Katie Steele, MA, LMFT #96656

Tag Archives: emotional connections


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Book Review- Rising Strong, Dr. Brene Brown

I recently finished reading Dr. Brene Brown’s newest book; Rising Strong. I found this book to be insightful and useful both personally and professionally. Dr. Brown discusses what it takes to process through and practice the courageous act of vulnerability. She challenges each reader to explore their own story and how they acknowledge it or deny it. I appreciate Dr. Brown’s candidness with her own story and struggle. She displays authenticity and models true vulnerability by exposing her own struggles and triumphs.

In this book, Dr. Brown takes the reader through a 3-step journey of practicing authentic vulnerability and acknowledgement of the truth of their own story. She breaks it down into “The Reckoning”, “The Rumble”, and “The Revolution”. These steps acknowledge the falling we all do, the struggle to regain ourselves, and the courage it takes to get back up.

“When I see people stand fully in their truth, or when I see someone fall down, get back up, and say, “Damn. That really hurt, but this is important to me and I’m going in again”—my gut reaction is, “What a badass.”
― Brené Brown, Rising Strong


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Coping Skills

In therapy there is often discussion and exploration of enhancing healthy coping skills in the client’s life. My work with clients often entails building a metaphorical “tool box” filled with healthy coping mechanisms. We all carry around tools for coping with life– these tools can be detrimental to fulfillment, healing, or positive self growth.These are the negative coping mechanisms that can come as second nature. In order to achieve growth and health, the negative tools need to be replaced with healthy and active coping mechanisms. What active coping tool are you going to integrate into your life?


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The Value of Journaling

I don’t know about you, but my mind is constantly swirling; thoughts, ideas, worries, wishes and dreams run through my mind. Sometimes I find myself consumed with these things and need a place to sort through it. Journaling is a great way to sort out our thoughts. There is power in the written word. Research shows that journaling not only improves psychological health, but also physical and physiological well being. Journaling is a platform where one can reduce stress, heal from past wounds, problem solve, enhance self awareness and experience personal growth.

There is no right way to journal. The value isn’t in the content but in the process. Here are a few ideas and tips to get you started:

1. Pick a journal with appeal! Spend some time finding a journal that you are drawn to; do you like the look and feel of it? If so, you are more likely to use it!

2. Don’t pressure yourself. Your journal can be filled with long entries, quotes, drawings, pictures etc. Don’t stifle your creativity by putting expectations on what belongs in your journal.

3. Bring your journal everywhere! Capture the opportunity to spontaneously journal. Life moves fast and carrying your journal with you will allow you to pause and reflect on what is important or impactful to you.

4. Consider using some prompts to help enhance your processing. Pinterest is a great place to explore journaling prompts. Here are some pins that I recommend to get you started. Visit my journaling pin board for more ideas. https://www.pinterest.com/kstherapy/journaling/

JOURNAL PAGES AND COVER FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL - TeachersPayTeachers.com

Journal Prompts


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The Importance of Remaining Friends

When working with couples, I often come across the fact that part of the relational struggles stem from the fact that the couple has forgotten to nurture their friendship. Couples get wrapped up in the functional aspects of the relationship; the business of raising a family and maintaining a household. Making time for connections outside of these roles can become challenging. When we become good co-parents and business partners, but starve the emotional connections of our relationship, we are at risk for foundational breakdown. Relationships need a foundation of emotional safety and trust in order to thrive. By making time to connect as friends and lovers, we provide the proper environment for emotional connections to be cultivated.

When was the last time you and your partner spent some quality time together? Pull out a board game or go on a walk together; share a laugh or a personal struggle. Building a strong foundation of emotional safety and trust doesn’t require a lot of time. Connecting as friends is a great way to cultivate the environment that breeds emotional connection.