Instead of questioning (“how could you?”) or punishing (“how dare you!”) look for the entry point for empathy (“oh, of course you…”) When someone – especially kids but inclusive of us Adults- has a HUGE reaction to a minor thing- the reaction probably is not actually about the thing. More often, it’s fear, trauma, or…
In the past, most of my artwork was translating research studies and book chapters into visual sketchnotes. Even though I’ve mostly moved away from that in my art, when I see the results of a particularly important study published, I like lending my illustration to it. By highlighting a few key points and reposting on…
When our sense of self depends on being “right,” challenging information from opposing viewpoints is often seen as a threat. Instead of being able to listen and respond thoughtfully, we automatically react. I think these reactions can be categorized into the same categories used when neurobiologists talk about how humans respond to more visceral threats…
This article is in two parts, #1, Group Therapy Sketchnotes, and #2 An Open Letter I’ve written to educators who are using Yalom’s text “Love’s Executioner” as a Textbook. [click here to jump to Part 2] Group Therapy Sketchnotes In graduate school, I had the privilege of learning under instructors who were mostly…
Below is a sketchnote created from the text of an article titled Nothing to add: A Challenge to White Silence in Racial Discussions by Robin Diangelo. This doodle is a partial summary of a few points that stuck out during my read and I highly recommend reading the full article. The full text of…
The phrase “Imposter Syndrome” gets tossed around a lot these days, but did you know it isn’t in any diagnostic manual? it’s just a name we’ve given to- apparently- a rather diverse range of experiences. I originally posted this with a caption (included in this post, below the download) related to how hard it is…
This three-piece worksheet is an adapted excerpt from my COVID Kid’s Activity Book. This bundle includes two worksheets, with three pages total. The Feeling Forecast is a coloring book page and activity designed to teach kids about the Window of Tolerance (and why sometimes everyone needs to take a break to calm-down in…
Magical thinking is a normal phase in childhood in which we think that our thoughts- or totally random, unrelated events- can change the future. Lots of us hang onto just a bit of magical thinking into adulthood and that’s not necessarily a bad thing (confession: I’m calling myself out a bit on coffee mug magic!).…
Most of us are more than a little concerned about the mental health of the kiddos that we care about during this pandemic. The natural resiliency of kids combined with the positive benefits of all the time spent together during quarantine (even though that may feel at times like way too much time!) is likely…
Trauma and trauma recovery look different for everyone, but generally, there’s a deep hardened core and a bunch of squishy stuff, all held together by a peel juuuust thick enough to keep us composed unless something comes along to smash us. A lot of times, we think the “pit” is in the past, and…
This little video explains why it’s SO HARD to calm down once we’re set off. Make the motions with your own hand to get a sense of how an amygdala overwhelmed by fear, danger, or any overwhelming emotion can blow up, making us seem to “flip our lid” and act in ways we…
. Messy. Accurate. People are often surprised to learn that most of trauma therapy isn’t actually talking directly about trauma- it involves getting to know ourselves and our needs without judgment, learning to extend genuine kindness and care inward, and growing skills to advocate for what we need to thrive. The concept behind this doodle…
Perfect for parents, teachers, and those in the mental health field, this simple card game is designed to be a fun and engaging way to invite kids and adults to refocus their attention on specific body sensations in a trauma-sensitive way- which can help soothe a frazzled or dysregulated brain. This 36 card…
JUMP TO DOWNLOADS When I was first introduced to family therapy in graduate school, I immediately fell in love with the visual language of genograms. Since making this genogram chart at that time, this graphic has become one of my most shared sketchnotes across multiple platforms. Scroll to the bottom of this post to purchase…
Our window of tolerance refers to how much we can handle, emotionally, before shutting down or blowing up (Emotional states called “hypoarousal” and “hyperarousal” by brain researchers.) Healthy brains in optimal circumstances have a big arch that helps us stay present to listen, learn, and grow even when difficult stuff is happening. The normal…
(Click here to jump on down to free font downloads) An intentionally messy visual about the opposite: maladaptive over-control (sometimes called maladaptive perfectionism). We all love doing things well. “Getting it right” earns us praise and minimizes negative consequences. But what if our existence becomes more and more wrapped up in getting *everything* right?…
> JUMP TO DOWNLOAD < The Emotion-Sensation Feeling Wheel WHAT IS IT: It’s an adaptation of the “feelings wheel” that many therapists and educators use to help people learn to better recognize and name their emotions, adapted to include common body-based expressions of emotions. HOW THE EMOTION-SENSATION WHEEL IS DIFFERENT: The two…
