Blog
Musings and photos from a traveling therapist
Navigating the road of life is hard!
That’s why Mental Health Mail offers inspiring insights, journaling prompts, meditations, free guides, and even some humor, as you drive forward on your healing journey.
“Brinn, you have a knack for articulating complex concepts into practical, easy to understand (and relate to) processes.”
Grateful to be Safe, but the Journey’s Far From Over
Wow, I honestly don’t know where to begin.
First, I just want to say how incredibly grateful I am to be alive, to have an intact home, and to now have basic electricity, water, and phone service.
Because for so many in my new hometown of Asheville, that is not the case.
You’ve probably seen the news about the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.
I Blame Disney (and Trauma)
Have you ever wished for someone to swoop in, take control, and say, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this”?
Sounds pretty nice, right? 😏
But to the fiercely independent part of me—the one who loves solo travel, has explored all over and left home at 16—wanting to be rescued feels, well, kind of pathetic.
Yet, a very young part of me, probably the same part of me that was indoctrinated by Disney, has been searching for that rescuer my whole life.
What If You Embraced All Parts of Yourself?
I’ve been noticing a theme lately. I’ve noticed it in myself and it’s been coming up in conversations with friends and with clients.
It’s something that can really keep people stuck, but if you're able to gain some true acceptance and share what's happening, it has the potential to set you free.
What I’ve noticed is that a lot of us have a hard time accepting ourselves for who we are, right here, right now.
Like FULL acceptance – of ALL the parts.
The Guide I Wish I had When I was 22
My last year in college, my life fell apart. I was 22, barely speaking to my mom, my friends were mad at me, and my long-term boyfriend was ready to leave if things didn't change.
I was exhausted, got strep throat twice in one month, dealt with migraines, headaches, hypoglycemia, and destroyed the main tendon in my foot.
I think the Universe was trying to tell me something. 🤔
I needed to make some serious changes. Fast.
Manifestation: Neuroscience or Woo Woo?
Yesterday, I was chatting with a friend about manifesting, and I shared a little tip I use. She immediately said, "You need to make a video about that!" And I thought, "Yeah, I should make a video about that!"
So, I set out on a walk to make the video.
But just as I started, the clouds rolled in, the thunder roared, and I found myself drenched head to toe in a torrential downpour, a mile from home.
Needless to say, the video didn’t get made.
But I still wanted to share my tip with you!
All Humans Are Creative – Prove Me Wrong!
For the past five months, I've had the distinct pleasure of being a part of a creativity support group—or at least that's how I think about it 😂
This group, led by the magical Steph Dodds, meets three times per week to connect about creative projects and release any blocks we have to being our most amazing, brilliant selves.
Who wouldn't love a group like that?
As we go through this process of releasing blocks, we use a technique called tapping. I've written about tapping before (you can read the blog post here) because it's truly one of my favorite ways to process out the gunk that we humans seem to accumulate.
Navigating Life’s Transitions
If you read my last post, you’re aware that I’m in the midst of a hefty transition.
On June 1st, I embarked on a solo cross-country journey to establish a new home base in Asheville, North Carolina.
As I told one of my clients last week, “I’m feeling all the feelings on the feelings chart!”
All that to say, this is a great time to use my tools.
Tools, or coping skills, are designed to support you when you’re having a hard time, going through transitions, or just need a little extra support.
What’s Your Risky Risk?
This week, I did something risky. I loaded up my trusty Toyota Corolla with everything I own and started a solo journey across the United States.
My car was so packed there was barely space for me, let alone anyone else!
Right now, I'm in Colorado, having a great time catching up with old friends.
Soon, I'll be crossing Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and eventually reaching my destination: Asheville, North Carolina – my new home.
Roundabouts: Setbacks Along the Healing Journey
The other day, I was chatting with a friend who just returned from a trip to France. She said, “I think I’m now in love with roundabouts.”
She explained how seamless her driving experience was with less traffic and fewer stops at traffic lights. She found that, when done correctly, roundabouts can be really helpful and not as scary as we Americans tend to think.
I mean, how many times have you come to one and thought, “What if I get stuck and can’t get out?” I know I have!
The more I thought about this, the more I saw parallels between roundabouts and our own lives, especially on our healing journey.
Time to Step Over the Line
Have you ever had one of those moments where you think, "Did I really just do that?"
Maybe you blurted out something you shouldn't have, or acted in a way that wasn't exactly your finest hour.
Suddenly, that moment is playing on loop in your head, and you can't help but imagine all the ways you could have handled it better.
Ugh, it's like a bad movie that won't stop re-running!
Let Go of the Stinky Fish!
Last week, I was having a conversation with a client about—wait for it—feelings!
Shocking, right?
But it wasn't just about feelings; it was about the meaning we give them.
Here's some of what we discussed:
If I'm angry, it means I'm being mean.
If I'm sad, it means I did something wrong.
If I'm anxious, it means I shouldn't do it.
If I miss them, it means I made a mistake.
Sound familiar? We all do this.
Ever Wonder Who’s Really Driving Your Life?
For a moment, imagine someone really important to you.
You’d do pretty much anything for them, right? You worry about their health, help them when they need it - the whole nine yards.
That’s because you know them – their history, quirks, and all the little things that make them, them.
But what about the person living a few blocks away?
I’m sure you'd wish them the best, but it's not like you're going to lose sleep over their bad day. It’s not cold-hearted; it’s just how things are.
We're designed to care more about those we're close to.
Was My Inner Critic Really Ok with This?
You may have noticed the void last week – no regularly scheduled biweekly email. I can just picture you, waiting with bated breath, only to find... nothing.
Zip. Nada. Zilch.
But here’s the thing, it wasn’t an oversight or some crisis that kept me away. I just didn't do it.
Yep, you read that right.
Now, before you think I’ve given up or that I’m taking our connection lightly, let me explain.
Ever Wonder How Many Feelings You Experience in 1 day?
Did you know that the average person experiences over 400 emotions a day? While that might sound surprising, what's even more shocking is that we lack a system that teaches people about their emotions effectively.
A Box, A Mask, and Some Linen
Have you ever seen a mummy in real life? Not like a zombie mummy, but one that's in a museum. 🧟
I remember visiting The British Museum a few years back and seeing a few huge sarcophagi. They were awesome, in the true sense of the word.
Seeing them got me thinking – we’re all just mummies.
Advice from a Shamanic Healer
When I was 25, I went through a rough break up. After knowing each other for only two months, he and I made the brilliant decision to travel for three months together in Southeast Asia. There were only two ways that trip was going to end. Coming home, I was heartbroken.
Congratulations! You’re a movie star!
I’m currently reading the book, Sacred Selling, by Melina Abbott, a marketing and sales consultant who teaches spiritually-minded entrepreneurs how to align their businesses with their values. Yup, that’s me folks.
WFT is Astrology?
Back in 2014 (which I can’t believe was 10 years ago!) I enrolled in my first Introduction to Astrology course. If that sentence makes you roll your eyes and want to stop reading, I get it. Lots of people don’t believe in astrology, and that’s okay! I’m just not one of those people.
Anyone Want a Redo?
When you were a kid, did you ever find yourself wanting a redo? “I lost that game, I want a redo!” "I got a bad score on a test, I want a redo!"I missed the shot, I want a redo!”
As we get older, however, the Inner Critic might chime in and say, “You shouldn’t need a redo, it should be perfect the first time.”
You’re Stronger Than That
It was Thursday evening and I arrived at 9Rounds, the kickboxing gym I go to. It had been a day. The kind of day where you want to throw the covers over your head and not come out for a long, long time. It had been a day after a long, few weeks.