Hedman Counseling Center

Change is Possible. Hope Awaits. Start Here

My Truth?

by

When important, meaningful words or phrases in counseling/recovery/psychology start to take on twisted pop culture meaning, I can lose it a bit. For those who have spent time in my office, you know how I feel about the use of words like “boundaries” or “narcissist” when spoken flippantly. By repeating cultural lingo, the true power of these words and their meaning is cheapened. The same goes for the phrase “my truth”. “My truth” once meant that I acknowledge that the way I see something ...read more

Filed Under: Aversion, Connection, Counseling, Fear, Shame, Vulnerability

Sand, S’mores, and Sunglasses (at night)

by

Every summer I spend two weeks on the coast. Most years, a friend will join me for the first week. The rest of the vacation it’s just me, waves, whales, and an abundant supply of audiobooks. One night during last year’s vacation it was late and my friend and I were the only two left on the beach as we were drowning out our fire to head back to the car. Two men walked out from behind a bend in the rocks and were approaching. We convinced ourselves (rather quickly, I might add) that we were ...read more

Filed Under: Featured, Shame, Tara Hedman, Trauma, Uncategorized

Meal Train for the Brokenhearted

by

From time to time I receive invites for Meal Train. If you aren’t familiar with it, it is an online service that provides the opportunity to take meals to someone in need. A friend or family member will create a Meal Train for someone recovering from a recent hospital stay, an injury, or has a new baby. It's an excellent service and keeps the well-wishers on a schedule, and keeps the new mom from receiving five lasagnas on Tuesday. It's an efficient way to organize care and be of service. ...read more

Filed Under: Aversion, Fear, Grief and Loss, Shame, Vulnerability

Victimization and Finding True North

by

Many years ago, I was struggling to set my world upright after a devastating emotional earthquake and the relational aftershocks. As the flashbacks of abuse came like a foreign invader into my world, I didn’t know who to trust. Or, how to trust. As I worked with a counselor to steady myself, I found my capacity to perceive my experiences were not 20/20. My counselor was kind, patient, and skilled at knowing how to reset my equilibrium. She once gave me this homework: Whatever you would ...read more

Filed Under: Codependency, Featured, Sexual Abuse, Shame, Tara Hedman, Trauma

Chocolate, Cheez-Its, and a Yarn Snob

by

After an hour of the usual routine to get back to sleep, I'm still awake at 2 a.m. Resigned that I'm up for a while, there are some things I’d like to get done. I grab my computer (yes, counselors make bad life choices) and I poke around on my To Do list. While researching some info, an advertisement pops up for yarn. Such an innocent little ad. No big deal. Just some hand-spun, white angora heavenliness. The part of me that lives solely to stash copious amount of yarn clicks on the ...read more

Filed Under: Addiction, Codependency, Counseling, Shame

MENU