Perhaps your illness has been judged, dismissed, or ignored by health care providers. Maybe they’ve told you that your illness is a figment of your imagination, or that “it’s all in your head.”

When I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, I thought I’d be sick forever. I saw on the interwebs people with Crohn’s disease never getting better…

As humans, we are designed to move towards things that are pleasant and move away from things that are unpleasant. This skill is fantastic, especially when…

Making decisions about medical care can feel like walking through a maze of uncertainties. Often, we're faced with conflicting advice, daunting risks, and limited options. It's a delicate balance between…

When I was in my early 20's I had an old hatchback Honda I named "Smokey Joe" because it leaked oil and would start smoking when I drove long distances. Smokey had pop up…

It occurred to me that people, in general, don't have a difficult time prioritizing their goals, they have a difficult time taking action on their goals. One client said, "I'm the master…

Pretend I had a Magic Wand and when I waved it, I could take everything stressful away from your life. All your worries about work, family, health, relationships... *poof* GONE!

In Part 1 of Ways You're Getting In Your Own Way, I talked about the predicament people face in making changes in their lives. They say they feel stuck in life; not moving or …

I see a lot of new clients in my psychotherapy practice who are struggling to make changes in their life. They come in with no shortage of motivation. They can see …

There is a legendary Cherokee tale that inspires me everyday. It goes something like this: An old grandfather tells his grandson that there are two wolves that live inside …

Getting a new diagnosis brings a mixture of feelings. I was angry and sad at first. Then I got scared. I worried about my future and how my illness would change my life…

It was the summer of 2013. I was living in Ballard, an overpriced district of Seattle with cool bars, funky shops, and a bearded dude in a flannel shirt on every corner. I had just…