I’ve always felt a deep connection with the misunderstood. It’s part of the reason I love grief work. Because grief is misunderstood all...

In this post, I explore why shame, guilt, self-hate, and blame have no place in the therapy room—or in your self-concept. Using an Internal Family Systems (IFS) lens, I unpack how these parts often mask as self-awareness but actually block healing. Real growth comes from curiosity, accountability, and compassion—not punishment. You can’t heal what you still hate. And you don’t have to earn your worth by tearing yourself down first.

Candid truth: you don’t get to decide how your words land. Even if it was a joke. Even if you “didn’t mean it like that.” Intent doesn’t erase impact. If someone tells you they’re hurt, the only appropriate response is empathy—not defense. Real connection starts when we care more about how we affect others than how justified we feel. The ripple effect is real—even if you didn’t see it. Let's talk about what that means.

There is a weird, quiet truth about adult friendships and adult loneliness—there is no social script for saying "Hey I'm 33 and I'm lonely".