Introducing: "Ask a Human, Therapist"

A new monthly column to connect, human to human.

There’s been one question that’s been driving my thoughts lately:

How can we make things feel a little more human on the internet these days?

I haven’t totally given up on the internet (…yet…). I believe it can be used to drive connection and help us feel seen and heard in ways that otherwise wouldn’t be possible in our real, tangible lives. When used intentionally, I believe it’s a beautiful place to share ideas, stories, and anecdotes that help us all feel a little less alone.

This prompted me to think of ways to show up to this newsletter with a little more willingness and desire to connect - human to human - rather than just writing an essay, sending it out, and having that be that.

Which brings me to my very exciting announcement about a new monthly (ish) column I’ll be writing here on the All Parts substack: Ask a Human, Therapist.

It will sorta be like an “ask me anything”, where I’ll blend real human stories from my own life with evidence-based therapeutic modalities and education to back it up.

As the name suggests - and as I’ve always emphasized in this newsletter to you - I’ll be answering these questions as a human first, therapist second. If a client asked me a similar question in a 1:1 session, I would almost never center myself in the answer with a personal anecdote like I might with an Ask a human, therapist column.

How I show up in the therapy room is intentionally different than how I show up on the internet, because the time in the therapy room is your time to explore your internal world, not mine. So let this be an important reminder that anything and everything I write here is never meant to take the place of 1:1 therapy. Period.

Hope that’s clear!

Now, what types of questions belong in the Ask a human, therapist column?

Honestly, I don’t really know yet! This is the part that will be a fun little adventure for all of us. As we navigate these new waters together, let’s just start with this: what has been on your mind and heart lately? What are you working through? What are you struggling with? What are things that people are normalizing that feel so completely abnormal to you?

To help get the wheels turning, here are some things to think about:

• Healing from trauma is not as straightforward as many self-proclaimed “somatic practitioners” will have you believe. Reconnecting to the wisdom of your body is not the romantic journey that is often portrayed on social media. Let’s get into the weeds about the contradictions, paradoxes, and realities of healing from trauma and living in your body. Let’s get into the nitty gritty about bypassing in all it’s forms. Let’s dive deep into the shadow sides of the healing world and how you might be struggling to discern helpful resources from harmful ones.

• With over 10 years steeped in the wellness and healing world, I’ve tried (almost) every healing modality at least once. If your bff swears that past-life regression hypnotherapy changed her life but you’re unsure and want an honest and fair opinion from a licensed practitioner with two Masters degrees and a healthy dose of skepticism about all things healing, this is a great place for that.

• I’ve been a solopreneur in this space for nearly just as long, with job titles ranging from personal trainer, to health coach, and now somatic psychotherapist; all with varying degrees of financial success and stability. Over the years I’ve gotten a lot of people dissatisfied in their corporate roles reach out about taking the leap into a helping profession. These people want to pursue a more purpose-driven life but feel stuck in the golden cage of stability that their corporate titles offer them. This is a great place for honest and no B.S. conversations around purpose, dharma, life satisfaction and fulfillment, and the pros and cons of taking the leap, whatever that may mean for you.

• My husband and I have been together since we were 21 years old (we did break up for a year somewhere in the middle, but whatevs). Needless to say, we were completely different humans back then. Somehow we keep evolving together. It’s been both the most challenging and the most fulfilling endeavor of my life. Questions I’ve thought a lot about over the years: How do we continue to honor where we’re at on our own healing path while also accepting that our partner might be at a very different place on theirs? How do we choose to stay? How do we choose to go? How do we resist the societal expectations of heteronormative gender roles and identities? How do we actually heal our traumas together rather than just reenacting them on each other again and again and again? How do we argue? How do we repair? How do we accept our differences? How do we choose love? You get the idea. Relationships are hard. Let’s talk about ‘em.

Below is an anonymous form where you can ask your questions about life, healing, health, therapy, relationships, wellness, purpose, learning to trust your Self, daily somatic and mindfulness practices, yogic philosophy, creativity, and more:

How did this come to be?

The idea for “Ask a human, therapist” was sparked by a question I received in the All Parts Home membership after our latest 15 day practice. Here it is:

"I’m pondering the difference between commitment and force. They come from different places, love and ego, but it was challenging for me to recognize the difference during this practice. I committed to the 15 days (and am so pleased to be finished!) but often it felt forced. Like I was doing it because I said I would and not necessarily because it was the best thing in that moment. I recognize that the benefits come with consistency AND that overriding a need to rest or go slowly to follow through on a commitment isn’t ideal. I’m stuck in the paradox and open to any clarity!”

I LOVE THIS QUESTION!!

I will be responding to this question as our first “Ask a Human, Therapist” column this Sunday. Keep an eye out!!

Endless gratitude and excitement to keep connecting in more human and real ways with you in 2025 and beyond.

Xx,

The Human, Therapist Part.