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Western culture has a significant bias against showing (and feeling) emotion. Do you ever wonder why we “fight back tears”? Why is it encouraged to have a “stiff upper lip”? We have many expressions for telling people their emotions are not welcome, “zip it up,” “pull it together,” “boys don’t cry,” “reel it in,” “toughen up,” “firm up,” “get it together,” “you’re too sensitive.”

Unfortunately, these expressions do not make unwanted emotions go away.  Instead they cause emotions to get suppressed and re-pressed, which can cause significant psychological problems over time. From under the rug, these unprocessed emotions cry out for attention, even years later. Continue reading “What Your Body is Trying to Tell You: Sensations and Emotions”

By Kasey Hall, MA, LPCC

I have been thinking about what it means to not grow disheartened. To be sure, this is easier said than done.  In current times we are living with a global climate crisis, decline in the world’s animal populations by an average of 70%, domestic political polarization and four major wars going on in the world.  This is not an easy time to be light hearted.

Continue reading “Wholeheartedness”

October 30, 2023

In uncertain times this question looms large in importance; what parts of life are within our control what parts lie outside of our control?   I am writing about this topic, not only because it comes up so often in the therapeutic work I do with people, but also to process the way this question shows up in my own life.  Without a balanced answer to this question we are likely to fall into one of two traps; the trap of powerlessness or the trap of over-powerful, magical thinking. Continue reading “What I Can and Cannot Control”

What is a Highly Sensitive Person?

In my counseling practice I work with many Highly Sensitive Persons, otherwise known as HSPs. This is a trait that I understand thoroughly since I am one myself.  I have followed the scientist, psychotherapist and author Dr. Elaine Aron on the subject since a counselor told me about the trait of high sensitivity when I was an undergrad in college and getting bombarded by my own very sensitive emotions.   Continue reading “The Highly Sensitive Person”

July 17th, 2025

What is success?  Are you living by a version of success that you have been sold by clever marketing techniques, one created by societal norms, or does it come from a drive deep inside of you?  What motivates you?  Often I have looked around myself and have seen the ways that other people around me are doing things and have felt a keen pressure to keep up or, at the very least, to not fall behind. There is a name for this phenomenon that has been around for a long time; it is called “Keeping up with the Jones’s.” A feeling that I “have to” compete with others. With this feeling of “have to” or “should,” there is a sense that this is the normal thing to do.  It’s expected.  Yet, this voice often seems to create a certain tension in body and spirit. A binding. A shutting down and shutting off of life.  Continue reading “Redefining Success”