of your therapist, you start to connect some dots, and...
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Your Parents Were Responsible for Their Own Emotions

  You walk in the door after school and can tell by the sounds your mom is making in the kitchen whether you need to go quietly to your room...
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Trauma Healing is A Whole-Body Experience

Telling the story of your trauma and being able to name your emotions is an important and courageous part of the healing process. Acknowledging the thinking distortions and limiting beliefs...
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11 Tools For Your Trauma Recovery Toolbox

As you engage in trauma recovery through therapy, 12-Step fellowships, and other means, it’s helpful to have a recovery toolbox—an accessible catalog of resources  to support your recovery—that is readily...
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Actively Engage with the Serenity Prayer (and a few bonus versions)

  Whether or not you’re in 12-step recovery, you’ve likely heard of the Serenity Prayer. The original version (see below) is attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr, but the shortened version is...
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