WellnessWithHolli

Recently, I finished reading  Tara Westover's powerful memoir, "Educated."  This blog is neither a review of her work or a critique of its content. It is about its offerings. I think one of the extraordinary gifts of "Educated" is Ms. Westover's willingness to share her story with raw and rarely revealed levels of vulnerability. I was completely taken by this book. Why?  Because "Educated" Reminds Us, Speaking Truth About Abuse Comes At A Cost. And, Tara Westover, chose to Speak It Anyway . Speaking Truth About Abuse Comes At A Cost Folks often question why victims don't speak up or why they don't speak up sooner about their abuse. Although there are many reasons for not doing so and individual circumstances vary greatly,   Tara Westover's memoir courageously unveils the costs of speaking truth about abuse and bravely unearths their painful consequences.  Let's explore three areas of cost: Being Shamed Being Shattered Bein...

We have been exploring an all-to-common and painful topic- injury from betrayal. If you have not had a chance, please read our first three blogs in this series:  Help Is On The Way ,  What Is Behind The Mask?  , and  Feeling Confused, Worthless, and Powerless?  I want you to know that you are not alone in what you are experiencing. And just as importantly, by understanding what you are feeling and why, you begin the journey of recovering. Today, we are going to tackle a challenging topic - Blindsided by the Betrayal Bandit? Free Yourself From Four Painful Traps!  When we are betrayed,  it is our instinct to search outside ourselves for answers, for truth,  and for some measure of control over our lives. Sadly, doing so lengthens our stay in the pain-field.                                                       ...

October is a busy month. Along with  Breast Cancer  and   Anti-Bullying Awareness  , it is also a time when we turn our attention to  Domestic Violence Prevention . Over the past several months, Domestic Violence  has been in the spotlight as video evidence has surfaced of well-known individuals allegedly abusing their partners. Domestic Violence is a complex issue with numerous theories regarding causation as well as sound approaches that address intensive treatment for the perpetrators and recovering programs for the victims. I believe there is a missing piece - an underlying psychological component - which is not talked about. Get ready as we answer the question - What's Worth Got To Do With It?    Do You Feel Valuable? As we consider the role of victims, let's take a look at two correlations between Worth and Domestic Violence. First, many victims have a history of low self-worth .This lack of worth may come from dif...

* In light of the recent news headlines regarding Domestic Violence and well-known athletes, and with the hope of shedding a bit more understanding into the victim's mindset, I offer this blog. In October, three causes all deserve our attention - Breast Cancer Awareness, Anti-Bullying Awareness, and Domestic Violence Awareness.  It strikes me that all three share a common theme - individuals are fighting for their lives. So, I think it is fitting that they share the attention collectively.  Hopefully, each one will shine a light onto the importance of the others. Over twenty years ago, I interned at a Battered Women's Center in the Bay Area of Northern California.  This was part of my pre-degree hours required to obtain my Masters in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. Because I knew I wanted to specialize in the areas of abuse and trauma, I eagerly anticipated this learning experience.  Before I could begin interning at the Sh...